California anglers will have the chance to fish for one of the state’s most iconic species this fall as the white sturgeon catch-and-release season opens October 1, 2025, and runs through June 30, 2026. The opener, which spans California’s waters from the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay to the Delta and the lower Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, comes under new regulations adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission in August 2025. The rules establish a long-term framework for the fishery after emergency measures expired in September. For the first time, anglers will also be issued a no-fee sturgeon report card for the 2025–26 season, a change meant to ease the transition to the new system.
“The current white sturgeon fishing opener only applies to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, SF and San Pablo Bay’s,” explained Jay Rowan from CDFW in an email to The Log.
“The white sturgeon used in California’s caviar industry are not part of the wild white sturgeon populations and are contained in farms that are isolated from state waters and wild populations.
There are one or two reservoirs in southern California that have white sturgeon in them as a result of water managers purchasing and stocking fish from private Aquaculturists, but again we also do not view those as part of the white sturgeon population and the regulations associated with the opener do not apply.”
The white sturgeon is the largest freshwater fish in North America, a prehistoric species that can live more than 100 years and grow to lengths exceeding 12 feet. While prized for its size and sporting challenge, the species has suffered population declines in recent years. State monitoring has shown ongoing stress from factors including poaching, harmful algal blooms, poor Delta water conditions, and the long shadow of historical overharvest. Allowing the fishery to continue under catch-and-release rules is considered a careful balance between angler opportunity and conservation. Scientific data indicate that non-lethal take through catch-and-release will not harm the long-term viability of the population, provided anglers follow best practices. “With responsible catch-and-release angling and other conservation efforts, we can have world-class white sturgeon sport fisheries in California,” said Jay Rowan, Chief of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Fisheries Branch.
The new regulations also overhaul the state’s sturgeon report card program. Instead of following the calendar year, report cards will now align with the fishing season, October through June. The cards will also ask anglers to record more detailed data, giving fishery managers better information about fishing effort, catch rates, and population health. To encourage compliance, the 2025–26 card is free. Starting in 2026–27, the card will cost $8.13, down from the previous fee of $11.06.
“Since there is no fee for this year’s report card, this is a great opportunity for new and returning anglers to experience the thrill of catch-and-release fishing for this prehistoric giant,” said John Kelly, statewide sturgeon coordinator for CDFW.
Anglers who already purchased a 2025 calendar-year card can continue using it through December 31, 2025, or switch to the new card at any time. Old cards must either be mailed in by January 31, 2026, or reported online between January 1 and January 31, 2026. New season-aligned cards are available from license vendors or online. Although the 2025–26 card is free, anglers are still required to comply with all regulations when fishing for sturgeon. That includes knowing open and closed areas, observing seasonal boundaries, and reporting data at the end of the season. Report cards for the 2025–26 season must be submitted by July 31, 2026, either by mail or online.
The information collected supports long-term sturgeon management and conservation efforts statewide. Reliable angler reporting helps CDFW track the health of the fishery, monitor population trends, and adjust regulations as needed to protect this ancient species. California is one of the only states where anglers can pursue white sturgeon, making the season of interest to both local and visiting anglers. From the tidal waters of San Francisco Bay and the brackish Delta to the Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems, the fishery offers a unique chance to target a species that has survived virtually unchanged for millions of years.
By aligning regulations statewide and simplifying reporting, CDFW hopes to protect the fish while maintaining angler access. For California’s fishing community — from Northern California river anglers to ocean and Bay boaters—the new season represents both an opportunity and a responsibility. White sturgeon may be prehistoric, but their future depends on modern conservation and the anglers who fish for them today.
