This is the Official California Fishing regulations and Information navigation page for the California state rules and regulations guidebook overviews.
You can access each individual state regulation guidebook by clicking the links below.
These are just the overviews of the official state regulations.
The Actual state California Fishing regulation guidebooks are accessible by clicking on the state you would like to see from the home page map then clicking on the California state fishing regulations books.
They are also accessible by clicking on the California reg books below and accessing the California regs link in the California Guidebooks listed below.
Enjoy be safe and have a great time exploring the site and remember to check back often to keep updated on all the new laws, rules, and California regulations pertaining to the hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife sports.
Weather its California Trout fishing, California bass fishing, California striper fishing, California Salmon fishing, California Catfish fishing, California steelhead fishing, California Panfish fishing, California pike/muskie fishing, California Walleye fishing, California saltwater fishing, California marlin fishing, California tarpon fishing,  California tuna fishing, we have the California state fishing regulations for your trip into the wilderness or on the water covered in one easy to location.
If you need California fishing maps, California state fishing maps, or just some California fishing reports to tell you were the bite is hot we have that too.

California Fishing Report
If you’re planning a fishing trip to California, you have some excellent choices for lakes and streams throughout the state including Lake Almanor, Lake Berryessa, Clear Lake, Folsom Lake, Lake Oroville, Lake Shasta, Trinity Lake, Lake Camanche, The Delta, Lake Don Pedro, Lake McClure, Millerton Lake, Lake Nacimiento, New Melones Lake, Pine Flat Lake, Big Bear Lake, Lake Cahuilla, Lake Castaic, El Capitan Lake, Lake Hodges, Laguna Niguel Lake, Lower Otay Lake, San Vicente Lake, Lake Silverwood, Lake Skinner, Lake Sutherland and others. Many of the lakes in California have camping facilities as well as other accommodations nearby. California is well known for excellent Bass, Crappie and Trout fishing. Additionally, in waters around the state you’ll find populations of Walleye, Catfish, Salmon, Stripers and sunfish including Green Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Tilapia, Warmouth, White Bass which are plentiful in some waters.
California Fishing Reports
The fishing report resources listed below offer independent information about fishing conditions at various lakes, rivers and streams in California. Use this information knowing that weather and other factors may have caused fishing conditions to change since the reports were filed.
California Bass Fishing
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Spotted Bass Fishing in California.
Bass are one of the most sought after of all the game fish. Its appeal spans cultures, age groups and genders to tap on the heart strings of anglers everywhere. Join us in our endeavor to offer information about bass fishing on your favorite bass lake in the California area.
Northern California Bass Fishing Lakes
In Northern California be sure to try your luck for bass at Lake Almanor, Lake Berryessa, Bullards Bar Reservoir, Clear Lake, Folsom Lake, Lake Oroville, Lake Shasta and Trinity Lake. You'll find bass in plenty other waters in the area as well including private ponds, creeks and smaller lakes.
Central California Bass Fishing Lakes
Lake Camanche, The Delta, Lake Don Pedro, Lake McClure, Millerton Lake, Lake Nacimiento, New Melones Lake and Pine Flat Lake are the larger bodies of water that hold bass. Check the tributaries leading into and away from these lakes for potential bass fishing hot spots.
Southern California Bass Fishing Lakes
The larger bodies of water in Southern California that hold populations of bass include Big Bear Lake, Lake Cahuilla, Lake Castaic, El Capitan Lake, Lake Hodges, Laguna Niguel Lake, Lower Otay Lake, Pyramid Lake, San Vicente Lake, Lake Silverwood, Lake Skinner and Lake Sutherland. Lake Castaic holds the record for largemouth bass in California. Other monster bass have also come from Castaic.
The California state record smallmouth bass was caught out of Clair Engle Lake.
Trout Fishing in California
The 5 primary trouts are the rainbow, brook, brown, cutthroat and lake trout. Brown trout are considered the most difficult to catch and brookies are the easiest. Pure cold water is key to survival of the trouts and the brook trout is the most sensitive to temperature. The others are comfortable in slightly warmer waters.
Trout Fishing Lakes In Northern California
Northern California has clear cold water lakes which the trout adore. You can find trout in Lake Almanor, Lake Berryessa, Bullards Bar Reservoir, Folsom Lake, Lake Natoma, Lake Oroville, Lake Shasta and Trinity Lake. Feeder streams and waters coming out of the spillways may also provide some exciting trout fishing. Lake Natome holds the state record for rainbow trout.
Trout Fishing Lakes In Central California
Consider trying your luck for trout at Lake Camanche, The Delta, Lake Don Pedro, Lake McClure, Millerton Lake, New Melones Lake and Pine Flat Lake. It's always a good idea to stop by the marina or local bait store and pick up some local gossip about where the best stringers of trout are coming from.
Trout Fishing Lakes In Southern California
With generally warmer waters in Southern California, trout fishing opportunities are limited to some larger, deeper impoundments like Big Bear Lake, Lake Cahuilla, Lake Castaic, Laguna Niguel Lake, San Vicente Lake and Lake Silverwood.
California State Record Trout Waters:
Brook trout - Silver Lake
Brown trout - Upper Twin Lake 
Bull trout - McCloud Lake 
Cutthroat trout - Lake Tahoe 
Golden trout - Virginia Lake 
Lake trout - Lake Tahoe
Rainbow trout - Lake Natoma
Salmon Fishing in California
As salmon are an ocean fish and reside in the colder waters in the Pacific Northwest, Northern California waters are the most popular for salmon fishing in California. Some areas are stocked for additional salmon fishing.
Salmon Fishing Lakes In California
Lakes with a population of salmon in Northern California include Lake Almanor, Lake Berryessa, Bullards Bar Reservoir, Folsom Lake, Lake Oroville and Lake Shasta. In Central California, Lake Don Pedro is the only lake with a notable salmon population. No major lakes in Southern California contain salmon.
The California state record chinook salmon (king salmon) was caught out of the Sacramento River. Paper Mill Creek produced the California state record coho salmon. Lake Tahoe was home to the CA state record kokanee salmon.
Crappie Fishing in California
Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in all the continental states. They are known by many different names, typically based on geographic location. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch and speckled perch, just to name a few.
Crappie Fishing Lakes In Northern California
You'll find good schools of crappie at major lakes in Northern CA like Lake Berryessa, Bullards Bar Reservoir, Clear Lake, Folsom Lake, Lake Oroville, New Hogan Lake and Lake Shasta. Be sure that crappie populate many other smaller waters. It's always worth a few casts to see if crappie inhabit the water you're on. Clear Lake holds the state record for white crappie while New Hogan Lake holds the record for black crappie.
Crappie Fishing Lakes In Central California
Lake Camanche, The Delta, Lake Don Pedro, Lake McClure, Millerton Lake, Lake Nacimiento, New Melones Lake and Pine Flat Lake all have nice populations of crappie as do some of the smaller bodies of water in Central CA.
Crappie Fishing Lakes In Southern California
The warmer waters of the lower elevation lakes in Southern CA like Big Bear Lake, Lake Cahuilla, El Capitan Lake, Lake Hodges, Lower Otay Lake, San Vicente Lake and Lake Sutherland have decent populations of crappie.
The California state record black crappie came from New Hogan Lake and Clear Lake produced the CA state record white crappie.
Catfish Fishing in California
There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. They can be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.
Catfish Fishing Lakes In California
Most lakes, streams, ponds and rivers hold catfish of one kind or another. Major lakes tend to hold the larger populations yet you're liable to catch a monster in the tributaries that feed the lakes. In Northern CA the major lakes with catfish include Lake Almanor, Lake Berryessa, Clear Lake, Folsom Lake, Lake Oroville, Lake Shasta and Trinity Lake. In Central CA try Lake Camanche, The Delta, Lake Don Pedro, Lake McClure, Millerton Lake, Lake Nacimiento, New Melones Lake and Pine Flat Lake. Southern CA offers lakes like Big Bear Lake, Lake Cahuilla, Lake Castaic, El Capitan Lake, Lake Hodges, Laguna Niguel Lake, Lower Otay Lake, San Vicente Lake, Lake Silverwood, Lake Skinner and Lake Sutherland to wet your whistle for some tasty catfish.
San Vicente boasts the state record for blue catfish, the Santa Ana River Lakes yielded the state record for channel catfish, the state flathead came out of the Colorado Riverand William Lamd Park Pond gave up the state record for white catfish.
Sunfish Fishing in California for Green Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Tilapia, Warmouth, White Bass and Other CA Panfish.
One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout California and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, crustaceans, insects and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.
Panfish Fishing in California.
Some of the major waters that hold panfish in California include Lake Almanor, Lake Berryessa, Bullards Bar Reservoir, Clear Lake, Folsom Lake, Lake Oroville and Lake Shasta in Northern CA. Try your panfish skills at The Delta, Lake Don Pedro, Lake McClure, Millerton Lake, Lake Nacimiento, New Melones Lake and Pine Flat Lake in Central CA. For panfish in Southern CA try Big Bear Lake, Lake Cahuilla, Lake Castaic, El Capitan Lake, Lake Hodges, Laguna Niguel Lake, Lower Otay Lake, Pyramid Lake, San Vicente Lake, Lake Silverwood, Lake Skinner and Lake Sutherland.
The California state record bluegill sunfish was taken out of Lower Otay Reservoir and a private pond near Bella Vista produced the CA syaye record green sunfish. The CA state record pumpkinseed sunfish was caught from Mt. Meadows Reservoir. Folsom So. Canal was home to the state record redear sunfish.
Striper Fishing in California
While stripers are native to salt water, they naturally migrate into fresh water streams to spawn. Their eggs must remain in motion in order to hatch so the fresh water rivers and streams which drain into the ocean become the spawning grounds for stripers.
Striper Fishing Lakes In California
The Colorado River lakes along the California-Arizona border are populated with striped bass. Before dams were built the river was a major spawning ground and many monster stripers have come from these waters.
In Central CA, Millerton Lake is the primary option for striper fishing. Southern CA has several options including Lake Cahuilla, Pyramid Lake and Lake Silverwood.
The California state record striped bass was caught from the ONeill Forebay.
Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis 
World Record: 78.8 lbs
California Freshwater sport fishing regulations          California Ocean sport fishing regulations