Central California fishing report: Lake Success and Lake Kaweah bass on solid bites
Fishing report compiled by California Outdoors Hall of Fame member Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, who guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake.
Best bets
Delta bass bite solid, Randy Pringle reported. Shaver kokanee on a tear, Dick Nichols said. Wishon rainbows on fire, Kelly Brewer reported. Pine Flat bass and trout hitting, Tas Moua said. New Melones kokanee and bass bites continue on, Kyle Wise reported. Lake Success and Kaweah bass on solid bites, Copes Tackle said. Isabella trout active, Dave Hurley reported.
Rankings key below: 4: Fish are jumping in the boat. 3: Good fishing. 2: Decent fishing. 1: Poor fishing. 0: Don’t bother
Unless noted, area code is 559
Valley/Westside waterways
Striper 2 Catfish 3
The northern section of the California continues to be very slow as hit or Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop said, “I’ve only had one customer out there for a few catfish and a 22-inch striped bass. Most area striped bass anglers are either fishing the south San Joaquin River or Clifton Court Forebay. Clifton Court has been good at night with bait for striped bass.” In the southern section of the aqueduct, Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported productive fishing for all species, stating plenty of small striped bass are being caught with some keepers on jumbo minnows, cut baits, or live nightcrawlers particularly in areas downstream of the check gates. Active stripers are also found in between the head gates. There is an early morning striped bass bite with jerkbaits, swimbaits, or lipless crankbaits. Largemouth bass are found in eddies, near outtake grates, and around bridge pylons with Roboworms on a drop-shot rigs or Senkos. The catfish bite was especially hot in the southern sections of the aqueduct with cut anchovies, dip bait, or chicken liver.
A map of the 16 designated fishing locations on the California Aqueduct can be accessed through this link: https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DsWR-Website/Web-Pages/What-We-Do/Recreation/Files/230424_SWP-Fishing-Guildines-Locations_Online_FINAL.pdf.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; Cope’s Tackle and Rod, Bakersfield – (661) 679-6351; Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported a short window in the morning for reaction baits in the shallows, but the reaction bite dies until around 3:00 pm to 1 hour after dark. Most of the bass are suspending over island tops or rockpiles at depths from 30 to 40 feet, and jigs or Depp’s Sakahama Shad soft jerkbaits have been effective. Moua said, “The lake is dropping and the bass are chasing 1-inch crappie fry, bluegill, or the remaining rainbow trout in open water. There have been trout flying out of the water to avoid the bass.” At Hensley, Moua reported bass are found in the shallows, but the best bite is offshore with Brush Hogs on a Carolina-rig, jigs, or with Roboworms in Morning Dawn or Margarita Mutilator 3 on a drop-shot. Eastman dropped over 3 feet to 540.08 feet in elevation and 52% of capacity with Hensley also dropping over 3 feet to 494.51 feet in elevation and 36% of capacity. Only two events are scheduled at Eastman through the end of June.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing was out with Cal Kellogg and Bobby Mulbier of Catch America this week, and they rolled shad until a breeze arrive, landing king salmon and a 3½-pound rainbow trout at 73 feet in depth. Smith said, “Once there was a breeze creating chop on the water, we put on Uncle Larry’s spinners for kokanee along with big squid baits with a Wiggle Disc for kokanee, and we landed a handful of kokanee including one at 2.1 pounds. The fish are found from 45 to 85 feet, but the most consistent action is from 55 to 65 feet.” Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait reported king salmon in the 3- to 4-pound range have been the story, and he continues to sell bags and bags of small threadfin shad. For bass, Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle said, “The key is to cover water as there is a topwater bite in the morning before doing deep to 30 feet with paddletailed swimbaits or underspins. There is a spinnerbait bite when the wind is blowing.” Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake 3 feet to rose to 823.01 feet in elevation, and the Blue Oaks may be closed temporarily without notice due to rising water. The lake will be very busy with 7 tournaments scheduled through the end of June. A self-inspection is required for launching. Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass 2 Trout 3 Crappie 2 Catfish 3 Bluegill 3
The lake rose 1½ feet to 2,586.05 feet in elevation and 64% of capacity. Bass and catfish are the top species as the water temperature is holding between 72 and 75 degrees, keeping fish active in both shallow and deeper water. The early mornings and late evenings are best for largemouth bass in the South Fork, around Rocky Point, and near structure in the Three Crosses area with creature baits in green pumpkin, chatterbaits, or Rapala jerkbaits. There have been some larger bass have taken on big trout-patterned big swimbaits near submerged rocks and drop-offs. The catfish bite has picked up, especially in the evening around the Lime Dyke or Engineer’s Point area with cut baits, dip baits, or nightcrawlers for both bank and boaters. Crappie reports have slowed a bit, but small jigs or minnows around submerged brush in 10 to 15 feet of water are still finding a few decent slabs at either Camp 9 or Red’s Marina. The trout bite remains solid in and around the North Fork with chartreuse Keitech swimbaits, Hook Up Bait’s, or spinners from the banks with trollers continuing to score with Berkley’s Flicker Shad crankbaits or Tasmanian Devil spoons. Trollers have done very well with Flicker Shad and Tasmanian Devils. In the Kern River, Cope’s reported a fresh plant in the upper river in Section 5 (Fairview Dam to Lazy River Lodge) spurred on action for anglers working the slower eddies or deeper pools around river bends with salmon eggs, trout jigs, or spinners for consistent results. Trout plants are scheduled in Sections 5 and 6 this week and again in Section 5 next week. In the lower Kern, trout are being caught throughout the canyon with the best numbers coming from the Democrat area with trout jigs, salmon eggs, or spinners. Both smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing has also been excellent in the lower river with jigs, plastic worms, or small crankbaits. Catfish are active as well, with cut sardines and SSS Dip Bait drawing steady bites.
The flows in the upper Kern River dropped slightly to 2216 cfs at Kernville while water releases out of the lake also rose to 1146 cfs at First Point. Three bass tournaments are scheduled during the month of June.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812; Golden Trout Pack Station (559) 542-2816
Lake Kaweah
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 3
The lake dropped ½ feet, but it is still at 100% of capacity at 714.59 feet in elevation. Cope’s reported the newly submerged brush and trees are providing excellent cover for bass, and jerkbaits, flukes, or small swimbait are providing exciting action. Plastics on the drop-shot or other finesse techniques such as wacky-rigged Senkos are also working well in 15 feet of water. Crappie are found in the backs of coves with small live minnows, and catfish anglers used cut anchovies and chicken liver to fool fish. The Kaweah River dropped from 1450 to 910 cfs at Three Rivers, but the flows are still high and dangerous. A single bass tournament is scheduled through the end of June.
Lake Success
Bass 3 Crappie 3 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose to 652.48 feet in elevation and 102% of capacity. Cope’s reported continued solid bass fishing with Senkos in green pumpkin in newly submerged vegetation while jigs with a craw trailer scored bites out deeper. Good numbers of bass were caught in the 5- to 15-foot zone with post spawn females holding deeper on points. Deep diving crankbaits took some quality females. Crappie anglers found good action in 10 feet of water over submerged brush piles, using either minijigs, or small live minnows. Catfish were caught on dip bait, cut sardines, or chicken liver.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait in Modesto reported numbers of spotted bass are the story on plastics on a drop-shot with the larger grade taken on jigs. The fish have moved off the shorelines, and they are suspending over structure. There is an extended topwater bite. The Cen Cal Elite Bass Club held a 32-boat tournament on Saturday with the winning limit weighing in over a 2½-pound average. The Reel Deel Market at Barrett’s Cove is now open for the summer. The lake rose slightly to 856.15 feet in elevation and 93% of capacity. Tournament action has slowed down with only 4 tournaments scheduled through the end of June.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 2
Minimal change here as the lake has transitioned to a water park with the establishment of the Splash and Dash. Trollers have the upper hand as holdover rainbows have moved into the river arm. Rapalas, Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler, or spoons at depths from the surface to 15 feet have been effective for a few quality holdovers. Bank fishing remains very slow with the lack of plants over the past several weeks. The Reel Deal Market at McSwain is open on summer hours. The lake is at 77% of capacity. https://mysplashndash.com/knowbeforeyougo/#hours.
Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 2 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
Tas Moua of Fresno 559 Bait and Tackle reported the best bass action is in the river arm as the main lake remains very slow. There is a topwater bite along with underspins and spinnerbaits. The spotted bass are chasing small shad and baby bass. The action in the main lake remains slow as this part of the lake is heavily impacted by recreational vessels. The lake rose nearly 4 feet to 570.47 feet in elevation and 93% of capacity. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant dropped from 577 to 387 cfs. Sycamore Island is open every day from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Only one bass tournament is scheduled through the end of June.
Call: Fresno 559 Bait and Tackle 515-6273.
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3
Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service continues to put in kokanee limits within a very short period as kokanee action remains ‘epic.’ He said, “It has been cloudy, and the fish moved up to around 40 feet. Paulina Peak’s spinners with gold blades behind a 5½-inch gold dodger has been the story at depths from 40 to 60 feet.” Similar to other Mother Lode lakes, the bass are moving out into deeper water, and crankbaits have been effective. Aaron Jones said, “40 fish days are possible, but the overall action has slowed since the 100 fish days of a few weeks ago.” The Glory Hole and Tuttletown ramps are open from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Tuttletown ramp is closed from Monday through Thursday, but the Glory Hole ramp will be open their normal hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. A decontamination unit is available at the New Melones Marina on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Boaters are advised to schedule a decontamination via https://musseldecon.com/ with a deposit of $60. Costs will vary from a minimum of $60 to $125 up depending upon the size and complexity of the vessel. Downstream Lake Tulloch has established the 30-day quarantine process to allow boating for inspected boats after the quarantine period is completed. New Melones dropped 3 feet to 1042.07 feet in elevation and 79% of capacity.
Call: John Liechty, Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932; Kyle Wise, Headhunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 3 Trout 3 Kokanee 0 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Tas Moau of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported Keitech swimbaits, topwater lures, and spinnerbaits are working in the shallows around grass, and a weedless presentation is advised. The bass are mostly small, but there have been quality fish in the 3- to 4-pound range. On the rainbow trout front, Jim and Deegan Tartaglia, Terry Walton, and Cris Hansen were on the water before 6 a.m. on Saturday, and Jim Tartaglia said, “Deer Creek had a wide-open trout bite at depth from 20 feet to 40 feet with Terry Walton’s Sierra Gold Lures or power coated Excel spoons. Pink was the hot color on Saturday.” Brian Klassen of Reedley was out on Sunday with Craig Gonzales and Mark, Michael, Derrick, and Jeffry Johnson, and he said “We started at the Power Lines heading into Windy Gap to find a fantastic trout bite. Blade/’crawler combinations, Cop Car Speedy Shiners, or Dick’s Trout Busters tipped with a piece of nightcrawler boated 27 rainbows by 10 am, and we landed one 23-inch king salmon rolling shad at 65 feet. The trout were found at depths from 30 to 40 feet while also targeting kings from 65 to 70 feet.”
In the lower Kings River, a trout plant took place this week with another trout scheduled next week. The flows dropped from 5977 to 3961 cfs at Trimmer, but they are still to the point where anglers must be very careful and wear a properly functioning life vest in the high flows. The catch-and-release section is located below the Alta Weir (also known as Cobbles Weir) extending downstream to the Highway 180 bridge. This area is considered a zero limit, catch-and-release zone where only artificial lures with barbless hooks are allowed. The lake rose nearly near 2 feet to 925.17 feet in elevation and 85% of capacity. No tournaments are scheduled at Pine Flat through the end of June. Call: 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill said, “The bite seems to have slowed down as we are not selling as many lures. Bait fishing seems to be best right now with anchovies or pile worms off of the banks. There is a topwater bite here and there along with 1-ounce Rat-L-Traps in shad patterns.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service reported that boaters are running into a lot of windy days with some gusts up to 30 mph- keeping many off the water lately.” The lake has been falling a foot a day, a bright moon is overhead, and the fish are in high spawn mode- making it difficult at best to find an active bite. Many of the schools are heavy into milting and getting them to hit has been an issue. I guided John Turner of Turner Securities and his stepson Freddy Faul on Friday on one of the few calmer days for 15 fish from 21” to 8 lbs working the main lake in sometimes very heavy algae. Trolling a lure with more vibration – like a diving Rapala at 2 mph – worked better than anything else . Most of the fish were below 70’ that day- but it’s been changing lately. Once again it was a searching tactic that worked best. This full moon this week will make it even tougher. “ George said.
In the forebay, the largemouth bass bite remains strong around Check 12 with plastics, chatterbaits, or spinnerbaits, but the weeds are getting thick.” The wind is a concern at both reservoirs. On San Luis Reservoir, there are 3 wind warning and lake closure lights near the Basalt entrance station, Quien Sabe Point, and Romero Visitor Center, and on the O’Neill Forebay, wind warning lights are located near the old Medeiros boat ramp and above the South Beach area. Amber lights signify caution conditions for winds or other concerns. Red lights indicate the lake is closed to boating and all vessels are required to immediately vacate the lake when the red lake closure lights are on. The main lake continues to recede rapidly with water releases down the California Aqueduct, and it is currently at 61% of capacity with the forebay rising slightly to 84% of capacity. Boat inspections at San Luis Reservoir, O’Neill Forebay, and Los Banos Creek Reservoir in Merced County are required when exiting these lakes to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. At O’Neill Forebay, golden mussels were detected. Boats leaving these San Luis Recreation Area lakes will not be granted a “clean boat” tag. After boating in waterways, always remember to clean, drain, and dry to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. To check the real time wind conditions on the lake - use windfinder.com/forecast/san_luis_reservoir.
Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711, Roger George, rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0
Captain Mike Beighey of Bass Lake said, “The boat traffic is starting to get busy, but limits of rainbows are possible running pink squids, orange Fin Reaper Wiggle Hoochies, pink Radical Glow tubes, or Apex lures tipped with pink or white maggots behind assorted colors of Dick’s Mountain Dodgers at 10 to 20 feet. It only took two hours to land 10 fish, and it looks like the kokanee are finally showing up around the dam area. I haven’t had the time to zero in on them yet. The trout are everywhere from the Pines Resort to out in front of Miller’s Landing Resort.”
Tas Moua reported Keitech swimbaits or plastics in watermelon red on a shakey head or drop-shot are working for numbers near the dam. A live webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1.
Call: Mike Beighey, Bass Lake Fishing 676-8133.
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
Kaiser Pass Road is open, and Edison is producing some brown trout near the dam. Edison rose to 64% of capacity, Florence rose to 95% of capacity, and Mammoth Pool holding at 98% of capacity due to snowmelt. A trout plant is scheduled at Hume Lake next week, but Dave Loftin and Dave Weaver from Visalia trolled fly rods with weighted line to a 6-foot fluorocarbon leader to a Dick’s Texas Tea Trout Buster at 2 to 3 mph to get down to 8 to 10 feet to catch and release 30 stocked rainbow trout from 12 to 14 inches. Mammoth Pool is closed through June 15 for the annual deer migration, but there is some excellent news as Southern California Edison (SCE), in partnership with the Sierra National Forest are rehabilitating the boat launch and campground. According to the Sierra National Forest’s press release, “The campground and boat launch have recently been turned over to SCE’s control to begin the rehabilitation work. To complete this work, SCE will need one year for the boat launch-related work (until May 2026), and two years for the campground (May 2027), keeping in mind that given the elevation, there is only a limited window of time to complete this type of work during the year. Forest Order 05-15-51-25-06 covering SCE’s rehabilitation work will be released soon.” Road conditions are available at the High Sierra Ranger Station – 855-5355 or https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra.
Road conditions 297-0706.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000.
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3
The annual Greg Marks Youth Fishing Derby is Saturday, June 14 at Road 2 at Shaver Lake, and as always, the event has been full for months prior due to high interest. The Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project hosts this annual event, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Friant Hatchery releases a special trout plant prior to the derby.
Shaver Lake guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Mountain Tackle, said, “It was another banner week for 2nd year kokanee at Shaver Lake, but the trout bite is very slow. However, a trout plant is scheduled this week, and the action should improve. I fished with former Shaver resident, Bob Hatmaker, this week, and as soon as we put the first downrigger down, the bite was on. We found solid action from 6 to 9 am with a hookup every 5 minutes, but once it slowed down, we headed over to the rock ledge where the action resumed. We had 30 released kokanee on 60 hookups working with pink Dick’s Mountain Tube’s or Mountain Candy with pink corn behind either a Doc Barb or D-MAC Mountain Dodger at 33 feet. Edison Bay, the island, and Blackrock are the best areas for kokanee.” Both ramps are open. Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions. At Huntington, a recent trout plant should bring up the bank fishing with Power Bait or nightcrawlers near the mouth of Rancheria Creek. Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions. Shaver rose to 87 with Huntington holding at 97% of capacity. A trout plant is scheduled for Huntington next week.
Call: Paul Brown 300-4001; Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing 802-8072; Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100.
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 3
Kelly Brewer of the Wishon RV Park and Store reported pink Power Bait, Roostertails, or nightcrawlers are working from the banks at both lakes while trollers are pulling blade/’crawler combination for limits of quality rainbows. Brian Klassen of Reedley trolled Wishon over the weekend, and he said, “I arrived Friday at noon for three hours of trolling with Craig Gonzales of Lemoore, and we caught and released 17 rainbows on blade/’crawler combinations or blue/silver Speedy Shiners at 15 feet. On Saturday, Nathan Quirroz, Wayde Sweeney, and Joe Flores joined me to once again catch and release 38 rainbows from 12 to 14 inches on blade/’crawlers or Rapalas at depths from 10 to 20 feet. The best action was within 75 to 100 yards off the east bank.”
Road conditions – Sierra National Forest Ranger Station 297-0706.
Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361.
Ocean
Half Moon Bay
Rockfish 3 salmon 3 Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
It was like the Good Old Days at Half Moon Bay for the limited two-day salmon season as the parking lot was filled by Friday for the first time in years. The action was spectacular on Saturday’s opener with Captain Melynda Dodds of the New Captain Pete posting 20 limits of salmon, the Queen of Hearts out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing with 23 limits, and the Riptide with 21 limits. The bite was a bit more challenging on Sunday, but the Queen of Hearts and Riptide returned with limits. The New Captain Pete took out an all-lady customer and crew trip for 30 salmon for 18 lady anglers. It’s rockfish from now until the next limited opener in September, and the shallow water season is open until Sept. 30. Striped bass have been taken from the beaches from Linda Mar north to Ocean Beach.
Call: Captain Melynda Dodds, New Captain Pete (512) 825- 8225; Captain Chris Chang, Ankeny Street (650) 279-8819.
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Rockfish 3 Salmon 3 Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch
The private boaters and the six-packs out of Monterey and Santa Cruz had the upper hand on the salmon opener, and the bay was loaded with skiffs in search of salmon limits. Chris Counts of Fresno was out with Joe Tutlelian and Jim Monahan on the opener out of Moss Landing. Counts said, “We limited out by 11 am with six salmon to 15 pounds taken between 25 and 180 on the downriggers, but the bite was much slower on Sunday, perhaps due to the heavy boat traffic, finishing with two salmon to 15 pounds along with two incidental California halibut to 30 inches.”
Out of Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching in Monterey, Saturday’s salmon bite was solid with 46 salmon, but Sunday was very slow with only two salmon.
Call: Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732.
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay
Halibut 2 Salmon 3 Striper 2 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 3 Sturgeon 0 Crab 0
After weeks of trepidation over a limited two-day opener with high winds, the ocean lay down in flat, glassy calm, creating safe conditions for the flotilla of private and party boats heading out from every port from Monterey north to Crescent City. The adrenaline rush from two chaotic days of great fishing leaves the fleet wanting over the next few months without salmon until the next limited opener in September as it’s virtually a lock that the 7000 fish quota was obliterated.
Captain James Smith of the California Dawn 2 was out with a packed boat of 35 anglers on Saturday, and he exclaimed, “I wasn’t prepared for this! We had 20 in the box by 7:45 am, and it was chaos on the deck with as many as 19 fish on the hook.” The action took place a few miles south of the Farallon Islands down to the Deep Reef south of Half Moon Bay, and once the boats got located, limits were the rule. The scores were outstanding out of San Francisco Bay, Half Moon Bay, and Santa Cruz/Monterey, For example, on Saturday along, Emeryville Sport Fishing returned with 169 limits for 338 salmon, the California Dawn 1 and 2 along with the Pacific Dream out of Berkeley posted 83 limits to 3o pounds, Berkeley Sport Fishing had three boats out for 75 limits, and three Sausalito boats returned with a combined 66 limits. These are just a sampling of limits taken on Saturday from the San Francisco Bay boats.
Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters out of Paradise Cove posted 7 limits of salmon to 25 pounds on both Saturday and Sunday, and he said, “We went north to N Buoy on Saturday morning since there was some good sign there, but the bite was 10 miles south so we headed downhill to find wide open action, going through 30 weights for 14 fish. I have never seen so many boats in my life out in the ocean. The bite was a bit slower on Sunday, but we found steady action for limits.”
Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of San Francisco said, “We circumnavigated the ocean before heading south to get in on the action for 7 limits by 10:00 a.m. We got bit within a couple of minutes of putting the lines in on Saturday once we arrived. It was typical krill fishing with the salmon on top and biting aggressively.” The action was not as fast or as furious on Sunday, but the majority of San Francisco Bay party boats returned with two-fish limits of salmon to 33 pounds.
Call: Captain Ron Koyasako, Nautilus Excursions (916) 704-4169; Captain Jerad Davis, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388.
San Luis Obispo
Rockfish 3 Surf perch 3
It’s all about rockfish from the San Luis Obispo ports, but there was a king salmon landed out of Port San Luis on one of Patriot Sport Fishing’s boats. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing, three boats were out with 39 anglers on Sunday for 334 assorted rockfish, 5 vermilion, 2 Boccaccio, 3 ocean whitefish, 16 lingcod to 10 pounds, and a bonus king salmon. Out of Morro Bay, the Black Pearl took out 21 passengers to deep water for 20 chili pepper, 103 assorted rockfish, 42 vermilion to 7 pounds, 45 Boccaccio to 12 pounds, and 16 lingcod to 18 pounds for just two fish shy of rockfish limits. Morro Bay Landing sent out 3 boats for 4 trips on Sunday with a combined 79 customers for 605 assorted rockfish, 73 vermilion, 32 Boccaccio to 11 pounds, 5 copper, one rocksole, and six lingcod to 11 pounds. The local rockfish season below Point Lopez is open at all depths through June 30.
Call: Virg’s Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing.
Others
Delta/Stockton
Bass 3 Striper 2 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
Striped bass continue to move through the Delta, and the best action has been in the north Delta near Liberty Island, but most of the stripers have made it back to the bay/ocean. Largemouth bass are taking center stage as fewer and fewer fishermen are targeting striped bass or sturgeon. Recreational boat traffic is ramping up, particularly in the narrower channels on the San Joaquin side. For largemouth bass bite, Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor reported a strong bite for numbers of bass in the 2- to 4-pound range. He said, “I was out with a grandfather, father, and son this week, and we started in the back sloughs due to the wind in open water. We broke out the spinning rods, and the ima Pinjack crankbait was on point along with the Berkley Slobberknocker bladed jig in crawdad pattern for around 25 to 30 bass. After the tide changed and the wind died down, we moved out into open water to throw the ima Little Stick topwater lure in shad patterns across the weed beds. We picked up a couple of legal stripers on the topwater along with quality bass to 4 pounds.”
Dave King of Nor Cal Bass reported an excellent spinnerbait bite in the east Delta out of Paradise Point with a Booyah swimbait with gold blades. He tried a topwater bite with buzzbaits, but it wasn’t happening. The spinnerbaits produced multiple bass for a limit around 15 pounds. Nor Cal has a tournament this coming Saturday out of Ladd’s Marina, and they should draw nearly 50 teams.
Upstream on the San Joaquin River above Mossdale, Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported the best action is in the evening hours with live bluegill for keeper stripers from 22 to 28 inches. Pile worms, blood worms, anchovies, or sardines are producing numbers of undersized striped bass. He said, “It’s hit or miss right now, and live bait is the key.”
Call: Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Vince Borges, Vince Borges Outdoors (209) 918-0828. Soo Hoo Sport Fishing (925) 899-4045.
Events
Tournament Results:
June 7-8
Delta - Yak A’ Bass
1st – Pua Yang – 163.50 inches; 2nd – Robert Yamamoto – 158.25 inches; 3rd- Yenhoua Yang – 158.25 inches.
June 7
Don Pedro – Best Bass Tournament Mother Lode
1st – Brandon Gee/Michael Hitomi – 18.62 pounds; 2nd – Na Her/Andy Hurshuaier – 18.48; 3rd- Charles and Jimmy Welch Jr. – 17.53 (Big Fish – 5.05).
McClure – CenCal Elite Bass Tournaments
1st –Jared Gregory/Eddie Arant – 12.86 pounds; 2nd – Tom Loya/Rusty Rummerfield – 11.75 (Big Fish – 3.36 pounds); 3rd- David Coy/Dave Simpson – 11.21.
Isabella – Golden Empire Bass Club
1st –Nathan Towes/David Childress – 24.16 pounds; 2nd – Justin Neal/Jerry Waldrip – 21.17 (Big Fish – 10.01 pounds); 3rd- Wes and Roy Neal – 20.19.
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)
Note – tournaments scheduled for New Melones, Camanche, Tulloch, or Pardee are subject to change and will not be listed
June 14-15
Don Pedro – California B.A.S.S. Nation
June 14
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Nor Cal Bass
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Angler’s Press
Delta/Big Break Marina – Bass N’ Tubes
Delta/B and W Resort – California Bass Federation
Don Pedro – 17/90 Bass Club
Shaver Lake – Greg Mark’s Youth Fishing Tournament
Eastman – Sierra Bass Club
Kaweah – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments
Isabella – Kern County Bassmasters/American Bass Association
Lopez – Bakersfield Bass Club
June 15
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – American Bass Association
Millerton – Bass 101
June 21
Delta/Russo’s Marina – The Bass Hole Inc.
Don Pedro – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies/Oro Madre Bass Club
McClure – Yak A’Bass
Eastman – Kings River Bass Club
Santa Margarita – Best Bass Tournaments
June 22
Delta/B and W Resort – Best Bass Tournaments
San Antonio – San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers
June 28
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments
June 29
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
This story was originally published June 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Central California fishing report: Lake Success and Lake Kaweah bass on solid bites."