Over 77,000 fish remains from 51 archaeological sites on the central California coast between San Mateo and San Luis Obispo counties, deposited between 6200 B.c. and A.D. 1830, were studied to assess prehistoric species distribution, diversity, and Native American fisheries. Remains were obtained from exposed rocky coastal sites, lagoon–estuaries at Elkhorn Slough and Morro Bay, and the freshwater drainages of the Pajaro and Salinas rivers. On the rocky coast, 58.4% of the remains represented large inshore species, 26.9% were small schooling species, and 11.8% were surfperches (family Embiotocidae). Large inshore species included rockfishesSebastesspp., lingcodOphiodon elongates, kelp greenlingHexagrammos decagrammus, cabezonScorpaenichthys marmoratus, and monkeyface pricklebackCebidichthys violaceus. At Elkhorn Slough and Morro Bay, about half of the remains of marine species represented moderately small schooling species, including Pacific herringClupea pallasi, Pacific sardineSardinops sagax, northern anchovyEngraulis mordax, topsmeltAtherinops affnis, jacksmeltAtherinopsis californiensis, and California grunionLeuresthes tenuis. Surfperches also were common, and specialized local fisheries for flounders or sharks and rays were suggested. Aquatic conditions at Elkhorn Slough were dramatically different from those that exist today. Sites on Elkhorn Slough had both marine and freshwater fishes and showed site occupation when the Salinas River entered the slough and did not follow its present course into Monterey Bay. Sacramento perchArchoplites interruptuswas the most abundant species found at freshwater sites, and remains of extinct thicktail chubGila crassicaudaconfirm its presence in the Pajaro and Salinas rivers. Surprisingly rare are the remains of steelhead (the anadromous form of rainbow trout)Oncorhynchus mykiss. As is the case today, Pacific salmon were apparently absent from central coast streams south of the San Lorenzo River. Presumably the remains reflect local species availability.