CaliforniaCoastal Cutthroat Trout
Smith River
Updated
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Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii
The cutthroat of the coast range, resident in small redwood and fir streams and sea-run in the rivers that reach the Pacific.
Size range
8–24 in
Size range
Typical adult length in the waters we cover.
Water temperature
Coldwater
Water temperature
Preferred thermal regime for this species.
Active season
Year round in coastal creeks; sea-run fish late summer through winter
Active season
When anglers most often encounter this species.
Origin
Native
Origin
Stocking and native history where this species is found.
Habitat
Headwater Streams, Rivers & Large Rivers, Anadromous & Migratory
Habitat
Primary water types where this species is found.
Coastal cutthroat trout are the westernmost cutthroat, native to streams and rivers that drain to the Pacific from northern California through Alaska. Many live their whole lives in small coastal creeks; others move between river and estuary, feeding in salt water for a few months each year and returning as sea-run fish from late summer into winter. They are the only cutthroat with a sea-going form.
Also known as: sea-run cutthroat, harvest trout, bluebacks
Aquatic insects, amphipods and sculpins in fresh water; small baitfish and shrimp while at sea.
Coastal cutthroat are often catch-and-release or limited to a short season, and the sea-run fish share water with protected salmon and steelhead. Check the current rules for the specific river before fishing.
Regulations vary by state and water. Check the current rules for the water you are fishing.
Status: Native to Pacific coastal drainages from northern California to Alaska
G5T4 (Apparently secure) · ESA: Not listedRuns between freshwater and the ocean.
Browse species profiles with habitat, diet, tactics, and linked waters across the state.
Coastal Cutthroat Trout
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