California Coastal Fishing Report: Tuna Surprise, Salmon Returns, and Inshore Action

Good morning, anglers—Artificial Lure checking in with your Pacific Ocean, California fishing report for Saturday, August 30, 2025.

The region is greeting us with a beautiful late-summer morning; *sunrise came at 6:33AM* and you can expect sunset at 7:38PM according to Tide-Forecast. Today the tides are serving subtle changes for inshore planning: low tide at 3:29AM, high tide at 8:53AM, another low at 3:12PM, and a modest evening high at 10:08PM. With only minor swings (peaking at 0.26 ft. tonight), don’t expect much tide-driven current for surf fishing, but pay close attention—slack tide windows can mean fish settle into structure and become catchable on target presentations.

Weather’s setting up nicely along much of the coast: expect mild early morning temperatures rising into the comfortable 70s and 80s, light northwest breezes, and patchy morning fog burning off by late morning. These conditions will keep bait fish active and predators cruising around kelp lines and rocky outcroppings.

Recent catches have seen a *big surprise*: Albacore tuna have finally been caught off Morro Bay after years of absence—local anglers are buzzing about boats landing these prized pelagics. If you’re looking to chase bluewater action, run offshore with trolling feathers, cedar plugs, and deep-diving Rapalas in blues and pinks. Live sardines and anchovies are solid bait options for tuna, but fast-moving artificials are drawing strikes today.

Inshore, the saltwater bite continues. According to Cope’s Tackle & Rod weekly report, striped bass are favoring cut sardines, anchovies, and lugworms at river mouths and estuaries, with white jerkbaits and topwater lures producing on shallow flats. Halibut and fluke are best targeted with bucktail jigs tipped with squid or smelt—the best models around are minnow-shaped, 1-2 oz with 3D eyes for maximum flash. Kelp bass are hammering paddle-tail swimbaits fished deep around kelp stalks, while rockfish fill sacks for those dropping jigs and squid strips to deeper reefs.

Salmon action is picking up—NOAA Fisheries updated quotas for non-mark-selective coho salmon; recreational boats from Cape Falcon south are seeing renewed opportunity beginning September 1, so gear up with flashers rigged with herring, anchovy, or large hoochies. Cape Mendocino and Shelter Cove have been consistent for Chinook and coho, especially during dawn's first light.

Up in river systems like the Feather River, as reported by DWR, spring-run Chinook tallied 17,754 passing through the station this season, and fall-run started moving in July—if you’re in freshwater stretches close to the coast, focus on large plugs, roe, or bright spinner rigs as salmon show in holding pools.

Hot Spots:
- **Morro Bay**: For nearshore and albacore, launch early and head out to the color change!
- **Shelter Cove**: Steady rockfish, lingcod, and salmon action.
- **Santa Cruz Wharf**: Great for surfperch, barred perch, and inshore stripers on sand crabs and Gulp sandworms.
- **Feather River mouth**: Salmon and steelhead beginning their upstream push.

Best Lures & Bait:
- **Tuna**: Cedar plugs, feather jigs, deep-diving Rapalas; live sardine or anchovy if soaking.
- **Bass/Surfperch**: White jerkbaits, topwater walkers, cut sardines, lugworms.
- **Halibut/Fluke**: Bucktail jigs, Squid-tipped minnow jigs.
- **Rockfish/Kelp Bass**: Paddle-tail swimbaits, large plastics, squid.
- **Salmon**: Hoochies with flashers, rigged anchovy, plug-cut herring.

Calm conditions, a stable tide, and bait around the kelp lines—expect reliable action and potential surprises if you venture offshore. Grab those artificials, watch the tide, and hit those change-of-light periods for the best chance at big fish!

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