CDFW Groundfish Planner • 2026 California Ocean Guide Know the Season, Depth Line & Species Before You Drop California rockfish fishing is not just a “go deep and fill the cooler” trip anymore. Before you fish, you need to confirm the CDFW management area, open date, 50-fathom Rockfish Conservation Area line, species group, no-retention list, … Read more
CDFW Halibut Planner • Seasons, Size Limits, Shore Tips & Fillet Rules California Halibut Fishing: Seasons, Size Limits & Shore Tips California halibut are one of the best realistic trophy fish for surf, pier, bay, kayak and small-boat anglers. They hold on sand, ambush bait around troughs and channels, and often bite close to shore … Read more
California Catfish Planner • Lakes, Bait & Night Rules California Catfish Fishing: Lakes, Bait, Rules & Night Tips California catfish fishing is popular because it can be simple, family-friendly and productive from shore, especially at stocked urban ponds, regional park lakes, Delta sloughs, warm Southern California reservoirs and summer evening sessions. This refreshed guide explains … Read more
California Bass Planner • CDFW Rules + Local Lake Help California Bass Fishing: Lakes, Seasons, Rules & Local Tips California bass fishing can mean trophy largemouth at Clear Lake, spotted bass at deep foothill reservoirs, smallmouth in northern rock lakes, Delta tule-line fishing, city park ponds, or saltwater “bass” like kelp bass and sand bass. … Read more
CDFW 2026 Trout Planner • Stocked Lakes, Rivers, Gear & Rule Checks California Trout Fishing: Stocked Lakes, Rivers & Rules California trout fishing can mean a stocked urban lake, an Eastern Sierra opener trip, a high-country brook trout hike, a family rainbow trout day, a fly-fishing river, or a wild trout challenge. The right plan … Read more
CDFW Salmon Planner • 2026 Ocean + River Rules California Salmon Fishing: Seasons, Rules & Report Card Basics California salmon fishing in 2026 is a live-rule fishery. Ocean Chinook seasons have area windows, harvest guidelines, hotlines and early-closure risk. River Chinook seasons have reach boundaries, adult quotas, bag limits and report-card rules. This guide separates … Read more
CDFW Sturgeon Planner • Report Card, Closures & Catch-and-Release Rules California Sturgeon Fishing: Report Card, Rules & Season Checks California sturgeon fishing is now a conservation-first, catch-and-release fishery. White sturgeon may be targeted only where and when CDFW rules allow, no sturgeon may be kept, and green sturgeon must be released immediately without being removed … Read more
CDFW Steelhead Card • 2026 River Reporting Guide California Steelhead Report Card: Rules, Cost & Submission Tips A California Steelhead Report and Restoration Card is the CDFW card used to record steelhead fishing effort, location codes, kept hatchery fish, released wild fish, released hatchery fish and hours fished. It is not just a receipt, and … Read more
CDFW Harvest Reporting Guide • 2026 California Angler Help California Fishing Report Card: Species, Rules & How to Submit A California fishing report card is not just a receipt or a small checkout add-on. It is a physical CDFW harvest record for certain species, and it may be required even when a base sport fishing … Read more
CDFW 2026 Free Fishing Planner • Dates, Rules & Beginner Trip Help California Free Fishing Days: Dates, Rules & What Still Applies California Free Fishing Days let people fish without buying a base sport fishing license, but they are not “no rules” days. You still need to follow bag limits, size limits, gear rules, fishing … Read more
