I am the sole income earner and My wife moved ahead of me to CA. Do I have to file a "mock" separate federal return so CA can receive income tax for half my income?

[DanielV01]

If you are the sole income earner you do not need to file a CA return, if you did not work in CA.  You may file a joint return, claim your state (not CA) as a full-year resident, and claim all of the income to that state.  You don't need to deal with the community property requirements of California, at least not yet.  No income was earned in CA.