Species guide · California
Leopard shark fishing in California
Triakis semifasciata, an inshore species also called leopard, tiger shark and cat shark. Listed for the Northern California and Southern California regions. Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in San Francisco Bay South of the Bay Bridge at 68, one of 11 California bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Northern California
Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks- Jan: Off season
- Feb: Off season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: May to Aug. In season (shoulder or peak): Mar to Oct.
Research notes, Northern California region
San Francisco Bay, Tomales Bay, Elkhorn Slough and Humboldt Bay. The SF Bay stock is mostly resident but at least 10 percent move to the ocean in fall and winter. Pupping in bays runs March through July. Regulatory note: 36 inch minimum size and 3 fish limit (verify current rules).
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Southern California
Peak season, about 2 more weeks- Jan: Off season
- Feb: Off season
- Mar: Off season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: Jun to Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): Apr to Nov.
Research notes, Southern California region
Mission Bay, San Diego Bay, Long Beach and Santa Monica Bay beaches and piers. Pregnant females gather in warm shallow water off San Diego County June to December, with abundance tracking sea surface temperature. The La Jolla aggregation sits inside a no-take marine reserve.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 11
California bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's leopard shark score this hour.
Best window today 5-7 PM (69) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (74) · 30 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (66) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (72) · 159 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (62) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (75) · 9 named spots
Best window today 5 PM-12 AM (59) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (72) · 17 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (55) · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 7 PM (68) · 117 named spots
Best window today 5 PM-12 AM (38) · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 6 PM (68) · 61 named spots
Best window today 5 PM-12 AM (30) · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 7 PM (56) · 28 named spots
Best window today 5 PM-12 AM (30) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 1 AM (63) · 27 named spots
Best window today 5 PM-12 AM (30) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 8 AM (65) · 28 named spots
Best window today 5 PM-12 AM (30) · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 7 PM (66) · 50 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 54°F to 78°F, best between 60°F and 72°F.
- Water depth
- 2 to 40 ft of water.
- Structure
- Flat, bay, estuary, marsh, channel, beach and pier, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide and high tide, with moderate current.Telemetry in Tomales Bay showed leopard sharks moving toward the inner bay mudflats on incoming tides to feed and back out on outgoing tides. Fish the channel edges and flats as the tide floods.
- Light
- Some lift around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 18 kt of wind and 2 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Leopard sharks cruise shallow mudflats, sloughs and channel edges in bays, most often in less than 15 feet of water, and follow the flooding tide onto the flats to feed on crabs, worms, clams and small fish. Anchor or fish from shore or a pier with a sliding sinker rig and a chunk of squid, mackerel or ghost shrimp on the bottom. The bite is often better into the evening and at night.
- Methods
- bottom fishing, pier fishing, shore fishing, anchored skiff
- Bait
- squid, mackerel, anchovy, herring, ghost shrimp, innkeeper worms, clam
Regulations
California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with CDFW Sep 16, 2026.
No reviewed leopard shark rule for California is on file yet. Check with CDFW before you keep one.