upfront209 CATFISH Catfish are some of the most abundant fish in the Delta. You can find Channel, White, Bullhead, and Giant Blue Catfish. If you want to hook one, cast your reel in shallow waters at nighttime in summer months.
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WHAT A CATCH!
WHERE AND WHAT TO FISH FOR THIS SUMMER BY SARAH STEFFENS
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he San Joaquin Delta is a fascinating and unique fishing destination that every fisherperson needs to experience. Called the “California Delta” or “The Delta” by locals, it includes about 55 islands and encompasses over 1,100 square miles of both land and water, including parts of five counties. You can think of the Delta as a triangle with its northeastern corner being Sacramento on the Sacramento River, its southeastern corner being Stockton on the San Joaquin River, its central area
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being Antioch, and its western tip being where it empties into the San Francisco Bay near Vallejo. It contains both freshwater from the California mountains and saltwater from the Pacific Ocean. Levees keep the land in the Delta dry and the freshwater and saltwater from mixing. The middle of the Delta, referred to as the lowlying delta land, is mostly below sea level. With its diverse ecosystems, The Delta is home to an impressive selection of fish. Here’s what you can find in Delta waters this summer.
SALMON King Salmon make their way from the ocean upstream toward Sacramento in late summer and can be easily found in the fall. Follow their migration pattern north up the Delta through November for a better chance of catching them. Salmon up to 30 pounds have been seen in the Delta!
BASS Spotted, Smallmouth, and Largemouth Bass, which can grow up to 15 pounds, thrive in the Delta. Striped Bass were introduced from the East Coast into the Delta in the 1800s and have been found at up to 50 pounds here. Largemouth and Striped Bass fishing is at its peak in the springtime and can be caught just about anywhere in the Delta, however, it’s the Smallmouth and Spotted Bass you’ll find most in summer months, especially the further north you travel.
WHAT ELSE? Bluegill, Panfish, Sunfish, Sturgeon, and more call the Delta waters home.
