Fishing may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you want to spend most of your time in LA, but don’t underestimate the pleasure and fun brought by fishing in America’s second-largest city! Los Angeles is not only a hot spot for anything flashy and fancy but also a home for water sports activities like angling.
With lakes, rivers, and seas, there is no doubt that angling has become a known and exciting recreational activity one can delve into. Angling is a delightful diversion to catch some yellowtail, white sea, tuna, salmon, rockfish, and many more!
Below are the best places to enjoy fishing in Los Angeles, whether you want to improve your skills, have some time off from work or pressure, or fish just for fun. At the end of every place are the reviews of people from Yelp.com, an online platform for finding local businesses to know what other people think about them, and the fishing areas near me. Let’s get started!
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Hot Fishing Spots In Los Angeles
1. Echo Park Lake
Echo Park Lake is an overwhelming place to be, just a short drive from the downtown center of LA. It has been there since 1860, and presently, it has been developed with a floating lotus garden. People can enjoy pedal-boating, canoeing with canoes, and fishing. People fish here trout, catfish, bluegills, and even largemouth bass. Parks with fishing near me.
Echo Park Lake abounds with catfish, bluegill, and crawfish. State laborers "plant" the lake with rainbow trout—a big part of which is eaten up by huge birds—like clockwork in winter, spring, and fall.
Reviews of people who have been to Santa Monica from yelp.com:
Darien C.: The park is nice to walk around and relax… I commend LA for spending time and money on improving this park. I always love just hanging around and enjoying the day when at Echo Park! It’s always a good time!
Nadine C.: This is a beautiful and unique treasure in Los Angeles! Best spot for freshwater fishing in Los Angeles.
Grace Y.:Echo Park is a quick and refreshing place to take a brisk walk, meditate, walk your dog/pet, etc., for anyone who wants to take a step away from the city.
2. Venice Fishing Pier
Fishing here is free! You have to equip yourself with your apparatus and bait, then off your set to go. You don’t have to bother with a watercraft to appreciate fishing in the sea because the pier itself serves as the best fishing spot.
Halibut, barracuda, queenfish, and white ocean bass are among the many kinds of fish caught here. Make sure to prepare your angling rigs outfit with your bait when you head back there again.
The Pier, possessed by the City, is open 24 hours per day, 7 days every week, with free affirmation. No fishing permit is required.
Reviews of people who have been to Santa Monica from yelp.com:
Ryan M.: Overall, the Venice Pier is very quiet and has a nice view area at the end of the pier.
Aubrey G.: If you are at Venice Beach, DEFINITELY take a walk out onto the end of the pier; it is part of the Venice Beach ambiance!
Sydney P.: Good for sitting, fishing, or watching surfers. Limited people are given the number of people on the beach.
3. Santa Monica Pier
Fishing is only one of many motivations to walk the dock. Whether you’re a regular or want to try your hand at this relaxing past-time for the day, you will enjoy your bait and tackle. Halibut is the trophy fish you can catch here, along with yellowtail, seabass, mackerel, and other more regular species.
Towards the end of the pier, anglers can attempt their fortunes with sharks and beams. However, you needn’t bother with a fishing permit to drop a line off the Pier.
Santa Monica Pier is home to numerous types of fish, including ocean bass and dark croaker. You needn't bother with a fishing permit to get in contact with off the Wharf: at the Santa Monica Pier Bait and Tackle Co., you can get gear, posts, snare, and tips from local people.
If ever you want to encounter rich marine life, you can also head off to their Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium just nearby the amusement park.
Reviews of people who have been to Santa Monica from yelp.com:
Avery L.: Santa Monica Pier was awesome!! This was my second time going there, and I had a lot more fun, considering I was so young the first time.
Sabrina M.: I have found this to be a GREAT date location…You can watch the ocean while chatting on a bench, have a nice meal, and cuddle up on the Ferris Wheel. It sounds like the perfect date to me!
Dinah M.: Anyhow, great time overall!!
4. Dockweiler State Park
If you love surfing or fly fishing, Dockweiler State Park will become one of your best spots. The 3-mile shoreline is just calm, where sunbathers and kids delight their way there.
Also, its space attracts many tourists to enjoy the beach, and there’s a lot of room for all. Anglers can catch croakers and corbina there. They also hold angling competitions yearly.
The recreation center also offers a snack bar and excursion ranges, making it a decent spot for the whole family. Lastly, it is close to thel Airport, so it could be the perfect first destination for dipping in the waters and then going LA Internationa fishing.
Reviews of people who have been to Dockweiler State Park from yelp.com:
Don B.: this smooth, long, winding, and not-too-crowded path is a great way to connect north to south and find some out-of-the-way spots on the beach.
Tommy M.: … he view is so amazing, along with some twist and turns and a few slightly inclined areas, …
A.: There’s nothing like the wind blowing through your hair as you cycle along the ocean in Southern California!
5. Legg Lake
Legg Lake is a lake found only 1.5 miles from South El Monte in Los Angeles County. It is known for crappie fishes! One will discover various kinds of fish, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, catfish, panfish, bream, bluegill, and crappie here. It is stupefying to think that panfish can get huge here.
This is an incredible lake for shore throwing with numerous nice grassland and fishing docks. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout from fall through spring and catfish during the summer months by the DFW.
There are also bass, crappie, and bluegill in here. Be sure to visit the CDFW website for complete regulations before heading out.
Reviews of people who have been to Legg Lake Park from yelp.com:
Leo Z.:The park has a lot of space for walking, fishing, boat paddle rides, and lots of happiness.
Gus Z.: Amazing park for the whole family. Parking, restrooms, duck feeding, fishing, playgrounds, boat/tandem bike rentals, picnic tables, etc. Clean and quiet,
Eleni M.: it makes for a fun place for many people with several interests, including fishing!
6. Redondo Beach Sport Fishing
Without a doubt, its shoreline is excellent for its sun-tanning, surfing, and swimming! But fishing is also one more excellent way you can enjoy it here, especially if you are a halibut fanatic. Fishing Pier supplies a portion of the best halibut angling in the country, not to mention Los Angeles.
This horseshoe-molded dock does not bulge out to the extent of those different wharves in LA. So if you want to get sharks and rays is a little more challenging.
The Redondo Beach Pier and parking garage are available to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Free open fishing is permitted in the assigned region of the southwest part of the pier. Like Belmont, Cabrillo, and Venice there is no fishing grant is required.
The evening is when you can get these trophies, or you might be after those other sorts of species. You can likewise hope to stumble upon different kinds of fish on your sailing- from rockfish, sea whitefish, and California sheep heads to sand bass, red snapper, and sculpin.
Reviews of people who have been to Redondo Beach Sport Fishing from yelp.com:
Yaima L.: We went whale watching, and the experience was amazing… I would recommend this to anyone!
Nova H.: The peace of fishing on the pier …We also noticed many positive community vibes shared between those fishing along the pier.
Steve S.:I’d come back to chill on a half-day for the itch. It’s LA style of fishing, not like elsewhere, can’t help crowds it’s LA, not Ventura or SD.
7. Marina del Rey Sportfishing
It offers fishing trips for both beginners and pros. They open daily, so you can really come and go anytime there for fishing. Other than that, they also offer whale-watching, seasonal, and private fishing charters.
Their boats have personalized service, friendly and professional crews, bait, rods, and tackle rental. Their boat has earned a reputation that they always and often catch whenever they fish because of their “never give up” attitude.
Fishing was good, with all catching a few fish. There would be birds aggravating in the place. They would swarm the boat, trying to steal bait and fish caught off your lines. The crew was excellent, and the captain tried his best to find fish.
Reviews of people who have been to Marina del Rey Sportfishing from yelp.com:
Colleen L.: We all looked up after his short “safe fish” lecture & saw a pair of dolphins leaping up, arching over the water. A spectacular sunny Sunday afternoon.
Richard L.: great views from Malibu to Palos Verdes. Suppose you want a good burger to go to Hinano’s, which is on Washington Blvd.
Sarah R.: Beautiful views from the Venice Pier. So much to do around there, like the Boardwalk and all the restaurants surrounding it.
8. Lincoln Park Lake
Lincoln Park Lake is another loaded lake, an extraordinary place to take the children fishing! Only a short drive upper east of downtown in Lincoln Heights, Lincoln Lake is another carp hotspot. However, catfish flourish here too. Project your line into the 55-acre Lake Lincoln, which is loaded with largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish. It has numerous passages for fishing.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife stated rainbow trout from winter through early Spring and catfish amid the Summer months. Likewise, there are bluegill, largemouth bass, crappie, and carp in here. Make certain to visit the CDFW site for finish directions before taking off.
Reviews of people who have been to Lincoln Park Lake from yelp.com:
Mary B.: This would be a great place to see the sunrise on the east side. A great place to fly a kite with small fries. To cloud gaze. To escape. To celebrate.
Marwin L.: This park is not the prettiest or best maintained. But for all its flaws, Lincoln Park is an oasis set in the middle of an urban desert.
Christine H.: I love walking here on my work breaks or stopping by to enjoy the peace here when it’s not busy. .. The only drawback is that it’s challenging to find parking, even when the park itself looks empty!
9. LA Waterfront Sportfishing & Cruises
During the middle of the year, fishing in LA Waterfront is a hotspot for yellowtail, white seabass, barracuda, bonito, calico bass, and sand bass fishes.
They also offer fantastic fishing and whale-watching! They additionally have their fishing armada with experienced groups and chiefs to guide you all the way.
Reviews of people who have been to LA Waterfront Sportfishing & Cruises from yelp.com:
Susana P.: It was an amazing quick experience! This 45-minute boat trip around the harbor is great for kids and anyone who has never been on a boat.
Nikki C. This trip was fantastic! … The ocean is beautiful, and we saw a few whales! I would go again!
Nia K.: The angel’s gates and were able to see a female whale and its child. It was beautiful. Something different overall.
10. Castaic Lake Lagoon
Castaic Lake is situated in northern Los Angeles Province, only 45 miles north of downtown L.A. and 40 miles south of the Grapevine, off the 5 Expressway in the City of Castaic. Castaic Lake has always been an excellent bass lake.
Castaic Lake has two waterways. The lower lake is for non-power drifting and kayaking. Swimming season on the lower lake runs from mid-May to mid-September. The upper lake is for cruising, power drifting, water and stream skiing, and fishing.
Fishermen from all over consider Castaic Lake an extraordinary fishing objective given its prize-measured largemouth bass. The best chance to land one of these prize fish is in Spring.
Fishers of different ability levels can get one of the lake's numerous assortments of fish, including striped bass, rainbow trout, crappie, and catfish. The tidal pond at Castaic Lake offers a copious stockpile of trout and largemouth bass. The east side of the tidal pond is assigned to the people who fish from the shore.
While looking for Striped bass, use baits that look like little trout. On bright days, fish close to obscure regions where fish will generally assemble. On colder days, fish in areas where it is radiant and the water is more profound. You'll find most fish around docks, rocks, lowered brush, and regions with more than adequate cover.
By and large, Castaic Lake has a 24-hour fishing pier with a fish cleaning station situated off Lake Hughes Rd., with a lower lake camping area entrance. Unless otherwise stated, fishing outside parking hours in some other area is prohibited.
11. Lake Balboa
Lake Balboa is in Los Angeles, California's San Fernando Valley district. There are valuable Lake Balboa fish species to draw and investigate on your next fishing trip. Each fish has its arrangement of decisions and prerequisites that you should follow. Each fish species depends upon remarkable guidelines, including fishing seasons, size limits, and ownership cutoff points, and that's only the tip of the iceberg.
Lake Balboa is a 27-acre lake that is open from dawn to nightfall. Fishing is limited to explicit lush spaces bordering the water. The Department of Fish and Game supplies Lake Balboa with Rainbow Trout throughout the colder months and Spring. Channel Catfish are additionally caught at Lake Balboa throughout the mid-year and Fall. You can likewise look for Largemouth Bass and Carp.
Surveys said it is an incredible lake for novices and individuals using live worms. However, it is a highly compelled lake. There are largemouth bass, channel catfish, common carp, tilapia, and Plecos, and occasionally different fish types.
12. Hansen Dam Lake
One of the Los Angeles region's more famous fishing repositories, Hansen Dam Recreation Lake, is a fake flood control bowl for the Enormous and Little Tujunga washes. The Hansen Dam Recreational facility (a.k.a. Hansen Dam Park) has two separate repository bowls; one is put away for swimming, and the amusement lake is overseen for fishing. The fishing region is a 10-section of land counterfeit lake up to 18 feet down.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife might stock catfish during the hotter months from spring to fall. Loaded catfish commonly range in size from 9-12 inches, albeit sometimes they toss in a couple of greater ones weighing more than 5 pounds. Lure fishing is the primary method for guiding some catfish. Fishermen use everything from locally acquired mixture snares to bits of frozen mackerel to shrimp; from there, the sky is the limit.
Even though the little, shallow fishing repository is encircled by L.A. suburbia and attracts the most fishermen when supplied with trout and catfish, the other occupant fish species provide a pleasant alternative all year.
13. Frank G. Bonelli Regiomal Park
Frank G. Bonelli Park is situated in San Dimas, CA, between La Vern and Pomona, 28 miles from Los Angeles. The supply was implicit in 1882, and the dam was finished in 1928. Puddingstone Lake is a repository inside the recreation area, which involves around 250 sections of the land of the all-out region.
The recreation area has roughly 5 miles of coastline and a boat limit of 115. The recreation area covers around three square miles or around 2,220 sections of land.
The lake, frequently called the Pudd or the Stone, is fishable from shore and boats and very float cylinder and kayak amicable. Except for trout stocks, which are not, despite higher-than-typical mercury levels in fish tried. Even though they are not loading trout, a couple might be around. They likewise have crappie, bluegill, catfish, carp, and bass.
The lake has many traps, including shad, silversides, crayfish, frogs, turtles, and game fish like little bluegill and crappie. Copy these draws for the best fishing results. Bass can be gotten on this lake with various counterfeit baits and flies, depending on the season, climate, and water clarity, which can go from exceptionally obvious to highly sloppy.
14. Santa Fe Dam
This 836-section land office flaunts a quiet 70-section lake with all-year fishing and non-mechanized watercraft utilization. Throughout the late spring months, the sporting facility features a five-section land chlorinated swim oceanside and the Water Play Region.
The recreation area, situated off the San Gabriel River Freeway (Highway 605), contains a 70-section land (280,000 m2) lake for all-year fishing and nonmechanized watercraft. The lake's fish include largemouth bass, bluegills, crappie, and carp.
Spotted sunfish, redbreast sunfish, and dupe can likewise be gotten here. Utilizing live/dead lures is the most helpful strategy for getting these fish. Crickets are a most loved snare for panfish, and smell trap or chicken gizzards and livers function admirably for catfish. Worms can get anything here.
15. Malibu Pier
Malibu Pier is a Southern California symbol in a space once called the Riviera of America. The noteworthy milestone is situated in the core of California's surf culture. Surfers worldwide come to Surfrider Ocean side contiguous Malibu Wharf, known for its three-point break that offers 300 yards or more rides.
Sport fishing boat trips leave from the Malibu Dock two times every day. A short boat ride from the dock takes guests to probably the best fishing justification for ocean bass, halibut, and rockfish. You can likewise partake in a relaxed day fishing off the actual harbor.
Anglers partake in the abundance of the ocean, and a fabulous fishing experience can be had right from the dock's deck. In summer, the season tops with halibut, harvester shark, and bat beams, while corbina and mackerel are available all year.
Common Gamefish Found in LA waters
Rockfish – Covers numerous types of gamefish typically found in somewhat more deep water. Red snapper, lingcod, sheepshead, sculpin, whitefish, or only a couple of incredible eating and got in bigger numbers.
Even though not considered bigger gamefish, a few assortments can achieve 15 pounds of something beyond. Gotten year-round both at islands and along the coastline. Alongside being astounding, eating their hue is very stunning.
Barracuda – Aggressive gamefish that assaults draw and snares and can nibble through the line before you feel the chomp—gotten year-round, however, basically in the spring and summer months. Extensive schools make for not stopping the activity—hard battling loads of good times for the two grown-ups and kids.
White Sea Bass – Known for achieving monster sizes of 70 pounds or more, 30-40 pounds is increasingly the standard. Both found at Catalina Island and along the drift year-round, this fish can chomp with total surrender and, after that, now and again be exceptionally finicky. Brilliant eating gamefish.
Calico Bass – Also known as shake bass, these smaller gamefish can compensate for their size in their battling capacity. Amid the spring and summer months, these fish bring forth billows of bass that will breathe in many lures.
Still, they set out toward the stones, and the bigger examples are tough to keep from severing you in the rocks. They develop gradually, and bigger ones are best to come back to guarantee sound-rearing stock.
Yellowtail – Maybe the most prized gamefish in southern California waters, this hard-battling individual from the jack family won’t baffle. Gotten year-round at the islands of Los Angeles and occasionally along the beachfront waters. 10-20 pound examples are normal, and up to 40 pounds are conceivable.
Tuna – Several types of fish can be gotten with tuna fish discovered further seaward on generally overnight outings. In contrast, yellowfin fish and bluefin fish can be obtained on daily and even ½ day angling trips during the late spring and fall months.
Frequently, angles are situated on the troll and chummed with a live goad afterward. Chomps can be quick and angry, and these hard-battling fish can destroy you in short requests. Kelp paddies additionally draw in fish, and when one is found, it can be a money box for fish and other gamefish.
For Those Who Fish On Their Own
When you choose to visit the places and go out angling alone, you can have a ton of fun and remain safe if you avoid potential risks. Ensure your watercraft is furnished with usable safety measures, a life preserver, a fire quencher, a horn, and so forth. You require route lights, et cetera.
