January 2026 Fishing Report — Northern California (#306)
Weather — The weather in northern California can be brutal during the winter. Rain totals can easily be 2-3 times that see further south in the state and wind can be very strong. Be very cautious if wind and rain are predicted (I lived in the region).
The season for Dungeness crab is now open. The recreational fishery for Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) is open south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line through June 30, 2026. The fishery is open north of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line through July 30, 2025. The daily bag limit is 10 crabs, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches.
Spud Point Marina Pier (Bodega Bay) — The pier is open and a variety of perch can should be available on the bottom along with a few jacksmelt in the top-water section. Bat ray and leopard shark action should have slowed considerably but they are still a possibility. How To Get There: Take East Shore Rd. off of Hwy. 1 to Bay Flat Rd. Turn right and follow until the road turns into West Shore Rd. Continue on past the marina until you see the breakwater.
Point Arena Pier – The usual variety of fish should be available — striped perch, calico surfperch, cabezon, kelp rockfish, buffalo sculpin, and even an occasional lingcod. A visit was reported by fish-ninja who reported that on the morning of the 25th he visited the pier. He started with a Hi-Lo rig with market shrimp at the end of the and pier he had a few short greenlings. He moved to the inshore area to check if the perch were still around. He didn’t find action in the usual area and moved to the area where boats are docked. There he felt some bites. The first one he landed was a nice 14-inch striped perch! Then he found two more there. Being content he returned to the end of the pier and tested the Hi-Lo with market squid for a change. Had a nice hit on it, and managed to land a nice buffalo sculpin. He said, “This is the second time I landed one at the same spot where the last one was a few years ago.” He finished the baits that he planned to use so switched gear to try artificials. He tied a 6-inch swimbait on his casting rig and tossed far. He said, “the area is full of kelp so it is easy for me to snag it. I did not bottom it out to target the bottom but let it swim what I think of mid-range. My second cast got hit by something descent.... My first shore-caught lingcod! It is short at 17 inches but I didn't care. A kid fishing next to me was as excited to see it as I was. After taking some photos and release it back to water. I tried to cast it again. You know you won't get lucky again like that, right? I got hit again! This was an inch shorter but still a Smurf blue beauty. I GOT PSYCHED.” A good visit. Do be careful of fishing the pier during the winter system if storms are present. Huge waves can occur that can endanger those on the pier. How To Get There: From the south, turn left from Hwy. 1 onto Iverson Ave., which will turn into Port Rd. Simply follow the road to the pier. From the north, turn right onto Port Rd. and follow it to the pier.
Del Norte Street Fishing Pier (Eureka) — Expect a few perch and small rockfish along with an occasional jacksmelt. Some sharays, including BIG bat rays, may also make a visit. How To Get There: Take Highway 101 to the south end of Eureka, turn west on Del Norte Street and follow it to the pier.
Trinidad Pier — Typically a few perch (primarily striped seaperch), kelp greenling, rock greenling, small rockfish, and cabezon. Late fall sees some lingcod move into shallower waters and depending upon the weather some may still be around. Be careful, stormy weather and high tides can make the water here very hard to fish and even dangerous at times. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Trinidad exit and follow the road all the way to the harbor-it will change from Main Street to Trinity to Edwards Street. (A license is required from this pier.
Citizens Dock (Crescent City) — The pier is now restricted so fish around the inshore rocks where a variety of small rockfish, cabezon and an occasional seaperch are almost always available. At time jacksmelt are also available using Sabikis; simply cast out into the harbor waters. Often by January Pacific herring enter the harbor and some may be available using a Sabiki (although the area by the nearby Coast Guard station is usually better (but also requires a license since you’re fishing from shore). How To Get There: From Highway 101 turn west on Citizens Dock Road and follow it to the dock.
“B” Street Pier (Crescent City) — Not too many fish. The best shot is to try on the top with a Sabiki for jacksmelt although you never know what might hit (including salmon). An occasional starry flounder may be taken on the bottom but crabs can make fishing difficult. Wintertime may also see Pacific herring around the pier; they can be caught with Sabiki rigs. The good new is that this is a good pier for crabs and a lot of Dungeness should be available. How To Get There: Take Highway 101 to Front Street, go west on Front Street to B Street, then go south (left) on B Street to the pier.
Weather — The weather in northern California can be brutal during the winter. Rain totals can easily be 2-3 times that see further south in the state and wind can be very strong. Be very cautious if wind and rain are predicted (I lived in the region).
The season for Dungeness crab is now open. The recreational fishery for Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) is open south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line through June 30, 2026. The fishery is open north of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line through July 30, 2025. The daily bag limit is 10 crabs, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches.
Spud Point Marina Pier (Bodega Bay) — The pier is open and a variety of perch can should be available on the bottom along with a few jacksmelt in the top-water section. Bat ray and leopard shark action should have slowed considerably but they are still a possibility. How To Get There: Take East Shore Rd. off of Hwy. 1 to Bay Flat Rd. Turn right and follow until the road turns into West Shore Rd. Continue on past the marina until you see the breakwater.
Point Arena Pier – The usual variety of fish should be available — striped perch, calico surfperch, cabezon, kelp rockfish, buffalo sculpin, and even an occasional lingcod. A visit was reported by fish-ninja who reported that on the morning of the 25th he visited the pier. He started with a Hi-Lo rig with market shrimp at the end of the and pier he had a few short greenlings. He moved to the inshore area to check if the perch were still around. He didn’t find action in the usual area and moved to the area where boats are docked. There he felt some bites. The first one he landed was a nice 14-inch striped perch! Then he found two more there. Being content he returned to the end of the pier and tested the Hi-Lo with market squid for a change. Had a nice hit on it, and managed to land a nice buffalo sculpin. He said, “This is the second time I landed one at the same spot where the last one was a few years ago.” He finished the baits that he planned to use so switched gear to try artificials. He tied a 6-inch swimbait on his casting rig and tossed far. He said, “the area is full of kelp so it is easy for me to snag it. I did not bottom it out to target the bottom but let it swim what I think of mid-range. My second cast got hit by something descent.... My first shore-caught lingcod! It is short at 17 inches but I didn't care. A kid fishing next to me was as excited to see it as I was. After taking some photos and release it back to water. I tried to cast it again. You know you won't get lucky again like that, right? I got hit again! This was an inch shorter but still a Smurf blue beauty. I GOT PSYCHED.” A good visit. Do be careful of fishing the pier during the winter system if storms are present. Huge waves can occur that can endanger those on the pier. How To Get There: From the south, turn left from Hwy. 1 onto Iverson Ave., which will turn into Port Rd. Simply follow the road to the pier. From the north, turn right onto Port Rd. and follow it to the pier.
Del Norte Street Fishing Pier (Eureka) — Expect a few perch and small rockfish along with an occasional jacksmelt. Some sharays, including BIG bat rays, may also make a visit. How To Get There: Take Highway 101 to the south end of Eureka, turn west on Del Norte Street and follow it to the pier.
Trinidad Pier — Typically a few perch (primarily striped seaperch), kelp greenling, rock greenling, small rockfish, and cabezon. Late fall sees some lingcod move into shallower waters and depending upon the weather some may still be around. Be careful, stormy weather and high tides can make the water here very hard to fish and even dangerous at times. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Trinidad exit and follow the road all the way to the harbor-it will change from Main Street to Trinity to Edwards Street. (A license is required from this pier.
Citizens Dock (Crescent City) — The pier is now restricted so fish around the inshore rocks where a variety of small rockfish, cabezon and an occasional seaperch are almost always available. At time jacksmelt are also available using Sabikis; simply cast out into the harbor waters. Often by January Pacific herring enter the harbor and some may be available using a Sabiki (although the area by the nearby Coast Guard station is usually better (but also requires a license since you’re fishing from shore). How To Get There: From Highway 101 turn west on Citizens Dock Road and follow it to the dock.
“B” Street Pier (Crescent City) — Not too many fish. The best shot is to try on the top with a Sabiki for jacksmelt although you never know what might hit (including salmon). An occasional starry flounder may be taken on the bottom but crabs can make fishing difficult. Wintertime may also see Pacific herring around the pier; they can be caught with Sabiki rigs. The good new is that this is a good pier for crabs and a lot of Dungeness should be available. How To Get There: Take Highway 101 to Front Street, go west on Front Street to B Street, then go south (left) on B Street to the pier.