Big Sur River (Monterey County)

Steelhead fishing is allowed downstream of the Highway 1 bridge to the mouth. Any steelhead angling technique and fly can yield results. The most important thing is to cover water and be in the right place at the right time. Like with all steelhead fishing along the central coast, persistence pays off.

Area or Body of Water	Open Season	Bag Limit
Big Sur River below the bridge at Highway 1.	Dec. 1– March 7, but only on Sat., Sun., Wed., legal holidays and the opening and closing days. The Big Sur R. west of Highway 1, all of Limekiln Creek, and the portions of all other Big Sur Coast streams west of Highway 1 in Monterey Co., from Granite Ck. south to Salmon Ck., shall be closed to all fishing when the department determines that the flow at the USGS gauging station on the Big Sur R. is less than 40 cfs (call 831-649-2886 for flow info). Only barbless hooks may be used.	0 (zero)

The upper section above the state park offers plenty of native rainbows averaging 6 to 10 inches. They’re aggressive and will take any small, well-presented standard dry fly, but they’re spooky so be mindful of your approach. Unless you like the idea of swimming the gorge pool and scaling the boulders at the head of it, hiking for at least 2 hours on the Pine Ridge Trail (a moderate hike) is the only way to get there. Your first access will be Ventana Camp.

Area or Body of Water	Open Season	Bag Limit
Big Sur River and tributaries above the upstream end of the gorge pool at the boundary of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park with the Ventana Wilderness Area	Fourth Saturday in May through Oct. 31. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.	0 (Zero)

Central Coast Fly Fishing 7172 Carmel Valley Road Carmel, CA  93923 (831) 626-6586