California Trout Season Approaches
After several months of California lakes and rivers empty of fishing rods, anglers return to waterways filled with eager trout on opening day of the 2018 trout season. Don't miss a minute of the action. Make sure you have a fishing license in hand before it all starts. Purchase Your 2018 License Today
2018 Trout Opener
The general trout opener will commence on Saturday, April 28, one hour before sunrise. Most lakes, rivers and streams have a limit of five trout per day and 10 in possession. However, regulations differ on season opening and closing dates, bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and gear restrictions. Check the Regs before fishing
Where are the Fish?
CDFW raises and plants millions of trout each year for the enjoyment of anglers. To view trout planting schedules, please visit the fish planting website. The fish planting schedule is updated in real time, directly by CDFW hatchery staff. Fish Planting Schedule
Fishing in the City
In an effort to recruit new anglers, CDFW holds several family friendly, free fishing workshops up and down the state. Fishing in the City clinics give city dwellers an opportunity to learn how to fish, while staying close to home. The workshops teach participants about fish species, fishing techniques, conservation and angler ethics. Many clinics are being held this spring and summer. Find one near you and go enjoy a day of fishing with your family! More Info
Recreational Canary Rockfish Bag Limit Increases Effective April 14
CDFW announced a statewide increase to the recreational canary rockfish daily limit within the rockfish, cabezon and greenling (RCG) bag limit. The sub-bag limit for canary rockfish increased from one fish to two fish within the RCG daily bag limit of 10 fish, effective Saturday, April 14, 2018. More Info
Great Halibut Fishing in San Francisco Bay
It's a banner year in the San Francisco Bay for halibut fishing. Anglers and the charter boat fleet are regularly hauling in large fish and full boat limits. Don't sleep on this one. The hot bite won't last forever. CDFW reminds anglers to be good stewards of the fishery and be sure to carefully release any short halibut back into the water. More Info
2018 Salmon Season Dates Set
California's recreational salmon fishery is open from Pigeon Point to the U.S./Mexico border now through early July. The recreational salmon fishery will remain closed in all other areas off California during the month of April. The area from the Oregon/California state line to Horse Mountain will be open from June through Labor Day. Fisheries from Horse Mountain to Pigeon Point will be open from mid-June through October. The Central Valley fall salmon season will open on July 16 with a daily bag of one salmon, two in possession. The Klamath River season will open Aug. 15 and the Trinity River season will open Sept. 1. Both rivers will have a daily bag limit of two fish, no more than one adult (>22 inches) and a possession limit of six fish, no more than three of which can be adults. More Info
Thousands of Steelhead Released into Oroville Afterbay
During the first week of April, CDFW's Feather River Hatchery stocked 51,800 yearling steelhead into the Thermalito Afterbay near Oroville. This is the second juvenile steelhead release of the year and brings the total number of steelhead stocked in the Afterbay this season to 234,000. More Info
Public Meetings for Trout Management
CDFW is holding a series of public meetings to discuss topics surrounding the management of trout resources statewide, an effort that CDFW is calling the "Trout Renaissance." CDFW is inviting trout anglers to voice their interests, needs and novel ideas about the statewide management of trout resources. More Info
