Part of Streams and Fishing Guides, our guide to San Diego County creeks, rivers and stream-side parks, with fishing rules and flood safety.
Anyone 16 or older needs a California fishing license. CDFW’s planting list for San Diego County names only lakes and ponds, so no creek stocking is claimed here. Fishing is banned at Santa Margarita County Preserve and limited to named spots at San Dieguito River Park. Read 2026-10-23.Checked October 23, 2026.
License Rules
CDFW says: “Any person who is 16 years of age or older must possess a valid sport fishing license.” A 365-day license is valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. A second-rod validation allows two rods or lines in inland waters, and a child under 16 “may fish with two rods in inland waters.” Report cards are required for steelhead, sturgeon, abalone, spiny lobster and salmon. Source: CDFW, read 2026-10-23.
State Parks’ Palomar Mountain fishing page says “over 16,” while CDFW says 16 or older. We use CDFW, the licensing agency. For the full picture see our page on California Fishing License and Limits.
Free Fishing Days
CDFW’s page, read 2026-10-23, says: “Free Fishing Days for 2027 are Saturday, July 3, and Saturday, September 4.” On those two days anyone can fish without a license, but bag and size limits, gear rules, report cards, fishing hours and stream closures still apply. Older search excerpts showed July 4 and September 5 for 2026. See Free Fishing Days for our own page and Fishing With Kids.
Southern District Regulations
All San Diego County fresh water falls in CDFW’s Southern District. The 2026 booklet says dead threadfin shad and live or dead longjaw mudsucker may be used in all Southern District waters, and that golden shiner and red shiner may be used in San Diego County. It also lists special rules for several San Diego County waters, including a Sweetwater Reservoir entry. The stream trout seasons and limits and the special-water names did not extract from our copy, so we do not state them. Read the booklet and CDFW’s map before fishing any stream.
Trout Planting
CDFW’s planting schedule says it is “updated in real time” by hatchery staff, that plants are subject to change, and that specific dates are not given “to avoid focusing excess fishing activity immediately after a plant.” Its San Diego County water list, read 2026-10-23, has 12 names, all lakes or ponds: Chollas Park Lake, Cuyamaca Lake, Doane Pond, El Capitan Lake, Lake Jennings, Lake Miramar, Lake Murray, Lake Wohlford, Lindo Lake, Lower Otay Lake, Morena Reservoir and San Vicente Reservoir. A name on the list does not mean a plant is scheduled. No river or creek appears, so we do not say any San Diego County stream is stocked.
Where Fishing Is Limited
- Santa Margarita County Preserve: the county page says “Fishing is not allowed.”
- San Dieguito River Park: fishing only at the spots its rules list, and “NO FISHING anywhere else in the park.”
- Palomar Mountain State Park: State Parks asks visitors not to fish the creeks below Doane Pond. Doane Pond is the stocked water.
Other preserves in this guide say nothing about fishing on the pages we read; treat that as unconfirmed, not as permission.
Fire Orders and Closures
The Cleveland National Forest alerts page, read 2026-10-23, showed “Fire Danger Status: High” for the Trabuco, Palomar and Descanso ranger districts, elevated fire use restrictions (Forest Order #02-26-10), a limit of 14 days in a calendar year for dispersed camping (Forest Order #02-26-11) and temporary road closures near Orosco Ridge to protect arroyo toads (Forest Order #02-26-08). Fireworks are always prohibited. Orders change, so read the Forest Service alerts page before you go. CDFW also asks visitors to see its Emergency Closures page before visiting a CDFW property.
Flash Floods and Water Safety
The National Weather Service says “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult” and “just 12 inches of rushing water” can carry away most cars. If you are camping in a low-lying area, it says to get to higher ground immediately. The county’s Santa Ysabel page asks visitors to stay on trails and avoid playing in the creek. Water quality in San Diego County creeks and rivers was not researched.
More Pages On This Site
Also see Walker Preserve, Louis A. Stelzer County Park, Green Valley Day Use Area, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Pine Valley County Park, Tijuana River Valley Regional Park and Sweetwater Summit Regional Park.
What We Could Not Verify
- Southern District stream trout seasons and limits, the special black bass water names and the Sweetwater Reservoir entry details did not extract from the regulations booklet. CDFW can confirm.
- The second-rod validation fee ($20.26) appeared only in a search excerpt, not on the CDFW page we read. CDFW can confirm.
- Free Fishing Days: CDFW’s page shows 2027 dates; the 2026 dates (July 4 and September 5) come from an older search excerpt. CDFW can confirm.
- The booklet is dated July 10, 2026 and a 2026-2027 edition may follow. Check CDFW before fishing.
- Current Doane Pond plant rows were not read; a search summary named the week of October 25 to 31, 2026, which is not confirmed. CDFW can confirm.
- Water quality of San Diego County creeks and rivers was not researched.
More in Streams and Fishing Guides
FAQ
Do I need a license to fish a San Diego County creek?
Yes if you are 16 or older, per CDFW, except on Free Fishing Days. Stream rules still apply on those days.
Does CDFW stock San Diego County creeks?
Its planting list for San Diego County names only lakes and ponds, read 2026-10-23. We do not claim any stream is stocked.
Can I fish at Santa Margarita County Preserve?
No. The county page says “Fishing is not allowed.”
Sources
- CDFW: fishing licenses
- CDFW: Free Fishing Days
- CDFW: 2026 freshwater regulations (PDF)
- CDFW: fish planting schedule
- Cleveland National Forest: alerts
- California State Parks: fishing
- National Weather Service: turn around, don't drown
Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.