California boasts an impressive striped bass fishery, with thriving populations in major rivers, reservoirs, and coastal areas. Seasonal runs and strong fights make stripers a favorite target for local anglers.
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Regulations for Striped bass in California
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in California can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Striped bass as of May 17th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.
Striped bass
Seasons
Open
Bag limit
2
Min size
18"
Measurement
Total Length
No closed season.
Minimum size only applies north of Point Conception. South of Point Conception there is no minimum size. No striped bass may be taken while using a sinker weighing over four pounds, or while using any power-driven curdy or winch.
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FAQ
Anglers in California commonly catch several Striped bass species, including Striped bass, White bass, and Hybrid striped bass, according to reports from Fishbrain members.
These species can be found in many coastal waters, lakes throughout the area. If you are targeting a specific species, you can use the to filter catches by species and see where anglers are catching them and which baits they are using.
The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Striped bass have recently been caught.