Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County Fishing Reports
Checkout the latest Contra Costa County fishing reports from local anglers and businesses.
Water temps were near their annual peak until the cooldown over the last couple of days. But it's still warm... hovering in the high 70s to low 80s. EBParks dropped two 500 lb catfish stocks in August, nothing in the last few weeks. Catfish action is decent on chicken livers and garlic prawns. The better bite has been for smaller bass at first...
Water temps were near their annual peak until the cooldown over the last couple of days. But it's still warm... hovering in the high 70s to low 80s. EBParks dropped two 500 lb catfish stocks in August, nothing in the last few weeks. Catfish action is decent on chicken livers and garlic prawns. The better bite has been for smaller bass at first light and late evening. Smaller swimbaits are getting fish, but dropshots and Senkos have been most consistent.
The bluegill/redear bite is very good on mealworms and redworms all around the shore. Even a few fly anglers are targeting them. Mostly small fish, but the occasional hand-sized slab. A couple crappie are being caught as well on jigs.
Latest Delta report from Steve Cooper. Overall, largemouth numbers are good.... but quality is not. 12–16 inchers, with anything over 3.5 lbs hard to come by. Vegetation is healthy with 5–7 ft of visibility in the central Delta. A solid topwater bite runs roughly 90 minutes starting at first light, then it's all about punching small shallow mats...
Latest Delta report from Steve Cooper. Overall, largemouth numbers are good.... but quality is not. 12–16 inchers, with anything over 3.5 lbs hard to come by. Vegetation is healthy with 5–7 ft of visibility in the central Delta. A solid topwater bite runs roughly 90 minutes starting at first light, then it's all about punching small shallow mats, mini chatterbaits in green pumpkin/craw and bluegill colors, and worming.
Stripers are being caught on largemouth baits, while dedicated striper guys are drifting live bluegill in current for decent numbers but few big fish.
Vaqueros continues to receive catfish stockings monthly, with another going in last week. The dam area has been best. Obviously, late evening is always ideal for catfish, but guys are finding plenty of action midday. Anchovies, garlic shrimp, and mackerel are working well. Folks are still pulling trout out of the lake too, even though the last...
Vaqueros continues to receive catfish stockings monthly, with another going in last week. The dam area has been best. Obviously, late evening is always ideal for catfish, but guys are finding plenty of action midday. Anchovies, garlic shrimp, and mackerel are working well.
Folks are still pulling trout out of the lake too, even though the last stock was in May (albeit a big 3,000 lb stock). Still fairly surprising for late August. Powerbait is the go-to for shore guys, launched as far out as possible from the docks near the marina (also good reports coming from Cowboy Cove). Trollers are finding big holdovers working the 100 ft range.
Stripers have been pushing into the backs of coves (Peninsula Cove is reportedly fishing well), with trollers nailing them... but most fish are undersized schoolies with the occasional keeper. Shore anglers are finding a quality bite soaking sardines or working glide baits in the mornings.
