Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
Bluegill hold around docks, weed edges, and shallow cover, feeding on small insects and worms suspended just off the bottom. Simple, light tackle is genuinely the whole game here, and it's one of the most reliable ways to introduce a beginner to fishing.
Typical size: 4-10in · Peak season: spring, summer. Always check current CDFW regulations for size and bag limits before keeping fish.
Float Rig
A float suspends bait at a fixed depth instead of dragging it on the bottom, letting current or light wave action carry it naturally past holding fish. This is the standard technique for salmon and steelhead in rivers, fished with roe or beads under a pencil float, and for light-tackle pier species like jacksmelt, where a small float and a multi-hook leader with tiny bait covers a school as it drifts through. Use it whenever fish are holding off bottom rather than on it, or when you want a natural drift through a current seam without snagging.
- Main line8-15 lb monofilament running through the float
- Leader15-25 lb fluorocarbon
- Leader length18-24in from the float to the hook, shorten in clear water, lengthen in off-color water
- Hooks#10 - #8 small hook
- WeightTiny split shot, just enough to cock a small float
- Line to sinkerShot placed 8-12in above the hook, or spaced 2in apart in a cluster halfway down the leader for salmon
- BaitA small piece of nightcrawler or a wax worm under a small bobber