California regulations
Steelhead Regulations in California 2026
California steelhead 2026 open seasons vary by 51 management regions. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from CDFW.
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.In 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 (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.In 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.In 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.
Other California fish regulations
Other regulated species in California with current rule pages — same CDFW source, same verification cadence.
- Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow)850 rules
- Salmon (Chinook, Coho, Pink)204 rules
- Dungeness Crab55 rules
- Stripers (Striped Bass)35 rules
- White Seabass33 rules
- California Halibut24 rules
- White Sturgeon18 rules
- Spiny Lobster16 rules
- Rockfish15 rules
- Lingcod11 rules
- Yellowtail7 rules
- Smallmouth Bass5 rules
- Largemouth Bass2 rules
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
- https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=209090&inline
- https://www.eregulations.com/california/fishing/district-definitions-and-general-regulations
- https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=239985&inline
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with CDFW before keeping a catch.