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California regulations

Steelhead Regulations in California 2026

California Steelhead regulations as of 2026-05-06: Daily bag 2 fish/day; Possession 4 fish; Season end Mar 31. Sourced from CDFW.

CDFWVerified Official source

Rules (148)

Albion River (Mendocino Co.). Main Stem Below The Confluence Of South Fork Albion.
Season closes
Mar 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Alder Creek (Mendocino Co.). Main Stem Below Tramway Gulch.
Season closes
Mar 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
All Anadromous Waters Except Those Listed By Name In Section 7.40, Special Regulations (See Definition Of Anadromous Waters, Section 1.04)
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
All Anadromous Waters Except Those Listed By Name In Section 7.40, Special Regulations (See Defnition Of Anadromous Waters, Section 1.04).
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
All Anadromous Waters Of The Klamath River Basin And Trinity River Downstream Of Lewiston DamClosed
Status
Closed
Closed to the take of trout and steelhead
All Anadromous Waters Tributary To Humboldt Bay, And North Of Humboldt Bay, Except Those Of The Klamath And Trinity River Systems And Those Listed By Name In The Special Regulations.
Season closes
Oct 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Gear
Barbless
All Wild SteelheadCatch & release
Status
Catch And Release
must be released unharmed. Wild steelhead are identified by having an intact adipose fin.
American River (Sacramento Co.) From The Jibboom Street Bridge To The Mouth.Out of season
Season opens
Jul 16
Season closes
Dec 16
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
American River (Sacramento Co.) From The Smud Power Line Crossing At The Southwest Boundary Of Ancil Hoffman Park Downstream To The Jibboom Street Bridge.Out of season
Season opens
Jul 16
Season closes
Dec 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
American River (Sacramento Co.) From The U.s. Geological Survey Gauging Station Cable Crossing About 300 Yards Downstream From The Nimbus Hatchery Fsh Rack Site To The Smud Power Line Crossing At The Southwest Boundary Of Ancil Hoffman Park.Out of season
Season opens
Jul 16
Season closes
Oct 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Anadromous WatersOpen
Status
Permitted
All anglers must have a Steelhead Fishing Report and Restoration Card in their possession while fishing for or taking steelhead
Anadromous Waters Of Tehama And Shasta Cos. Not Listed In The Special Regulations. (Section 7.40). (See Subsections (B)(80) Of Section 7.40, Regarding The Sacramento River.)
Season closes
Nov 15
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Gear
Barbless
Antelope Creek (Tehama Co.) From Confluence With North Fork Downstream To U.s. Geological Survey Gauging Station Cable Crossing At Mouth Of Antelope Creek Canyon.
Season closes
Nov 15
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Antelope Creek (Tehama Co.) From U.s. Geological Survey Gauging Station Cable Crossing At Mouth Of Antelope Creek Canyon Downstream To Mouth Of Antelope Creek.Out of season
Season opens
Jun 16
Season closes
Sep 30
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Antelope Creek From Confluence With North Fork Downstream To U.s. Geological Survey Gauging Station Cable Crossing At Mouth Of Antelope Creek Canyon.
Season closes
Nov 15
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Gear
Barbless
Antelope Creek From U.s. Geological Survey Gauging Station Cable Crossing At Mouth Of Antelope Creek Canyon Downstream To Mouth Of Antelope Creek.Out of season
Season opens
Dec 1
Season closes
Mar 7
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Gear
Barbless
but only on Sat., Sun., Wed., legal holidays and opening and closing days.
Aptos Creek (Santa Cruz Co.) From Mouth To Bridge On Aptos Creek Road (First Bridge On Aptos Creek Road).
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Arroyo De La Cruz From Mouth To Lopez Canyon Dam.In season
Season opens
Dec 1
Season closes
Oct 15
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Gear
Barbless
Arroyo Del Valle Between Bernal Ave. And The Thiessen St. Intersection With Vineyard Ave.
Season closes
Mar 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Gear
Barbless
from the fourth Sat. in May through Mar. 31. Only barbless hooks may be used from Nov. 1 through Mar. 31.
Arroyo Seco River (Monterey Co.). The Main Stem Arroyo Seco And Tributaries Below The Waterfall Located Approximately 3.5 Miles Upstream From The U.s. Forest Service Ranger Station.
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Auburn Ravine Creek And Tributaries (Placer Co.) East Of Nelson Lane.
Season closes
Oct 15
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Battle Creek (12)
Season closes
Mar 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Gear
Barbless
Battle Creek (13)
Season closes
Oct 15
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Battle Creek (Shasta And Tehama Cos.) From 250 Feet Upstream From The Coleman Fish Hatchery Upstream To Angel Falls (Near Mineral) On The South Fork And To Ponderosa Way Bridge On The North Fork.
Season closes
Nov 15
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Battle Creek From 250 Feet Upstream From The Coleman Fish Hatchery Upstream To Angel Falls (Near Mineral) On The South Fork And To Ponderosa Way Bridge On The North Fork.
Season closes
Nov 15
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Gear
Barbless
Bear River (Humboldt Co.) Downstream From County Road Bridge At Capetown, Excluding Tributaries.
Season closes
Mar 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Bear River And Tributaries (Placer Co.) From Highway 65 To The South Sutter Irrigation District Diversion Dam.
Season closes
Oct 15
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Big Chico Creek
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Big Chico Creek (Butte Co.) From Bear Hole To The Upper Boundary Of The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve.Out of season
Season opens
Nov 1
Season closes
Apr 30
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Big Chico Creek (Butte Co.) From Mouth To Bear Hole, Located Approximately One Mile Downstream From The Upper End Of Bidwell Park.Out of season
Season opens
Jun 16
Season closes
Feb 15
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Big Chico Creek From Bear Hole To The Upper Boundary Of The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve.Out of season
Season opens
Nov 1
Season closes
Apr 30
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Gear
Barbless
Big Chico Creek From Mouth To Bear Hole, Located Approximately One Mile Downstream From The Upper End Of Bidwell Park.Out of season
Season opens
Jun 16
Season closes
Feb 15
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Gear
Barbless
from Oct. 16 through Feb. 15.
Big Lagoon (Humboldt Co.). For Purposes Of This Subsection, The Boundary Between Big Lagoon And Maple Creek Is The First Private Road Bridge, Located Approximately 1/2 Mile Southeast Of The Highway 101 Bridge Crossing.
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Big River (Mendocino Co.). Main Stem Below The Confluence Of Two Log Creek.
Season closes
Mar 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Brush Creek (Mendocino Co.). Main Stem Below The Lawson Bridge.
Season closes
Mar 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Butano Creek (San Mateo Co.). From Mouth To County Bridge On Pescadero-Bean Hollow Road.
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Butte Creek (Butte And Sutter Cos.) From Oro-Chico Road Bridge Crossing South Of Chico To The Centerville Head Dam, Located 300 Yards Downstream From The Desabla Powerhouse Below Desabla Reservoir.Out of season
Season opens
Nov 15
Season closes
Feb 15
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Butte Creek (Butte And Sutter Cos.) From The Oro-Chico Road Bridge Crossing South Of Chico To The Point That Butte Creek Enters The Sacramento River Both Via Butte Slough Outfall Gates At Moon’s Bend And Through Butte Slough, Thence Both The East And West Canals Of The Sutter Bypass, Thence Sacramento Slough.Closed
Status
Closed
Closed to the take of trout and steelhead.
Calaveras River Downstream From New Hogan Dam And The Diverting Canal (Mormon Slough) From Bellota Weir Downstream To Interstate Highway 5
Season closes
Mar 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Every Body Of Water Listed In Subsection (B)Closed
Status
Closed
Every body of water listed in subsection (b) is closed to the take of hatchery trout, hatchery steelhead, and salmon and to fishing for these species, unless otherwise noted.
From The Jibboom Street Bridge To The Mouth.Out of season
Season opens
Dec 17
Season closes
Dec 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
From The Oro-Chico Road Bridge Crossing South Of Chico To The Point That Butte Creek Enters The Sacramento River Both Via Butte Slough Outfall Gates At Moon’s Bend And Through Butte Slough, Thence Both The East And West Canals Of The Sutter Bypass, Thence Sacramento Slough.Closed
Status
Closed
Closed to the take of trout and steelhead.
From The Smud Power Line Crossing At The Southwest Boundary Of Ancil Hoffman Park Downstream To The Jibboom Street Bridge.Out of season
Season opens
Jul 16
Season closes
Dec 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
From The U.s. Geological Survey Gauging Station Cable Crossing About 300 Yards Downstream From The Nimbus Hatchery Fish Rack Site To The Smud Power Line Crossing At The Southwest Boundary Of Ancil Hoffman Park.Out of season
Season opens
Jul 16
Season closes
Oct 31
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Gear
Barbless
Laguna De Santa Rosa (Sonoma Co. Tributary To Russian River) Upstream From Guerneville Road BridgeClosed
Status
Closed
Closed to the take of trout and steelhead.
Ocean WatersClosed
Status
Prohibited
Other prohibited saltwater species (in ocean waters)
Salmon Creek Main Stem Above Highway 1 And All Salmon Creek Tributaries.Closed
Status
Closed
Closed to the take of trout and steelhead.
San Diego Creek (Orange Co.). Downstream Of The Macarthur Blvd. Bridge Only.Closed
Status
Closed
Closed to the take of trout, and steelhead.
San Gabriel River (Los Angeles And Orange Cos.) Upstream Of The Highway 22 Bridge To The Start Of Concrete-Lined Portion Of The River Channel.Closed
Status
Closed
Closed to the take of trout and steelhead.
Santa Rosa Creek (Sonoma Co. Tributary To Russian River) From Laguna De Santa Rosa To Highway 12 Bridge.Closed
Status
Closed
Closed to the take of trout, and steelhead.
That Portion Of Any Stream West Of Any Highway 1 Bridge Except Those Listed By Name In Section 7.40, Special Regulations.Out of season
Season opens
Dec 1
Season closes
Mar 7
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Possession
4 fish
Gear
Barbless
but only on Sat., Sun., Wed., legal holidays and opening and closing days.

Also known as

Steelhead is also called Hatchery Steelhead. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in California.

Frequently asked questions

When is Steelhead season in California?

Steelhead season in California runs from Jul 16 to Mar 31 per CDFW.

What is the size limit for Steelhead in California?

California does not publish a state-wide minimum size for Steelhead. Check zone-specific rules above.

What is the daily bag limit for Steelhead in California?

Daily bag limit for Steelhead in California is 2 fish/day in Albion River (Mendocino Co.). Main Stem Below The Confluence Of South Fork Albion., per CDFW.

Official sources cited

Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with CDFW before keeping a catch. Last verified .

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