California is one of the best fishing states in the country, and much of that is thanks to its variety. In a single trip, you can chase spotted bass in a northern reservoir, wade in a Sierra trout stream, troll a deep alpine lake, and drop a line into the Pacific off a public pier. Top spots range from Lake Shasta and Lake Tahoe in the north to Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite, and the reservoirs and coastline of Southern California.
But California’s diverse areas are also a considerable distance apart, and the best fishing often starts before sunrise. That’s where an RV proves very useful: you can camp close to the water, carry all your gear, and move from one fishing destination to the next without unpacking. Below are the best places to fish in California and how to turn each one into an RV trip.
Best Places for RV Fishing in California
| Fishing spot | Best for | RV camping experience | Good to know |
| Lake Shasta | Spotted and largemouth bass | RV parks near Redding; dispersed camping in Shasta-Trinity NF | Fishes year-round, best in spring |
| Lake Tahoe | Mackinaw, rainbow trout, kokanee | Small dry-camping state sites lakeside; full-hookup resorts around the lake | Alpine elevation; short summer season |
| McCloud River | Wild and stocked trout, fly fishing | Rustic Forest Service camps (no hookups); RV parks in McCloud/Mt. Shasta | Wadeable water above the reservoir |
| The Delta | Striped bass, largemouth, catfish | Marina RV parks with hookups; state rec area camping | Boat rentals throughout |
| Mammoth Lakes | Rainbow, Alpers, and brown trout | Dry Forest Service basin campgrounds; full-hookup RV park in town | High elevation; skip Horseshoe Lake |
| Yosemite National Park | Rainbow and brown trout | In-park dry campgrounds (no hookups); size limits vary | Special park rules; check current NPS regs |
| Castaic Lake | Trophy largemouth and striped bass | County campground, no hookups (dump station); private RV park nearby | Great for families |
| Santa Monica Pier | Mackerel, surfperch, halibut | No pier camping; LA-area RV parks, including beachfront | No license needed on the pier |
| Catalina Island | Yellowtail, white seabass, calico bass | Base the RV on the mainland; ferry over | Reached by ferry from Long Beach or Dana Point |
Fishing Spots in California
Here are some of the best fishing spots in California. You can fish for a variety of species, and you’ll enjoy California’s vast differences in landscape and scenery while you’re out.
Lake Shasta
Lake Shasta is in northern California near Redding, in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. This lake is the ideal place to catch bass, especially spotted bass. There are many marinas around the water’s edge where you can rent a boat to get out on the water. Use spinnerbaits, plastic worms, swimbait, or live bait for the best results. The fishing is good year-round, but it’s best in the spring.
There are lots of RV campgrounds around Lake Shasta and in nearby Redding. Dispersed camping is also available in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Lake Shasta is ringed with RV parks and resorts, and Redding just to the south adds more full-hookup options.
- For a rustic stay, dispersed camping is allowed across the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
- Many lakeside campgrounds and marinas let you launch a boat within minutes of your site.
- Best for: bass anglers who want easy boat access and a choice of camping styles, from full hookups to boondocking.
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America and offers plenty of fishing opportunities in California and Nevada, since the lake spans two states. The Tahoe State Recreation Area near Tahoe City is near the Tahoe City Commons Beach and Elizabeth Williams Park – both great places to fish from shore. Beaches and piers along the lake’s 72 miles of shoreline make excellent fishing spots. You can also rent a boat to fish in the lake. You may catch mackinaw, rainbow, and brown trout, and kokanee salmon.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Right in Tahoe City, the Tahoe State Recreation Area has a small lakeside campground. It’s dry camping with no hookups and caps RVs at about 21 feet, so it suits smaller rigs.
- For bigger RVs or full hookups, look to resorts around the lake like Zephyr Cove or campgrounds in South Lake Tahoe.
- Best for: small-rig anglers who want to walk from camp to the water.
McCloud River
The McCloud River in northern California offers excellent fly-fishing opportunities. You will find nice campgrounds, waterfalls, and a river that is stocked with trout. Above the McCloud Reservoir, the water is shallower, so it is easier to wade while casting. Fish are also stocked regularly at Fowlers Campground. You can use bait, lures, or flies to fish here. Keep up to five tasty trout for dinner.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Fowlers Campground, a Forest Service site near the McCloud River Falls, puts you right on the water. It’s rustic, with no hookups and basic facilities, and it’s popular, so arrive early or reserve.
- For hookups, base in McCloud or Mount Shasta, both of which have RV parks.
- Dispersed camping is available across the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
- Best for: fly anglers who want to wade and don’t need full amenities.
The Delta
The California Delta covers a wide area and is an excellent fishing spot where the San Joaquin River and the Sacramento River meet. The area has plenty of fishing holes, both secluded and out in the open. There are marinas all over the Delta where you can rent a boat. Be ready to catch some good-sized striped bass, largemouth bass, and catfish.
RV Trip Snapshot
- The Delta is dotted with marinas and waterfront RV parks, many with full hookups and boat launches on site, handy when you’re chasing stripers by boat.
- Brannan Island State Recreation Area near Rio Vista offers additional camping.
- Best for: boat anglers who want to launch steps from their site.
Mammoth Lakes
The Mammoth Lakes are located in the central-eastern part of the state. They are stocked with rainbow and Alpers trout, and there are brown trout as well. The lakes are fantastic for fishing from your boat or a float tube. There is also plenty of fishing from the bank. However, don’t plan to fish Horseshoe Lake. It isn’t stocked and doesn’t have good fishing, though it’s a popular spot for a swim.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Campgrounds in the Mammoth Lakes Basin are run by the Inyo National Forest. They’re dry camping with no hookups but are right among the lakes, with dump stations nearby.
- For full hookups, Mammoth Mountain RV Park in town is open year-round.
- Mind the elevation, which is around 9,000 feet: Nights stay cold even in summer, and generators run weaker in thin air, so a rig that runs on battery power helps.
- Best for: trout anglers who want to camp within steps of the water.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park, near Mariposa, is famous for its scenery and wildlife, and it also holds hundreds of miles of trout streams plus high-country lakes. You’ll mostly find rainbow and brown trout, with brook and golden trout higher up. The general limit is five trout per day and ten in possession, but there are special rules. Rainbow trout are catch-and-release only in Yosemite Valley and the South Fork Merced River, and barbless artificial lures are required in those waters and along the Tuolumne River. Lakes and reservoirs are open year-round; stream and river fishing traditionally runs from late April through mid-November, though the park recently expanded winter access in Yosemite Valley and the Hetch Hetchy area. Rules shift depending on where you’re fishing, so check the park’s current regulations before you cast.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Several campgrounds inside the park accept RVs, but none have hookups, so every site is dry camping.
- Size limits vary widely: the Valley’s Pines campgrounds take the largest rigs, up to roughly 35–40 feet at Lower and North Pines, while high-country sites like White Wolf and Tuolumne Meadows cap out around 24–27 feet.
- There are a few dump stations and places to get potable water in the park, and sites book up months ahead, so reserve early.
- Just outside the park, around Oakhurst, Mariposa, and Groveland, you’ll find full-hookup RV parks.
- Best for: anglers who want to fish iconic waters and don’t mind boondocking or staying just outside the gates.
Castaic Lake
This Southern California lake near Santa Clarita holds trophy-size largemouth and striped bass and hosts fishing tournaments, and it’s a solid family destination. The upper lake is good for fishing from small boats, while the lower lagoon is better for shore fishing and offers 24-hour fishing access. Fishing is available year-round, and spring is especially productive.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Castaic Lake State Recreation Area is operated by Los Angeles County, and the campground sits on the lower lagoon. All sites are dry camping with no individual hookups.
- You will find restrooms, hot showers, drinking water, and an RV dump station, and RVs are accepted up to about 35 feet. Reservations are required.
- Want full hookups? The nearby private Castaic Lake RV Park has them.
- Fishing access: cast right from the lagoon shoreline near camp.
- Best for: families and tournament anglers who want to stay on the water.
Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is a great place for saltwater fishing. Fishing licenses aren’t required on public piers, so this is an easy spot for beginners and kids to give it a try. You might catch mackerel, surfperch, halibut, or even sharks off the pier. The Santa Monica Pier also has a roller coaster, a Ferris wheel, souvenir shops, and places to grab a bite to eat. Fishing is best at sunrise and sunset.
Look for campgrounds in Los Angeles or near Santa Monica to stay close to the pier.
RV Trip Snapshot
- There’s no camping at the pier itself, so look for campgrounds in the greater Los Angeles area.
- Dockweiler RV Park sits right on the beach nearby with hookups, and more RV parks are spread across the region.
- Best for: beginners, families, and anyone wanting to fish on a visit to Los Angeles.
Catalina Island
Catalina Island, off the Southern California coast, offers world-class saltwater fishing. Try for yellowtail, white seabass, or calico bass. You can fish from the Green Pleasure Pier in Avalon, rent a boat, or book a deep-sea excursion for something more serious.
You can find RV campgrounds in Long Beach, near where you pick up the ferry or charter to the island.
RV Trip Snapshot
- You can’t bring an RV onto Catalina, since visitors reach the island by ferry as foot passengers.
- Base your RV on the mainland near the ferry terminals in Long Beach or Dana Point since both areas have RV parks with hookups. Then take a day trip or visit overnight to fish.
- Best for: anglers who want a saltwater adventure and don’t mind leaving their RV on shore.
How to Plan an RV Fishing Trip in California
Fishing in California gives you the chance to try a variety of styles. You can enjoy fishing in wilderness rivers, high mountain lakes, and along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. You can also fish for a variety of species, and you’ll get to experience the vastly different types of scenery all across this beautiful state.
Choose an RV-Friendly Campground
California is big, so pick a base camp close to the water where you want to fish. You can save hours of driving at dawn. A few things to consider:
- Proximity to fishing access – Lakeside and riverside campgrounds mean you can cast within minutes of waking up.
- Hookups vs. dry camping – Many of the best fishing spots, including Sierra lakes, Yosemite, and Tahoe’s state campgrounds, are dry camping only. If you want power and water, look for nearby private RV parks and resorts.
- RV size limits – High-country and national-park campgrounds often limit RV length, sometimes as low as 21 to 27 feet. Confirm your rig fits before you book your spot.
- Reservations – Popular campgrounds, especially around Yosemite and Tahoe, fill months ahead. RVshare’s guide to the best campgrounds and RV parks in Lake Tahoe is a good place to start, or look for first-come sites midweek.
Pack Your RV for a Fishing Trip
Match your gear to the water you plan to fish in California, from cold mountain streams to the Pacific Ocean:
- Your valid California fishing license, plus any required report cards.
- Rods to suit the water: light spinning or fly rods for Sierra trout, heavier gear for ocean fishing off Catalina or the piers.
- Waders and warm layers. Many mountain rivers run on cold snowmelt.
- A belly pack or float tube for wading and fishing high lakes.
- Extra tackle. Brushy banks, rocks, and sunken logs snag plenty of lures.
- Coolers and a plan to keep and clean your catch. Some campgrounds have fish-cleaning stations.
- A camp stove or grill so you can cook your catch on site.
- Bear-proof food storage habits. Bear lockers are required at most Sierra, Tahoe, and Yosemite campgrounds.
Know Before You Go
Anyone 16 or older needs a valid California sport fishing license, whether you keep your catch or release it. The main exception: you don’t need a license to fish from a public ocean or bay pier, like the Santa Monica Pier. California runs separate inland and ocean regulations, and some species, including steelhead and certain salmon, require a free report card in addition to your license.
Bag limits, size limits, and seasons vary by water, and they can change from year to year. Check the current rules before you go on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website. If you’re headed to national parks or forests, be sure to confirm those rules. Yosemite, for example, has its own gear and catch restrictions.
Find an RV for Your California Fishing Trip
California’s fishing is spread across the whole state. You’ve got trout in the Sierra, bass in the reservoirs, and saltwater along the coast. An RV lets you chase all of it on one trip. With a rental, you can:
- Camp close to the water for sunrise fishing and long days on the lake.
- Haul rods, tackle, waders, coolers, and a cooktop without cramming a car.
- Base-camp near one lake or move between several fishing destinations.
- Set up a comfortable home base for early mornings and late evenings on the water.
- Bring family or friends and give everyone room to fish, hike, or relax their own way.
Ready to map your route through all of the state’s diverse fishing areas? Find your RV for a California fishing trip and start planning.
