Were they steelhead? That was the question a group of environmentalists and scientists asked themselves as they watched a group of large fish navigate the urban waters close to Orange County’s San Juan Creek Estuary.

Ironically, the group was there on a site visit for Trout Unlimited’s San Juan Creek Estuary Restoration Project, led by longtime advocate George Sutherland, who with help from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife wrangled a 30-plus inch steelhead from estuary waters back into the Pacific Ocean. He’d been tipped of the fish’s inability to reach the ocean by a local shopkeeper. That was in the early 2000s.

Fast forward to 2024 and TU is pursuing grants to improve the area’s habitat for native fish, wildlife and plants, restoring the health of this important water.

Even though Sutherland spearheaded signage about steelhead in this area, the group was amazed to sight what could be the almost mythical Southern California Steelhead, an endangered species, once caught in the thousands in local rivers.

“It was a sign, as we walked past our sign–The Trout Unlimited Steelhead lifecycle–that a hard look is needed in the San Juan Creek Estuary as a place that needs to be restored for the animals that use this area,” ” said William Preston Bowling, President of Trout Unlimited South Coast Chapter. “Evidence of Steelhead Trout and other fish species with an osprey in a palm tree to balance out the circle of life.”

But, the biologists weren’t completely convinced that these fish were steelies, focusing on the shape of the dorsal fins, as well as what they characterized as larger mouths.

Ironically, at least according to one participant, these biologists admitted they’d never actually seen a steelhead in the wild.

The mystery continues until a positive ID is confirmed.

See you on the river, Jim Burns