San Joaquin Delta Fishing Report | September 1, 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
12 to 17 feet deep; fish concentrate on current breaks
Presentation
Stay flexible on method. Troll shallow and deep runners, rattle traps and soft plastic swimbaits; drift live bait in smaller sloughs; anchor with cut and live bait; cast swimbaits when fish stack on current breaks.
Lures and baits
Shallow and deep diving plugs
Rattle traps
Soft plastic swimbaits
Live and cut bait in the sloughs
Advice for this week
Keep an open mind and be flexible, since the best method changes by day and area. Watch for weeds when trolling and be ready to switch to drifting or casting.
What is changing
Fish are coming up from the bay, passing through the West Delta and trickling up the San Joaquin. There are a lot of weeds out there, which can make trolling frustrating at times.
Next week
With more fish pushing up the system every week, it is shaping up to be a great fall in the Delta for striper anglers. The bite should keep improving.
Notable catch
Cal's biggest fish so far this fall was a 22 pounder that was safely released.
Striper action on the San Joaquin Delta is heating up in early September 2025 as more fish push up from the bay through the West Delta. Cal Kellogg’s best depth has been 12 to 17 feet, with a 22 pound fish safely released this week. Stay flexible: troll shallow and deep divers and swimbaits, or drift and anchor with live and cut bait in the smaller sloughs.
What is biting on the San Joaquin Delta right now?
Striped bass, and the action is getting exciting. Cal Kellogg reports more and more fish pushing up from the bay, through the West Delta, and up the San Joaquin. His biggest so far this fall was a 22 pounder, safely released, plus a 7 to 8 pound fish he kept for dinner. It gets better every trip.
What depth are the stripers holding on the Delta?
Cal’s best depth has been 12 to 17 feet. The fish are trickling up the system and staging where the current concentrates them. Stay mobile and target that 12 to 17 foot band, adjusting to where you mark and hook fish along the West Delta and San Joaquin.
What methods are working on the Delta?
Stay flexible. Trolling shallow runners, deep runners, Rat-L-Traps, and soft plastic swimbaits has been productive, though weeds can make trolling frustrating. In smaller sloughs, drifting with live bait or anchoring with cut and live bait works. These are not Catch America products, so use your confidence striper gear.
How should I target concentrated stripers on the Delta?
When you find fish stacked on a current break, casting soft plastic swimbaits is productive. Otherwise keep an open mind and rotate between trolling, drifting, and anchoring with bait depending on the area. Flexibility is the key theme, since different spots reward different methods day to day.
What is the outlook for the San Joaquin Delta?
Great. Cal says it seems to get better every time he hits the water as more fish push in from the bay, setting up a strong fall for Delta striper anglers. Longer-term outlook and exact numbers were not specified in this report.
Watch the full report
San Joaquin Delta September 1, 2025 FAQ
Cal’s best depth has been 12 to 17 feet along the West Delta and San Joaquin.
Trolling divers, Rat-L-Traps, and swimbaits, plus drifting or anchoring with live and cut bait in the sloughs.
Cal released a 22 pounder this week and kept a 7 to 8 pound fish, with other fish on swimbaits.
Fish are pushing up from the bay through the West Delta and trickling up the San Joaquin.
It is effective but weeds can be frustrating. Casting swimbaits works well when fish stack on current breaks.
Strong. Cal says it gets better every trip as more fish push in, setting up a great fall.
