California regulations
White Sturgeon Regulations in California 2026
California white sturgeon season runs Oct 1 – Jun 30 in 2026. Sourced from CDFW.
Rules (18)
California statewideCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Oct 1
- Season closes
- Jun 30
Sturgeon shall not be held out of water suspended by the gills, gill plates, mouth, or solely by the tail, and shall not be dragged across the ground, boat decks, or piers.
Anadromous Waters Of The Klamath, Trinity, And Smith River BasinsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Report card requirements apply to any person fishing for or taking White sturgeon
Inland Waters Statewide
- Max size
- 60"
- Gear
- Barbless
Any sturgeon greater than 60 inches fork length may not be removed from the water and shall be released immediately.
Long-Standing Area ClosureClosed
- Status
- Closed
between January 1 and March 15 as described in CCR T14, Section 27.90(i)
North Coast District (Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity And Siskiyou Counties)Closed
- Status
- Prohibited
Ocean
- Gear
- Report Card Required
anglers who are not required to have a sport fishing license are required to have report cards to fish for California spiny lobster and white sturgeon
Ocean WatersClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
- Max size
- 60 inches fork length
Sturgeon may not be gaffed, nor shall any person use any type of firearm or snare to take any sturgeon. White sturgeon greater than 60 inches fork length may not be removed from the water and shall be released immediately.
Sacramento River From Keswick Dam To The Highway 162 Bridge (Shasta, Tehama, Butte And Glenn Counties)Closed
- Status
- Prohibited
- Gear
- No Live Bait
It is unlawful to use lamprey or any type of shrimp as bait.
Sacramento River From The Keswick Dam Down To The Hwy 162 BridgeClosed
- Status
- Closed
San Francisco Bay Special ClosureIn season
- Season opens
- Mar 16
- Season closes
- Dec 31
Upstream Of The Confluence Of The Feather River To The Highway 162 Bridge On The Sacramento River And Upstream Of The I-5 Bridge On The San Joaquin River
- Season closes
- Dec 31
Yolo Bypass, Toe Drain Canal, And Tule Canal Upstream Of Lisbon WeirClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
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
- Steelhead148 rules
- Dungeness Crab55 rules
- Stripers (Striped Bass)35 rules
- White Seabass33 rules
- California Halibut24 rules
- Spiny Lobster16 rules
- Rockfish15 rules
- Lingcod11 rules
- Yellowtail7 rules
- Smallmouth Bass5 rules
- Largemouth Bass2 rules
Frequently asked questions
When is White Sturgeon season in California?
White Sturgeon season in California runs from Mar 16 to Dec 31 per CDFW.
What is the size limit for White Sturgeon in California?
California does not publish a state-wide minimum size for White Sturgeon. Check zone-specific rules above.
What is the daily bag limit for White Sturgeon in California?
Daily bag for White Sturgeon in California varies by zone; see the table above.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/california/fishing/species-regulations
- https://www.eregulations.com/california/fishing/freshwater-sport-fishing-regulations
- https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Fishing-Map/Central
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with CDFW before keeping a catch.