Discover California’s Official Freshwater Fish And Where to Catch Them

Quick Take

• The biggest threat to California's state fish isn't overfishing. Something that arrived in 1976 changed everything. See the non-native threat →
• Despite being California's official fish, it now holds secure claim to only a sliver of its original territory, and the math behind that loss is startling. See the range collapse →
• Volunteer fly fishers are quietly leading one of the most unconventional conservation efforts in California, relying on nothing more than a fishing rod and a fin clip rather than nets or labs. Explore volunteer DNA efforts →
• You can catch California golden trout well outside California, a fact that traces back to over a century of deliberate effort. See how stocking spread them →

California is home to a plethora of aquatic wildlife. Although there are plenty of saltwater creatures on the coast, the Golden State also has its share of freshwater fauna. While the Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) was named California’s official marine fish in 1995, the California golden trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita) was designated as the official freshwater fish of California in 1947. Continue reading to discover how this native trout secured the title.

Physical Characteristics of California Golden Trout

The name California golden trout refers to the fish’s vivid yellow-gold coloring. They are easy to recognize by their copper-colored backs and brilliant golden flanks, which have a horizontal red slash across a row of black splotches. California golden trout reach a maximum length of about eight inches and weigh around one pound. The California state record golden trout weighed 9 pounds 8 ounces. The world record, caught in Wyoming, weighed 11 pounds.

Distribution and Habitat

California golden trout are found in clean alpine streams at altitudes of more than 7,500 feet. In general, these fish can be found in the shallow parts of streams, including pools and undercut banks, where they feed on both terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates. In lakes, they primarily consume midges.

The original distribution of the California golden trout was limited to high-altitude headwater streams in two watersheds on the Kern Plateau of the southern Sierra Nevada in Tulare County, California: the South Fork Kern River and Golden Trout Creek, including Volcano Creek. Stocking and transplantation efforts of California golden trout began in the early 1870s, initially driven by small citizen groups before evolving into large-scale, state-run hatchery programs.

California golden trout can now be found not only in the South Fork Kern River and its tributaries but also in numerous other watersheds in the Sierra Nevada. More than 300 high alpine lakes and over 680 miles of streams outside of their native area have been stocked with California golden trout.

Conservation Status 

The California golden trout has been poorly managed in the past, and as a result, this species now faces a serious threat of extinction.

The species’ current range is a very small portion of its historical range. Historically, the California golden trout occupied roughly 450 to 593 linear miles of stream habitat across the upper South Fork Kern River and Golden Trout Creek. Only about 20 linear miles, or 4% of the 450 original linear miles, are thought to be secure, according to the U.S. Forest Service. 

Due to hybridization, habitat degradation, and other unfavorable changes, the California golden trout is in danger of becoming extinct. However, the federal and state agencies responsible for regulating the habitat of the California golden trout and preserving its genetic viability have been unable to prevent its decline through their regulatory processes.

Although captive-bred California golden trout are thriving, they are listed as a State Species of Special Concern because there is a significant difference between a species surviving in a hatchery-supported sport fishery and one surviving naturally in its native habitat.