Top 9 Stunning Spots to Fish in Southern California

Southern California is known for its amazing beaches, lakes, and scenery. SoCal also offers plenty of fishing action. There is a sufficient number of excellent locations for fishing in The Golden State. 

Exploring SoCal Fishing

It's clear why anglers love to cast their lines in Southern California, given the picturesque landscapes that encircle the state's rivers and lakes and the eagerly awaiting Pacific Ocean. Exploring the Southern California fishing scene is one way to discover the best fishing spots SoCal offers.

Lake Cuyamaca

Lake Cuyamaca's fishing points are unmatched by local fishing alternatives. The lake offers year-round fishing opportunities for anglers, with vast populations of trout, catfish, bluegill, and sturgeon lining the waters. It also houses about 45,000 lbs of stocked rainbow trout annually. Shoreline access is available to anglers with gently sloping banks to fish from and several access points. Jetties, fishing docks, and fishing floats are stationed around the lake. A paved launch ramp is open for private boaters, but you can hire boats from the marina. The lake, a 110-acre reservoir in San Diego in the Cuyamaca Mountains, offers a charming, scenic location and is a frontrunner in California's camping destinations.

Diamond Valley Lake

Diamond Valley Lake rests between two mountain ranges near Hemet. The artificial lake is well-known for its wide range of fish species, such as channel catfish, rainbow trout, bluegill, and black bass. The lake is one of the best and most stunning places to fish in SoCal. Anglers from across the world visit Diamond Valley Lake to experience SoCal fishing at its best. Aside from its incredible 26 miles of shoreline, a 5.9-mile hiking trail is open to the public all year round.

Castaic Lake

Castaic Lake is north of Santa Clarita and stored with excellent largemouth bass from fall to spring. Bass fishing in Southern California has hit most of its milestones at this lake, and a 22-pound bass and a 48-pound channel catfish were among the most significant bounties by anglers. If you prefer to fish in the lake, it is best to do so during March, when Castaic Lake is full of trout and largemouth bass. Aside from fishing, Castaic Lake is open for swimming, boating, and camping. The lake also hosts many events, including particular days for kids, contests, and Moonlight Fishing.

Santa Monica Pier

Pier fishing is a staple in SoCal, and Santa Monica Pier is one of the most popular and well-known piers for this activity, particularly among beachgoers. The pier has been the favorite fishing spot since it was established in 1909. You can enjoy the stunning beach view the dock has to offer. On the waters of Santa Monica Pier, anglers can find halibut, herring, surfperch, clams, black cod, walleye, mackerel, sea bass, corbina, rays, sculpin, calico bass, and many fish species. Additionally, no fishing license is required to fish from any of the state's public fishing piers, including the Santa Monica Pier.

Lake Gregory

Sitting on the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, Lake Gregory serves traveling anglers fantastic fishing tours while enjoying its beautiful scenery. Lake Gregory makes freshwater fishing trips in SoCal unconditionally delightful. The Department of Fish and Wildlife in California stocks the lake with trout. Some fish live on to become the 10-pound massive fish for which Lake Gregory is renowned. The lake is home to many native-born species. Catfish, bullhead, bluegill, and smallmouth bass are among the occupants of the lake. Orange-tagged fish is also released into the lake every month and prized at $1,500 for those who will catch it. Lake Gregory offers visitors many other activities, like hiking trails, picnic areas, and a swimming beach.

The San Joaquin Delta

The San Joaquin Delta runs throughout California and is on every angler's bucket list. Aside from massive bass swimming throughout the Delta's waters, anglers can hook catfish, stripers, sturgeons, common carp, steelhead, and king salmon. The Delta is on top of every list of California's best and most stunning fish places.

Big Bear Lake

Like Lake Gregory, the gorgeous Big Bear Lake sits in the San Bernardino Mountains. Fishing is significantly abundant in the lake. The most popular fish in Big Bear Lake is rainbow trout, but anglers will also catch bluegill, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and panfish species. Traveling anglers can choose to fish from the shore or go on a boating adventure in the lake. The lake has designated swimming areas, and the lake's marina offers tons of rental equipment for water adventures, such as wakeboarding, skiing, wakeskating, and tubing. Big Bear Lake is an all-season leisure, adventure, and outdoor fun haven. Enjoy the best water activities and the lake while appreciating its beauty.

Clear Lake

Clear Lake is one of the most sought-after spots in SoCal for its bass fishing opportunities and stunning scenery, offering 44,000 acres of water. It is the largest freshwater lake in The Golden State. Clear Lake is the bass anglers' favorite, as it was voted the third-best bass lake in the US in 2016. Bluegill, catfish, carp, and crappie are also available for anglers fishing in the lake. Traveling anglers can also enjoy a glass of wine because the area surrounding Clear Lake is home to 10,000 acres of vineyards and no fewer than 35 wineries. Clear Lake is undoubtedly a national treasure known as one of California's best and most stunning places to fish.

Bass Lake

Bass Lake, also called Crane Valley Lake, is five miles long and famous for boaters. Aside from fishing, swimming is allowed in the lake. Many anglers love to use one of the five campgrounds on the lake for multi-day visits, and the Forks resort and Millers Landing offer boat rentals and accommodations for traveling anglers who tend to stay longer. The lake is in the Sierra National Forest, close to Yosemite National Park, and is surrounded by some of California's most beautiful natural sceneries. 

Book  A Fishing Charter

Book some of the best SoCal fishing charters that offer different fishing trips around California. These saltwater and freshwater charters offer one-of-a-kind fishing tours like marlin fishing in California. Book your next fishing trip with David Rooney Fishing, Big John's Fishing Guide Serves, Salmon Striper, and The Bend Company Fly Fishing Guide Service to enjoy SoCal's stunning places to fish.