Fishing Guide

May 5, 2022

Question: Does CDFW offer online fishing resources for new anglers?

Answer: CDFW’s online Fishing Guide is a great tool to help new and experienced anglers plan their fishing activities. The guide can be used to identify historically good locations to fish, and to see which species of fish are available to catch in waterbodies statewide. Additional features include planting schedules for CDFW-stocked lakes and ponds, as well as boat launches/ramps, locations of license sales agents and fishing regulations. The guide can also be used to identify locations of Marine Protected Areas and quagga mussel-infested waters. CDFW’s Recruit, Retain, Reactivate (R3) team has a wealth of resources available on the R3 webpage, including how-to videos (R3H3), recipes and tips for cleaning your catch. For ocean fishing, CDFW’s Ocean Sport Fishing Interactive Web Map shows both fishing regulations and Marine Protected Area boundaries in relation to your location when used with a smart phone. The Marine Species Portal provides pictures, life history, and other information for a large number of ocean fish and invertebrates. Visit CDFW’s Fishing in California webpage and Fishing in the City program for additional resources.