The Best Spots to Fish in Los Angeles County, CA

Los Angeles is known for its sunny weather, world-famous movie stars, and some of the coolest beaches in the world. But did you know that it’s also an outdoor lover’s dream? In California,  you’ll find dozens of amazing spots for both freshwater and saltwater fishing.

Is LA Good for Fishing? 

Los Angeles County, CA, is great for fishing! And you don’t just have freshwater fishing. You get the best of both worlds: ocean and freshwater fishing! In the ocean, you can catch rockfish, barracuda, White Seabass, calico bass, yellowtail, and tuna. And in freshwater, you can catch trout, catfish, bluegill, crappie, bass, and more. 

Can You Fish on Los Angeles Beaches?

Fishing on the beaches in Los Angeles requires you to have a valid fishing license. However, there’s a bit of a loophole that you can use: fish from a public pier! You don’t need a license if you’re casting and catching from a public pier, but you must stay on the pier through the whole process, meaning you can’t walk down to the beach to land a big fish. 

The public piers in LA County that allow unlicensed fishing are:

• Malibu Pier
• Venice Pier
• Santa Monica Pier
• Redondo Beach Pier
• Cabrillo Beach Pier
• Manhattan Beach Pier
• Hermosa Beach Pier

You must still abide by the other fishing rules, even when fishing from a pier. This means following bag limits, seasons, minimum size, and all other fishing rules.

When not fishing from a public pier, you’ll need a fishing license. This will allow you to fish at the lakes and in the ocean around Los Angeles. 

The Best Places to Fish in Los Angeles County

Here is a look at just a few of the most popular fishing adventures in the region.

Echo Park Lake

People commonly fish here for trout, catfish, bluegills and even largemouth bass. The bigmouth trout is the best catch for local anglers; it’s common to get one of those prize fish in only a short time at the lake! Like in all city lakes, catch and release is not only good for the fish, it’s safer for the angler. Try to practice this as often as possible.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks the lake with rainbow trout during the winter through early spring and catfish during the summer. You will also find carp, bluegill, and largemouth bass in the lake.

Echo Park Lake was formed in the 1860s. Presently, the expanded lake contains a newly developed floating lotus-garden and a breathtaking view of the downtown Los Angeles skyline. Visitors can also enjoy pedal-boating, canoeing, running, and walks around its waterside pathway.

Head to Echo Park Lake and experience some of the best fishing in Los Angeles County, California.

Venice Fishing Pier

Fishing is only one of many motivations to walk the dock. Whether it’s your regular pastime or you want to try your hand at it for the day, you will definitely enjoy your bait and tackle on the pier. Halibut is one of the more common fish you can catch here along with yellowtail, Seabass, mackerel, and other species. And, as mentioned above, you don’t need a license to fish from this pier!

Dockweiler State Park

If you love surf- or fly-fishing, Dockweiler State Park will soon become one of your favorite saltwater spots. The 3-mile shoreline is the perfect spot to catch halibut, croakers and corbina. There are also annual angling competitions held along the shoreline, so plan to come watch or even compete!

The recreation center offers a snack bar and excursion ranges, which makes it a great place to bring the family. There is free parking at Vista del Mar and the beachside parking lots offer parking from $3 to $10 per day depending on the season.

Legg Lake

Legg Lake is only 1.5 miles from South El Monte in Los Angeles County and is known for its abundance of crappie fish. There are several other kinds of fish here as well, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, catfish, panfish, bream, and bluegill.

This is an incredible lake for shore fishing, with numerous grassland areas and fishing docks to choose from. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout from fall through spring and catfish during the summer months by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, making Legg Lake fishing a favorite among locals and visitors alike. When you visit this popular recreational area, you’ll find plenty of ducks and geese to keep you company while you fish.

Marina Del Rey Sportfishing

Marina Del Rey Sportfishing offers fishing trips for both beginners and pros. They are open on a daily basis, so you can come and go anytime you please. In addition to group fishing trips, they also offer seasonal whale-watching and private fishing charters. The boats have personalized service, friendly and professional crews, and offer rentals of bait, rods and tackle.

Lincoln Park Lake

Another stocked lake is Lincoln Park Lake. This is an extraordinary place to take the kids fishing. Only a short drive northeast of downtown in the area of Lincoln Heights, Lincoln Park Lake is a carp hotspot. Catfish, bluegill, largemouth bass, and crappie flourish here as well.

The lake has lots of rainbow trout stocked through from winter to early spring. During the summer months, you’ll also find catfish. There are so many fish just waiting to jump on your hook, it’s hard not to catch something on this lake!

LA Waterfront Sportfishing & Cruises

The LA Waterfront’s Sportfishing boats provide another nice guided fishing experience. During the middle of the year, fishing with LA Waterfront is perfect if you want yellowtail, white seabass, barracuda, bonito, calico bass or sand bass. They offer seasonal whale watching as well.

Where Can I Catch Big Fish in Los Angeles?

If you’re simply looking to catch the biggest fish possible in Los Angeles, your best bet is saltwater fishing. As they say, there are plenty of fish in the sea — and lots of them are quite large! The yellowtail amberjack and white seabass are two fun and hefty species to catch in the ocean. But you won’t have much luck casting from shore. For these beasts, you’ll need to be out on the ocean, using the expertise of a professional if you don’t know much about catching these types of fish. 

If you’re more inclined to fish in a lake, you have plenty of options within LA to catch largemouth bass. Lake Castaic is well-known for its largemouth bass, especially in the late summer and fall months. While they’re not all trophy-winners, some of the biggest largemouth bass on record have been caught in this lake in northwest LA county!

Where Can I Fish in a Lake in Los Angeles?

You have many options for lake fishing in Los Angeles. You’ll want to call ahead to see if the lake is stocked and whether the fish are edible, but many Los Angeles lakes are stocked with different kinds of fish all year round. Some of the lakes around LA that we haven’t already mentioned (and also permit fishing) are: 

• Hollenbeck Lake 
• Lake Balboa 
• Macarthur Park Lake 
• Ken Malloy Harbor Park Lake

As you can see, Los Angeles County is an angler’s dream. There are so many spots to cast your rod and reel here; you will never run out of places to explore. So enjoy the fantastic weather year-round and spend some family time in the great outdoors.

Just make sure to check the California Department of Fish & Wildlife website for regulations and obtain your California Fishing License before you head out.

Looking For Land Near LA?

One of the best ways to enjoy all that LA has to offer is by getting your own piece of land in the area. In fact, a short drive outside of LA Country yields plenty of opportunities for land purchasing. Whether you want a piece of land all your own, or you’re looking to invest, develop, and turn a profit, we have plenty of options. 

Check out our map of Southern California land for sale here!

San Bernardino County also has plenty of great places to fish, and you won’t have to deal with the hustle-and-bustle of Los Angeles to do it. Check out San Bernardino fishing spots here.