2026 regulation year
California White sturgeon 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Acipenser transmontanus
Last updated
White sturgeon are California's largest freshwater fish and the iconic target of the San Francisco Bay–Delta sport fishery. After population concerns — including the 2022 harmful-algal-bloom die-off in San Francisco Bay — the Fish and Game Commission ended retention: the recreational fishery is now catch-and-release only, with no white sturgeon kept at any size. A Sturgeon Fishing Report Card is required, and the closely related green sturgeon may not be taken at all.
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Season
Catch-and-release only — no white sturgeon may be kept. The 2025–26 season runs October 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 in the ocean, San Francisco Bay, the Delta, and the lower Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, with a summer closure July 1 – September 30. Season dates are set annually by CDFW — verify before fishing.
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Catch-and-release only — no white sturgeon may be kept. Closed July 1 – September 30; the catch-and-release season window is set annually by CDFW.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 0 — catch-and-release only (no retention)
- Possession
- 0 — no white sturgeon may be kept or possessed from the sport fishery
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- No harvest at any size — catch-and-release only (the former 40–60 in fork-length retention slot no longer applies)
Gear restrictions
- A Sturgeon Fishing Report Card is required to fish for sturgeon — record and report every sturgeon caught (no-fee card for the current season)
- Hook-and-line only; sturgeon may not be taken by snagging
- Sturgeon may not be gaffed
- Keep released sturgeon in the water and handle them minimally before release
- Green sturgeon: take prohibited — release immediately and do not remove from the water
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific California waters:
Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta
Premier white sturgeon water; catch-and-release only, Sturgeon Report Card required
San Francisco, San Pablo & Suisun bays
Major sturgeon range; the 2022 harmful-algal-bloom die-off here helped drive the move to catch-and-release only
Lower Sacramento River
Catch-and-release season; winter high-flow periods produce the strongest bite
Lower San Joaquin River
Catch-and-release only; Sturgeon Report Card required
Official source
California Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes the authoritative 2026 Californiafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The white sturgeon rules on this page are sourced from California Department of Fish and Wildlife's official white sturgeon regulation page.
Visit official California fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
White sturgeon closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to California Department of Fish and Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any California trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is white sturgeon season in California?
- Catch-and-release only — no white sturgeon may be kept. The 2025–26 season runs October 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 in the ocean, San Francisco Bay, the Delta, and the lower Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, with a summer closure July 1 – September 30. Season dates are set annually by CDFW — verify before fishing. Those are the 2026 California dates; always confirm against California Department of Fish and Wildlife before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
- What is the California bag limit for white sturgeon?
- The California daily bag limit for white sturgeon is 0 — catch-and-release only (no retention). The possession limit is 0 — no white sturgeon may be kept or possessed from the sport fishery. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size white sturgeon can you keep in California?
- The California size rule for white sturgeon is No harvest at any size — catch-and-release only (the former 40–60 in fork-length retention slot no longer applies).
- Do you need a license to fish for white sturgeon in California?
- Yes. California requires a valid fishing license to fish for white sturgeon, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a California license — compare resident and non-resident California fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for white sturgeon in California?
- Yes. In California, white sturgeon fishing carries these gear rules: A Sturgeon Fishing Report Card is required to fish for sturgeon — record and report every sturgeon caught (no-fee card for the current season); Hook-and-line only; sturgeon may not be taken by snagging; Sturgeon may not be gaffed; Keep released sturgeon in the water and handle them minimally before release; Green sturgeon: take prohibited — release immediately and do not remove from the water.
- Do specific California waters have different white sturgeon rules?
- Yes. 4 named California waters carry rules that override the statewide white sturgeon regulation, including Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, San Francisco, San Pablo & Suisun bays, Lower Sacramento River, and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.