California State Fish: The Garibaldi and Golden Trout

California has two official state fish — the Golden Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita) for freshwater, designated in 1947, and the Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) for saltwater, designated in 1955. It’s a fitting pair for a state that does everything on its own terms: one is a native trout that lives above 7,000 feet in some of the most remote water in the lower 48, and the other is a bright orange reef fish you’re not allowed to catch. Neither is a conventional gamefish — and that’s the point. They represent what makes California’s waters unlike anywhere else in the country.

The Freshwater Side: Golden Trout

The California golden trout is arguably the most beautiful freshwater fish in North America. Bright gold flanks, a vivid red-orange lateral stripe, copper back, and dark parr marks that persist into adulthood — they look like something a painter invented. The species is native to a handful of high-altitude streams in the southern Sierra Nevada, specifically Golden Trout Creek and the upper South Fork of the Kern River, in what is now the Golden Trout Wilderness. They were designated the state freshwater fish in 1947, and the choice was more about heritage than hook-and-line productivity. These aren’t the fish you catch on a weekend trip to the local reservoir. Getting to golden trout water usually means a multi-mile hike above 9,000 feet.

How Big?

In their native streams, golden trout rarely exceed 8 inches. Growth is slow at high altitude — about an inch per year — and a 12-inch fish is genuinely large. Fish transplanted into alpine lakes can grow bigger. The California state record golden trout is 9 lb 8 oz, caught from Virginia Lake in Fresno County in 1952. The all-tackle world record is 11 lb 4 oz from Cook’s Lake in Wyoming, where the species was stocked in the early 1900s. But most anglers pursuing golden trout in their native range are catching fish measured in inches, not pounds — and that’s perfectly fine.

Where to Find Them

Pure-strain golden trout are found in the high Sierra Nevada, primarily in Tulare, Inyo, and Fresno counties. The native range is limited to Golden Trout Creek, Volcano Creek, and the upper South Fork Kern River — all above 7,000 feet in the Golden Trout Wilderness. CDFW and the U.S. Forest Service have also stocked golden trout in hundreds of high-elevation lakes throughout the Sierra, though many of these populations have hybridized with rainbow or cutthroat trout over the decades.

The Cottonwood Lakes watershed (Inyo County) is one of the more accessible destinations for golden trout, though “accessible” is relative — it’s a strenuous hike from the Horseshoe Meadows trailhead near Lone Pine. The lakes sit above 10,000 feet and hold stocked golden trout populations. Other productive high-country lakes are scattered across the Sierra backcountry, accessible only by multi-day backpacking trips.

When to Fish

The golden trout fishing season is dictated as much by snowpack as by fish behavior. Most high Sierra golden trout water isn’t accessible until late June or July, when snowmelt opens the mountain passes. The best fishing runs from July through early October, with spawning activity in late June and July concentrating fish in inlet and outlet streams near lakes. By mid-October, early snowfall closes most access routes.

How to Catch Them

Golden trout are not difficult to hook in the right water — but getting to the right water is the challenge. These fish feed opportunistically on aquatic and terrestrial insects in clear, cold streams and alpine lakes. Fly fishing is the classic approach: small dry flies (Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams, Royal Wulff in sizes 14–18) and nymphs (Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear in sizes 16–20) are the standards. Ultralight spinning gear works too — 1/16 oz Panther Martin or Mepps spinners in gold or silver are effective in deeper pools and lakes.

Catch-and-release is strongly encouraged in native golden trout water. The species faces conservation challenges from hybridization with non-native trout, habitat degradation from grazing, and climate change pushing water temperatures higher. Catching a pure-strain California golden trout in its native range is a genuine backcountry achievement — treat it accordingly.

The Saltwater Side: Garibaldi

The garibaldi is the most instantly recognizable fish in California’s coastal waters — a brilliant orange damselfish that’s impossible to miss against the dark rock and kelp of Southern California’s reefs. At up to 15 inches, it’s the largest member of the damselfish family, and its bold coloration and territorial personality made it a target for the aquarium trade long before it became the state marine fish. California designated the garibaldi in 1955 and simultaneously made it fully protected — possession is illegal, period. You can’t catch them, keep them, or collect them.

Why Is the Garibaldi Protected?

The protection predates modern conservation — it was driven primarily by concerns about aquarium collectors overharvesting the species for the pet trade. The garibaldi’s bright color and aggressive personality made it a popular saltwater aquarium fish, and California lawmakers decided to shut down collection entirely. Today, the IUCN reports no major threats to the species, and garibaldi populations appear healthy throughout their range. But the protection remains in place, and it carries real teeth — a $500 fine for possession.

Garibaldi play a meaningful ecological role in their habitat. They feed on sponges and invertebrates that damage kelp, helping maintain the kelp forest ecosystems that support hundreds of other species along the California coast. If you accidentally hook one while fishing — it happens, especially around rocky structure — release it immediately and unharmed.

Where to See Them

Garibaldi range from Monterey Bay south to Baja California, with the densest populations around the Channel Islands and Southern California’s rocky reefs. They’re a shallow-water species, typically found from the intertidal zone down to about 100 feet, always associated with rocky reef and kelp forest habitat.

Several of California’s best coastal destinations offer excellent garibaldi viewing for divers and snorkelers: the Channel Islands (particularly the southern islands), Catalina Island, the reefs off Malibu and Palos Verdes, the rocky coast at Laguna Beach, and La Jolla Cove in San Diego. During El Niño years, occasional sightings push as far north as Monterey Bay. They’re territorial and not particularly shy — divers regularly encounter males aggressively defending their nest sites, sometimes thumping audibly when you get too close.

Garibaldi Behavior

Male garibaldi are meticulous nest builders. They cultivate circular nest sites about a foot in diameter on shallow rocky reef, carefully removing all organisms except certain species of red algae. The better-maintained the nest, the more likely a female will choose it for egg deposition. Males guard the fertilized eggs aggressively — even chasing away divers — and have been observed making loud thumping sounds as a warning. Juvenile garibaldi look dramatically different from adults: reddish-brown with iridescent blue spots that fade as the fish matures to solid orange around age five or six.

Two Fish That Define California

California’s state fish pairing is unlike any other in the country. Most states pick a popular gamefish — largemouth bass, rainbow trout, something anglers catch every weekend. California chose a trout that lives above 9,000 feet in wilderness areas most people will never visit, and a reef fish you’ll go to jail for keeping. Both choices say something about the state’s relationship with its natural resources: California values wildness and protection alongside recreation.

For anglers, the practical takeaway is this: California’s actual fishing is defined by its record book — largemouth bass from Castaic Lake, white sturgeon from San Pablo Bay, bluefin tuna from the offshore banks, chinook salmon from the Sacramento River, and lingcod from the North Coast. The state fish are symbols. The fishing itself is among the most diverse in the country. You just need a California fishing license to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: California Department of Fish and Wildlife — California Golden Trout. CDFW Conservation — California Golden Trout. California Trout — Species Accounts.