Los Angeles, being so close to the ocean, provides a plethora of fishing options. The region’s temperate temperature wafts above the deep blue waters, making for perfect fishing conditions. Los Angeles has a plethora of fantastic fishing spots, ranging from rough coasts to high peaks. Those who choose to fish from the city’s public piers do not require a license, but there are also lakes and reservoirs with stocked fish. Some of these locations are free to the public and do not require reservations, while others charge a fee.
Consider the following 10 places as a starting point for guiding your pole in the appropriate direction.
Santa Monica Pier
Route 66 comes to an end at the Santa Monica Pier. It’s a lively spot, usually bustling with tourists who come to buy, eat, and ride the rides while gazing out at the Pacific Ocean. You won’t need a fishing licence if you want to go fishing. You can rent a rod at Santa Monica Bait & Tackle, which is located at the end of the pier.
Expert fisherman recognise the importance of Santa Monica when it comes to pier fishing in Southern California. Since its inception in 1909, fishing has been one of the pier’s most popular hobbies. The boardwalk leads to a sea-end rail, which is crowded with fishermen performing skilled stunts.
Santa Monica Pier, which stretches out 1,000 feet beyond the tide line, provides a suitable deep-water habitat for a variety of fish species. Clams, black cod, walleye, mackerel, sea bass, corbina, rays, and a variety of other species frequent these waters.
Diamond Valley Lake
Diamond Valley, near Hemet, is a man-made reservoir. It is about an hour and a half southeast of Los Angeles, gets top billing for professional fishermen looking for their next big catch. Hiking, boating, and fishing are popular activities for visitors in the area. The Diamond Valley Marina charges a $9 entrance fee per car, and fishing permits are available for $6 or $4 for children 12 and under. There are boat rentals available. If you go, you can expect to fish for two and a half miles along some of the greatest shorelines on the West Coast. Black bass, bluegill, rainbow trout, channel catfish, and other species can be found in the lake. They promise “giant fishes,”.
Redondo Beach Pier
Redondo Beach Pier, the horseshoe-shaped angler sanctuary, is where pier fishing in Southern California truly comes into its own. Fishing is permitted in a designated area of the horseshoe-shaped Redondo Beach Pier, and no licence is necessary, as it is at other public piers around the state. The deep water of Redondo Submarine Canyon surrounds the pier quite closely, making the area ideal for fishing. While the pier has long been known as a mackerel hotspot, experienced fishermen know that the deep water is home to a variety of fish. At night, smaller baitfish attract barracuda, and in the early fall, yellowtail. The canyons are also home to cusk-eels, sablefish, and sanddab.
A lively environment surrounds a complex of restaurants, shops, and arcades, making the location much more than just a fishing spot.
Alondra Park Lake
Alondra Park Lake is located near Lawndale, just east of the 405 freeway, and is part of a 53-acre park. Anglers will be pleased to learn that Rainbow trout are stocked at this rustic outpost from winter to early spring within the lake. Catfish of various varieties, including blue, channel, and flathead, can be seen in large quantities throughout the summer. Expect to compete for other swimmers like largemouth bass and crappie in these South Bay waterways. There’s also an island in the middle of the lake, where natural flora grow and a variety of butterflies and bird species can be found.
El Dorado East Regional Park
Two stocked fishing lakes can be found in this big Long Beach park. The northern lake, which has a boat launch, is larger. Bass, panfish, sunfish, carp, and stocked trout and catfish can be found in these lakes. This is a surprisingly nice spot for bass, especially early in the morning among the rushes, but anglers are recommended to release them. Every November, a free kids’ fishing derby is organised.
Remember that everyone aged 16 or older who wants to go fishing needs to get a fishing licence. Keep in mind that the park also charges an admission fee for vehicles. Check with the park for the most up-to-date restrictions, and don’t forget to bring your adult fishing licence.
Lake Gregory Regional Park
Lake Gregory Regional Park is located in Crestline, California, in the San Bernardino Mountains. Brown and rainbow trout can be found in the lake, which are best caught in the spring, however fishing is available all year. It’s a beautiful spot to visit, and you can make a weekend out of it by renting a cabin and relaxing in the surrounding forests. Visitors must pay an entrance fee of $8 per day, which may be purchased at several Fishing Pay Stations. Those who fish frequently can purchase 10-day tickets for $70 at the Boathouse and Beach Office on the North Shore, saving a buck per day. Each month, one orange-tagged fish will be released into the lake, with up to $1,500 in prize money available to the person who catches it.
Echo Park Lake
Trout, catfish, bluegills, and even largemouth bass are regularly caught here. For local fishermen, the bigmouth trout is the best catch; it’s not uncommon to catch one of these prize fish in just a few minutes at the lake! Catch and release, as in all municipal lakes, is not only healthy for the fish, but it is also safer for the angler. Make an effort to do this as often as possible.
During the winter and early spring, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife supplies the lake with rainbow trout, and during the summer, it is stocked with catfish. Carp, bluegill, and largemouth bass can also be found in the lake.
In the 1860s, Echo Park Lake was formed. A newly built floating lotus garden and a stunning perspective of the downtown Los Angeles skyline can now be found on the larger lake. Pedal boating, canoeing, running, and walks along the water’s edge are also available to visitors.
Irvine Lake
Irvine Lake, located at the base of the Cleveland National Forest in Orange County, spans 750 acres and hosts numerous fishing events. This well stocked watering hole boasts a large number of catfish during the warmer months and a large number of trout during the cooler months of late spring and winter. As fishermen troll this popular destination for swimmers who thrive here, the ambiance is serene, and the mountains that seem to come out of the water are great fare. Irvine Lake in Silverado also has a space for kids to learn how to cast their rods properly.
Lake Cuyamaca
Lake Cuyamaca is a 110-acre lake located 50 miles northeast of San Diego in San Diego County. The lake is stocked with 38,000 pounds of trout each year, and tourists can fish all year. The lake is also home to bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie, and sturgeon. Every member of your group who is 16 or older will require a California State Fishing License, as well as a Lake Cuyamaca permit, which costs $8 for adults, $4 for children aged eight to 15, and free for children aged seven and under. Rods can be rented or bought, and beginners can take a free session on Saturdays at 10 a.m. Hiking, boating, and camping are also available in the vicinity for visitors.
Castaic Lake
Castaic Lake is divided into two halves by the LA County Parks and Recreation Department: the lagoon/lower lake and the upper lake. The Lagoon offers summer swimming, non-gas powered boats, a campground, and picnic spots, in addition to a fishing pier, while the upper lake offers fishing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, and jet skiing in approved locations. Throughout the summer, the lake holds multiple Moonlight Fishing nights, as well as a Fishing and Fun for Kids day on the first Saturday in May. (with fishing lessons, arts and crafts, and giveaways). The website includes the most recent fish reports as well as fishing information for Castaic Lake. There are boat rentals available. If maximum capacity is reached, Parks and Recreation will not accept new entrants; this is most likely to happen on summer weekends, so arrive early!