UTERWhite sturgeon fishing in Central California Coast
In Central California Coast, white sturgeon peak December–March and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: San Pablo and Suisun Bay — ghost shrimp, eel or lamprey on the bottom on the big outgoing tides. White sturgeon is a CESA candidate: catch-and-release only, report card required — check CDFW.
No note for October — see the months around it.
White sturgeon in Central California Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakSan Pablo and Suisun Bay — ghost shrimp, eel or lamprey on the bottom on the big outgoing tides. White sturgeon is a CESA candidate: catch-and-release only, report card required — check CDFW.
- FebruaryPeakPeak: the deep channel edges off Benicia and the Carquinez Strait.
- MarchPeakFish moving up to spawn.
- AprilLeaving
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberArrivingSturgeon return to the bays with the first rains.
- DecemberPeakWinter peak in San Pablo Bay.
Where to fish white sturgeon near Morro Bay, Monterey, Santa Cruz
A rugged, cold coast of kelp and granite — Big Sur, Monterey Bay's submarine canyon, Half Moon Bay, the Farallones — and San Francisco Bay, San Pablo and Suisun Bays running up into the Delta.
What to use for white sturgeon
- Ghost shrimpThreaded on a #4 to 1/0 baitholder hook on a Carolina rig in the surf or the bay — the surfperch, corbina and sturgeon bait.
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- Salmon eggs (roe)A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters.
- Leader15–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–2/0
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 46–66°F water, best at 50–60°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch white sturgeon in Central California Coast?
Peak season is December–March. White sturgeon are here year-round. January: San Pablo and Suisun Bay — ghost shrimp, eel or lamprey on the bottom on the big outgoing tides. White sturgeon is a CESA candidate: catch-and-release only, report card required — check CDFW.
Where do white sturgeon hold in Central California Coast?
Look on channel edge, grass flat, pass / inlet, bridge — around Morro Bay, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Berkeley.
What is the best bait for white sturgeon in Central California Coast?
Live bait: ghost shrimp, herring, salmon eggs (roe). Ghost shrimp: Threaded on a #4 to 1/0 baitholder hook on a Carolina rig in the surf or the bay — the surfperch, corbina and sturgeon bait. Tackle: leader 15–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–2/0, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for white sturgeon in Central California Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.
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