Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Closed to fishing in the lower Petrolia reach.
Do not fish the report's rated target while this annual closure is in effect. The lower Mattole from 200 yards above the mouth to Stansberry Creek is open January 1 through March 31 only. The mouth buffer remains closed year-round. Check the official source before leaving.
NWS air forecast near
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.
Discharge
Latest reading: 26 cfs. Stable over about 6 hours. Chart covers Sep 7 through Sep 14; readings are provisional and may be revised.
Sunny
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Current U.S. Geological Survey gauge: Mattole River near Petrolia
Winter planning, not today's fly recommendation. Use the January–March row only when CDFW confirms this lower reach is open. No fishing is recommended here April–December, including summer and fall.
Fishing is paused. This calendar is for future legal-season planning, not a recommendation to fish now. Check the current restriction before using any fly or tactic.
Winter planning, not today's fly recommendation. Use the January–March row only when CDFW confirms this lower reach is open. No fishing is recommended here April–December, including summer and fall.
No fly recommendation
No fly recommendation
No fly recommendation
Use unscented, unflavored artificial flies with barbless hooks and compliant anadromous-water tackle. Photos identify patterns, not legal rigs. These editorial winter choices do not establish a current hatch, run, or bite.
Use the official notice and current conditions instead of fishing advice.
Do not fish the report's rated target while this annual closure is in effect. The lower Mattole from 200 yards above the mouth to Stansberry Creek is open January 1 through March 31 only. The mouth buffer remains closed year-round. Check the official source before leaving.
One named public recreation access was verified: BLM Mattole Campground. Its estuary and beach access does not establish a legal fishing location, an open route to the winter reach, or permission on adjoining private land.
Use the current CDFW rules and trip-date notices. The 2026 booklet, updated July 10, §7.40(b)(61) pages 59–60, closes the mouth to 200 yards upstream all year and opens 200 yards above the mouth to Stansberry Creek only January 1–March 31. Artificial lures with barbless hooks are required. The combined limit is two hatchery trout/steelhead daily, four in possession, with other trout/steelhead immediately released. Hatchery identification requires a healed adipose-fin clip. No salmon opening is provided and coho take is prohibited. Steelhead fishing requires a Steelhead Report Card, including catch-and-release and license-exempt anglers. North Coast trout/salmon hours are one hour before sunrise through one hour after sunset. The current anadromous tackle rules also apply. The §8.00 low-flow threshold is 320 cfs at Petrolia, not a safe-flow range or automatic opening. CDFW's low-flow status cannot extend the lower season past March 31.
| River section and season | Fishing rules |
|---|---|
| Mouth to 200 yards upstreamclosed all year | CDFW closes this exclusion to all fishing year-round. Public campground, beach, and estuary recreation access does not change that rule. Official rule |
| 200 yards above mouth to Stansberry Creekthis report | January 1–March 31 only, subject to current CDFW closure status. Artificial lures with barbless hooks. Two hatchery trout/steelhead daily and four in possession, with all other trout/steelhead immediately released. Closed April 1–December 31. Official rule |
| Stansberry Creek to Honeydew Creekseparate upstream reach | January 1–March 31 and the fourth Saturday in May–August 31. In 2026 the summer opening was May 23. The same artificial-lure/barbless and hatchery limits apply. This summer season does not extend downstream into the Petrolia report reach, and it does not prove public access. Official rule |
BLM lists year-round recreation access, day-use/trailhead parking, direct estuary access, and a 600-foot beach trail at 3750 Lighthouse Road. No potable water. Limited/no cell service. The mouth exclusion stays closed. This listing does not verify a legal path to winter fishing water or permission on adjoining private banks.
Site detailsThe September 2, 2026 source review checked the CDFW booklet updated July 10, current low-flow information, USGS Petrolia coverage, and BLM access records. The live agency bulletin and river reading have their own dates; this is not a field report.
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
What was checked: Official sources support the Petrolia gauge, exact fishing reaches, legal season, 320 cfs low-flow rule, and named BLM recreation access. Winter fly choices are editorial planning suggestions. The hero is generated regional artwork, not an exact-location photograph. No field visit, current run, bite, visibility, water temperature, safe-wading inspection, private-bank permission, or same-day access clearance is claimed.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Fishing tips stay hidden until the official notice is clear.
