Fall Chinook & Lingcod

Living in AZ makes for long trips to fish for salmon. Looking for advice for potential trips to CA coast or inland. I'm looking for locations that are further south so my driving is shorter distance for a quick trip of a few days of sleeping in the car or ground and jumping in the boat fishing for a couple of days.

I see where the Sac river has some opportunities. But looking at the maps there seems to be many inlets, bays and coast around San Fran north and south. any suggestions or input would be appreciated. I do take one long trip each year of driving 1000 miles to fish, but looking for closer options to chase fish for a couple of days without loading the RV.

I have limited knowledge of the salmon runs and lingcod on the CA coast, just what I find on blogs and internet, so any and all suggestions are great. I know the fishing up North is great but that's not an option for a quick trip of 4 days. Looking for spots with easy access to launch the kayak and stay for a few nights. Camp grounds, RV parks and such on or near the fishing spots.

Thanks for any input.

San Diego is a great option if you're driving from AZ. Bluefin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, Yellowtail, the occasional lingcod as well.

Quick trip of 4 days? You could do a 2 and 2 split of ocean and salt water fishing (2 days to fish lings in the salt and 2 days to fish chrome in the river)..... Or just do all 4 days on the coast and hit both salmon and lings. If u do the first option u can stop in sac and jig the Sacramento River off you kayak which is pretty easy and has plenty of launch sites, or if the sac is dead drive 20 minutes and bank fish the American which is usually a sure shot if u time it right. Two days of that and then drive to sf (2hours). And take a cattle boat for 120 dollars and get a limit of cod and lings, or drive ur self a little further north or south towards Santa Cruz adding about an hour to ur commute and just do the whole lingcod gig ur self.

Personally I would do the two days in Sacramento, camping at a koa or ask Sherwood marina If they would let u set up a tent in the rv sect. Go floss the American River early AM. Then come back and jig the Sacramento off your kayak or toss spinners off the bank. (Keep in mind there is a salmon possession limit, thinks it's 4 but don't trust me). On ur second day take off in the evening to bodega bay. Camp at Doran, westside, or Lawson's. hit tomales the next morning for halibut and or sharks (sharks fight way better and are dumb easy to catch). Stay another night then head off early am to a place like timber cove and get ur lingcod and rockfish. Shoot u can even get ocean salmon if it's a good bite.

Check the regs, WX, tides, and ur set. Good luck!


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Great information, thank you

Today the new addition of Salmon Trout Steelheader just arrived after I posted this question. Two full pages on Kings in the Sacramento River, I had a good laugh when I saw that. Looks like a great opportunity for salmon. Not sure how strong the current is for paddling a kayak.

Right now you have a vey good shot at catching salmon AND lingcod if you spend four days fishing Half Moon Bay. That's where I'd go if I wanted to target both.


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