27 public waters in the Central Coast region — 8 lakes/reservoirs and 19 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a California licence.
See every public fishing venue in California on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
San Luis Obispo County, California — Atascadero Lake is a 40-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A Sierra-foothill or Coast-Range reservoir — California's bread-and-butter bass water: spotted, largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, stocked Rainbow Trout in the cool months, landlocked King (Chinook) salmon or Kokanee on many, plus Channel Catfish, Black Crappie and Bluegill.
In San Luis Obispo County, California, Santa Margarita Lake is a 40-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A Sierra-foothill or Coast-Range reservoir — California's bread-and-butter bass water: spotted, largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, stocked Rainbow Trout in the cool months, landlocked King (Chinook) salmon or Kokanee on many, plus Channel Catfish, Black Crappie and Bluegill.
In San Luis Obispo County, California, Barney Schwartz Park Lake is a 40-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A CDFW-stocked urban or park lake — Rainbow Trout planted through the cool months and Channel Catfish in summer, with resident Largemouth Bass and Bluegill; many are in the regional-park systems around Los Angeles, the Bay Area and Sacramento.
San Luis Obispo County, California — Lopez Lake is a 40-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A Sierra-foothill or Coast-Range reservoir — California's bread-and-butter bass water: spotted, largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, stocked Rainbow Trout in the cool months, landlocked King (Chinook) salmon or Kokanee on many, plus Channel Catfish, Black Crappie and Bluegill.
Oso Flaco Lake (38 acres) sits in San Luis Obispo County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
waterway (18 acres) sits in San Luis Obispo County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In San Luis Obispo County, California, Big Twin Lake is a 18-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Pipeline Lake (15 acres) sits in San Luis Obispo County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
San Luis Obispo County, California — Alamo Creek is a 38 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Chorro Creek runs 23 km through San Luis Obispo County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
San Luis Obispo County, California — Los Berros Creek is a 22 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
San Luis Obispo County, California — Las Tablas Creek is a 30 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In San Luis Obispo County, California, San Marcos Creek is a 21 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
San Luis Obispo County, California — Morro Creek is a 22 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In San Luis Obispo County, California, Huerhuero Creek is a 34 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Kern and San Luis Obispo Counties, California, Bitterwater Creek is a 33 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
The Salinas River historically supported salmon runs noted as early as 1776 by Spanish missionary Pedro Font, but today only a small remnant population of threatened Central Coast steelhead trout survives, sustained mainly by the undammed Arroyo Seco tributary. Historically, steelhead from the upper watershed took over 10 days to migrate to the Pacific near Marina, later ranging as far as waters west of the Aleutian Islands before returning to spawn — a migration now threatened by the river running dry for much of the year.
Middle Branch Huerhuero Creek runs 20 km through San Luis Obispo County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Nacimiento River (106 km) flows through Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In San Luis Obispo County, California, Arroyo Grande Creek is a 21 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In San Luis Obispo County, California, San Luis Obispo Creek is a 26 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
San Juan Creek (91 km) flows through San Luis Obispo County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In San Luis Obispo County, California, Huasna River is a 32 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, California — San Jacinto Creek is a 28 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Navajo Creek (25 km) flows through San Luis Obispo County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
San Luis Obispo County, California — Estrella River is a 45 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, California, Santa Maria River is a 39 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Across its mapped waters, San Luis Obispo County holds 13 species on PiscaMaps, including Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Black Crappie and White Crappie.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the California map Join PiscaMapsOne California sport fishing licence covers every public water in the state, Shasta, Tahoe and the Sacramento included — the resident annual is about $62 (one of the most expensive in the country), the non-resident about $167, and it now runs 12 months from the date of purchase. Add a Bay-Delta Enhancement Stamp (~$7) for the Delta or a Steelhead Report Card (~$10) to fish for steelhead. Youth under 16 fish free. Buy at wildlife.ca.gov.