Species guide · California
White seabass fishing in California
Atractoscion nobilis, a nearshore species also called WSB, seabass and king croaker. Listed for the Northern California and Southern California regions. Shoulder season, about 5 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in San Francisco Bay South of the Bay Bridge at 62, 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 5 more weeks- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Off season
- May: Off season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Not present
No peak months. In season (shoulder or peak): Jun to Oct.
Research notes, Northern California region
Fish move northwest past Point Arguello as the Bight warms in late summer. Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay see white seabass in summer and fall, with much larger numbers in warm-water and El Nino years. Treat months as 3 in warm years.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Southern California
Shoulder season, about 5 more weeks- Jan: Off season
- Feb: Off season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Peak season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: Apr to Jul. In season (shoulder or peak): Mar to Oct.
Research notes, Southern California region
Best fishing comes with the spring market squid spawn, when large catches are made around the full moon in spring and early summer. Tagged adults are most surface-oriented April to October (peak July) and deepest December to February. Regulatory note: daily limit drops to one fish south of Point Conception from March 15 to June 15; 28 inch minimum size.
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 white seabass score this hour.
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (71) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 8 AM (74) · 30 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (69) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 8 AM (73) · 159 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (63) · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 8 AM (70) · 27 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (62) · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 5 PM (71) · 28 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (62) · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 5 PM (70) · 28 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (65) · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 5 PM (69) · 50 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (60) · Best day Wed, Sep 23 at 7 AM (65) · 17 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (64) · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 7 AM (68) · 61 named spots
Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (57) · Best day Wed, Sep 23 at 5 PM (59) · 117 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (58) · Best day Wed, Sep 23 at 5 PM (59) · 9 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 52°F to 72°F, best between 57°F and 66°F.
- Water depth
- 10 to 130 ft of water.
- Structure
- Kelp, reef, point, bank, open water and pier, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with moderate current.Tide stage matters less than current, bait and the squid spawn. Skippers anchor or drift on the up-current side of kelp beds and squid grounds so chum and baits carry to the fish.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
White seabass hold along kelp bed edges and over nearby sand where market squid gather, usually in 20 to 80 feet of water and shallower as the water warms. Fish a live squid on a dropper loop or fly-line a sardine near the kelp at dawn, dusk and after dark, especially around the spring full moon. Tagged fish spend most of their time in 52 to 66 degree water.
- Methods
- live bait fishing, fly-lining, dropper loop, trolling, jigging
- Lures
- swimbaits, fast-trolled spoons, artificial squid, bone jigs, iron jigs
- Bait
- live market squid, live sardine, large live anchovy, live Pacific mackerel, frozen squid
Regulations
California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with CDFW Sep 20, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
3 per day · Minimum 28 in, total length. Or twenty and one-half inches alternate length (Section 28.35).
Season: No closed season on file
CDFW pages disagree on the alternate length: the regulation text says 20.5 inches, the booklet summary table 21.5 inches, and the regional web pages 20 inches. Total length is 28 inches on all of them.
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
3 per day · Minimum 28 in, total length. Or twenty and one-half inches alternate length (Section 28.35).
Season: No closed season on file
CDFW pages disagree on the alternate length: the regulation text says 20.5 inches, the booklet summary table 21.5 inches, and the regional web pages 20 inches. Total length is 28 inches on all of them.
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026