California State Report Fish: The Full Information

“The Golden State” virtually wants no introduction in terms of angling. It’s already well-known for each the abundance of fish swimming by means of its waters and the sheer variety of species accessible. So as to add to that, there’s all the time the prospect to reel in a veritable trophy catch. And that’s the subject of this text. We’ll cowl all the massive ones and get you accustomed to California‘s state document fish.

You’ll get each the uncooked numbers for a number of the hottest species to focus on in California, together with the backstory. In any case, every record-breaking catch comes with its personal story of the way it occurred. Once you’re able to dive into them, scroll on!

Greatest Fish Caught in California by Species

Whether or not it’s freshwater or saltwater, it’s no exaggeration to say that fishing is world-class in California. Due to this fact it’s pure the fishing data are nothing to scoff at both. The species we’ve included within the article are listed alphabetically beneath and you may navigate to every part by merely clicking on their names.

Bass (Largemouth)

• California state document: 21 lbs, 12 oz on Castaic Lake in 1991.

Largemouth Bass are a cornerstone species for North American anglers, serving as virtually a logo of recent sportfishing. The distinctive mixture of intelligence, the various patterns they exhibit, and aggressiveness makes Largemouth the proper sport fish. And, certainly, they continue to be the preferred freshwater species within the US.

Whereas the Midwest and the South have historically been bastions of Bass fishing, California’s Largemouth waters each meet and exceed many of those fisheries. The Sacramento River, Lake Casitas, Clear Lake, and Castaic Lake are simply a number of the spots brimming with Bass.

And should you’ve been questioning how massive Largemouth get out right here, California holds a number of IGFA data. The present licensed state document belongs to Mike Arujo who reeled in a lunker weighing 21 kilos and 12 ounces on Castaic Lake in early March 1991. Nonetheless, Bob Crupi caught a 22-pounder on the identical lake only a week later. His fish, nonetheless, remained uncertified as a result of he determined to set it free earlier than an official might measure it.

However so as to add much more controversy, Mac Weakley caught a 25 lb and 1 oz world-beater at Lake Dixon in 2006. This fish would’ve damaged a 77-year-old Largemouth document, standing at 22 kilos and 4 ounces. Nonetheless, since he unintentionally snagged the fish, Mac determined to not pursue the document and launched arguably the largest Largie ever seen.

Catfish (Blue)

• California state document: 113 lbs, 4 oz at San Vicente Reservoir in 2008.

Being the biggest of the North American Catfish, Blue Catfish are true river monsters. They’re massive, highly effective fish able to rising to weights of over 100 kilos. And whereas they could lack some glamour different fish have, Blue Catfish are extremely tenacious fighters and all the time desirous to eat.

Whereas Catfish are widespread all through California’s freshwaters, the Blue selection has largely discovered its house within the southern a part of the state. Irvine Lake and San Vicente Reservoir are the 2 most prolific Blue Catfish fisheries, with a couple of dozen different lakes that includes good motion, too.

The California state document Blue Catfish was caught in San Vicente Reservoir in 2008. Steve Oudomsouk reeled in a monster specimen measuring 113 kilos and 5 ounces. The still-unbeaten fish was 57 inches lengthy with a girth of 39 inches.

In the meantime, the all-tackle document for Blue Catfish eclipses California’s by virtually 30 kilos. That one was set in 2011 on Kerr Lake in Virginia. The largest Blue Catfish ever caught weighed a shocking 143 kilos.

Crappie

• California state data: 4 lbs, 5 oz for Black Crappie in 2021 and 4 lbs, 8 oz for White Crappie in 1971, each caught on Clear Lake.

Favorites among the many Panfish household, Crappie are a number of the most scrumptious freshwater treats you possibly can hope to hook into. They’re widespread all through the US, making them a sustainable choice everytime you need one thing for dinner. After all, Crappie are additionally enjoyable to catch and nice to coach your angling abilities on.

Like elsewhere in America, Crappie have a robust presence in California. You’ll discover them in every kind of freshwaters. Lake Isabella, Lake Hodges, and New Melones Lake are among the many high picks. Nonetheless, Clear Lake will possible give you the most effective motion within the state.

As luck would have it, each the White and Black Crappie state data had been set exactly on Clear Lake. The primary one belongs to Carol Carlton who reeled in a 4 lb, 8 oz White Crappie in 1971. The Black Crappie document is more moderen – David Burruss set it in 2021 with a 4 lb, 5 oz fish.

If you wish to examine these to the all-tackle data, the largest White Crappie stood at 5 kilos and three ounces. The document for Black Crappie belongs to a barely larger fish, a 5 lb and eight oz slab. It was caught in 2018 on Richeison Pond in Tennessee.

Halibut (California)

• California state document: 67 lbs, 4 oz close to Santa Rosa Island in 2011.

As one of many largest members of the Flatfish household, California Halibut are as scrumptious as they’re odd-looking. After all, it’s the previous of those two attributes that make them common amongst anglers. Halibut put up a lukewarm battle, which fortunately they make up for with dividends when you style them on the dinner desk.

You may catch these tasty Flatfish all alongside California’s coasts. San Diego Bay, Half Moon Bay, and Bodega Bay are simply a number of the hotspots. Nonetheless, the fishing will get even higher nearshore and round offshore islands akin to Catalina, San Clemente, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz.

The present California state document for Halibut stands at 67 kilos and 4 ounces. Thoughts you, this can be a rod-and-reel document, set by Francisco River in 2011 close to Santa Rosa Island. A fair larger “doormat” Halibut was speared by a scuba diver named William Skwarlo in 1982. That fish weighed in at 72 kilos and eight ounces.

Since we’re speaking a couple of species that’s predominantly current in California’s waters, Francisco’s achievement additionally netted him the IGFA all-tackle accolade. However should you’ve ever puzzled how massive Flatfish get basically, the world document Pacific Halibut was a fish weighing 459 kilos. Extra of a carpet than a doormat, proper?!

Sturgeon (White)

• California state document: 468 lbs in San Pablo Bay in 1983.

Scientists declare Sturgeon have been round for almost 200 million years. And actually, all it takes is one take a look at them and also you’ll go, “Yep, that’s a dinosaur all proper.” With bony ridges throughout their backs, Sturgeon have the prehistoric look nailed all the way down to a tee. However that’s solely part of what makes them a preferred sport fish. Sturgeon can develop to weights of over 1,000 kilos whereas nonetheless retaining sufficient uncooked energy and agility to carry out acrobatic leaps when you wrestle them.

In California, the majority of the Sturgeon motion takes place alongside the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. There’s additionally wonderful fishing in San Francisco Bay, most notably in its northern elements which embody San Pablo Bay and Suisun Bay.

The largest Sturgeon seen in these waters was caught in San Pablo Bay in 1983. The combat that set the California state Sturgeon document was nothing wanting epic. Joey Pallotta was fishing on an 18′ fiberglass boat when he hooked into an enormous 468 lb river monster. The following battle lasted for five hours, throughout which he needed to swap to a much bigger boat, all whereas holding onto his rod.

Joey’s catch doubles as the present IGFA all-tackle document. Nonetheless, anglers catch larger White Sturgeon virtually routinely on the Fraser River in Canada. In reality, an 11′ 6″ brute was subdued on rod and reel as lately as 2021. However with the strict conservation strategies in place, these Sturgeon are saved within the water, tagged, and promptly launched, leaving no time for official measurements.

Trout (Rainbow)

• California state document: 27 lbs on Lake Natoma in 2005.

On the planet of freshwater fishing, Rainbow Trout fall among the many most revered and sought-after species. They’re stunning fish – virtually sleek in a method – that flip into terrific fighters as soon as hooked. And whereas the common Rainbow will weigh someplace between 2 and 5 kilos, trophy specimens generally develop to over 30 kilos.

Because of stocking efforts and cautious conservation strategies, you’ll discover Rainbow Trout in numerous lakes, streams, and rivers throughout California. The epic Shasta Lake is a chief spot to go to, together with Lake Tahoe and New Melones Lake, simply to call a couple of. However let’s not neglect Steelhead – the anadromous model of Rainbow Trout. You may catch these beauties in rivers akin to Klamath, Smith, and Eel.

In relation to California’s state document for Rainbow Trout, there are three completely different ones, relying on the way you take a look at it. The largest inland Rainbow Trout was landed in 2005 by an angler named Frank Palmer fishing on Lake Natoma. Nonetheless, this 27 lb specimen was crushed by one other fish caught in 2006 by James Harrold. 

James’s catch weighed in at 28 kilos and 5 ounces, however the caveat is that it was a Rainbow Trout he himself had raised in a personal pond. The third document, standing at 27 kilos and 4 ounces was set for a Steelhead, caught within the Smith River in 1976.

However so as to add to the conundrum, one angler caught a possible larger Rainbow on the Feather River in 2021, measuring 41 inches in size and 27 inches in girth. Had this fish not been launched, it might have in all probability damaged the California state document. Nonetheless, it’s unlikely it might’ve contended with the largest Rainbow Trout ever, which was a triploid that stood at 48 kilos.

Tuna (Bluefin)

• California state document: 395 lbs, 6 oz close to Tanner Financial institution offshore from San Diego in 2021.

Ask any angler who’s had the consideration of going through them they usually’ll inform you – only a few fish combat as exhausting as Bluefin Tuna. It’s not simply in regards to the dimension – though that does play a big function. Their immense stamina and unimaginable energy will make it look like you’re making an attempt to reel in a prepare moving into the other way.

Bluefin Tuna are yearly guests to California’s waters. The primary Bluefin usually begin exhibiting up offshore in June, staying within the space till early November. The perfect fishing usually takes place in Southern California. You’ll discover constitution fleets that provide Tuna journeys in San Diego, Dana Level, and Newport Seaside, amongst others.

The SoCal Bluefin Tuna scene has been on hearth lately. As a testomony to that, the most recent California state document fish was set in 2021. The angler who landed the fish was Floyd Sparks, who was fishing the Tanner Financial institution – an offshore Tuna hotspot. The Bluefin he caught weighed in at 395 kilos and 6 ounces, eclipsing the outdated document by 11 kilos.

Whereas this Tuna was definitely an enormous and exceedingly uncommon catch, the world document for a Pacific Bluefin is greater than double its weight. Donna Pascoe holds the all-tackle achievement for a 907 lb and 6 oz Bluefin she caught fishing in New Zealand. To set the document she needed to battle the fish for 4 hours.

Yellowtail

• California state document: 63 lbs, 1 oz close to Santa Barbara Island in 2000.

Yellowtail are an indicator species in Southern California. They’re quick, explosive fish that combat with plenty of ardor, making them a favourite catch for many native anglers. They develop fairly massive, too. The typical Yellowtail will weigh between 12 and 18 kilos with the potential to succeed in sizes of effectively over 50 kilos.

The entire of Southern California is legendary for its Yellowtail fishing. You may catch smaller specimens inshore and nearshore, however trophy fishing normally takes place round offshore islands akin to Catalina and San Clemente. The locals name the massive Yellowtail that lurk there “house guard” or “mossbacks.”

California at the moment has two state data for Yellowtail. The primary one is a rod-and-reel document that stands at 63 kilos and 1 ounce. The angler who set it was Kwang Nam Lee, who caught the Yellowtail whereas fishing close to Santa Barbara Island. The second document is an outdated spearfishing achievement courting again to 1988. A spearo named Tom Murray managed to search out a 65 lb big diving the Cortez Financial institution over 100 miles offshore from San Diego.

Nonetheless, the world document for Yellowtail belongs to Japan’s waters. There, in 2009, an angler named Masakazu Taniwaki caught an enormous weighing 109 kilos and a couple of ounces. The monster Yellow was almost 62 inches lengthy.

California State Report Fish: An Overview

When you’ve adopted alongside up to now, then you definitely’re already accustomed to every of the species listed and their data. Nonetheless, we’ve ready a recap within the type of a desk so you possibly can simply see the numbers for every California state document fish.

California: A West Coast Angling Heaven

When it comes to angling, California merely has all of it. Trophy Bass, well-stocked Trout lakes, a world-class saltwater fishery – you title it. And with every journey, there’s that once-in-a-lifetime alternative to reel in a real record-breaking big. However to take action, you first need to get on the market and begin fishing!

What California state document fish shocked you essentially the most? How did you want our breakdown of the data? Hit the remark button and tell us!

From a younger age, Marko has been a nature buff. His first contact with fishing got here by means of his dad who’d take him to the Danube River. It’s the place Marko obtained his primary angling schooling, landed his first catch (an Ide), and discovered how you can cook dinner a imply fish stew. Marko additionally enjoys climbing, working, touring, and writing about all of it.