Southern California’s beauty and year-round great weather combined with plenty of accessible locations for fishing make it a fan favorite.
One of the most popular places to head if you plan on fishing in California is the Pacific Ocean. Coastal areas offer some of the best ocean fishing spots in Southern California. Here are some to try:
Why so many piers? Because anglers do not need a fishing license to use public piers, making these destinations quite popular for visitors. There are dozens of piers in Southern California; Santa Monica, Huntington and Redondo are but a few of the more famous piers in Southern California.
However, if you prefer to head a little farther afield, escape to Catalina Island for schools of mackerel as well as sport fish like yellowtail and white sea bass. With so many coves, beaches and reefs, there are plenty of habitats to explore. No boat? No problem. Just catch one of numerous ferries from San Pedro or Long Beach to drop a line or hire one of the myriad of charters found in towns and cities throughout Southern California.
If you’re planning to head inland, your options are just as numerous. One of the top-rated freshwater spots for Southern California fishing are the Mammoth Lakes. Located in Mono County, this series of lakes stays stocked with trout which can be fished from either boat or the banks.
Another popular lake is Lake Gregory in the San Bernardino Mountains. An artificial lake nestled in the forest, it’s not only rustically beautiful but a great place for trout since rainbow trout are planted regularly to keep the stock up.
While Lake Arrowhead is the largest in San Bernardino County, another popular spot near by is Big Bear Lake. Fishing here is popular year-round from shore or by boat. Known for trout you’ll also find other lake fish like small and largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and channel catfish.
Lake Cuyamaca, a smaller reservoir east of San Diego, is stocked with 45,000 rainbow trout annually – all year long. You’ll also find bass, crappie, bluegill and channel catfish, all just an hour’s drive from San Diego.
Want to avoid crowds? Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet is a huge manmade reservoir – with 4,500 surface acres – so you’ll have plenty of space to cast for black bass, trout, bluegill and channel catfish.
Just remember, unlike public piers, everyone – resident or nonresident – 16 or older must have a sport fishing license if they plan to go fishing in California’s inland or ocean waters. Licenses can be obtained online or at a license agent of CDFW license sales office.