Looking for a low-cost way to relax after work? Try fishing at one of several Eastside park lakes.
For some residents, it’s become a daily ritual. Just ask Toby Tomas. Most days, the 30-year-old stops by Hollenbeck Park Lake on his way home to Temple City.
“Hollenbeck is a stop for me to let traffic die down… It’s just nice to unwind at the end of the day before I head home and go about my business,” he said as he tied a lure to his fishing rod.
His most proud catch? A 10-pound carp he caught a few weeks ago.
When he and his friend, Cesar Alpizar, aren’t fishing in Boyle Heights, they’ll sometimes head to Lincoln Park Lake or Belvedere Park Lake in East L.A.
The men follow the park’s catch-and-release policy, and sometimes bring family to fish alongside them.
“You’re always getting bites here. So if you’re trying to bring your kids and want to experience them actually catching a fish, bring some nightcrawlers, worms and a small hook, and they’ll catch a fish,” Alpizar said.
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just getting started, L.A.’s Eastside lakes welcome all who follow the rules. Here’s a quick guide to help you cast off this season.
What Eastside parks have lakes where I can fish?
Hollenbeck Park in Boyle Heights, Lincoln Park in Lincoln Heights and Belvedere Park in East L.A. all have lakes regularly stocked with fish. If you’re looking to fish in other parts of Los Angeles, check out MacArthur Park Lake and more fishing locations around the state here.
To see what days fishing is permitted, check out the L.A. Recs and Parks information page.
Do I need a license to fish at my local park lake?
All anglers 16 years and older must have a valid California Fishing License to fish in any ocean or inland waters, including at Fishing in the City Programs (except on Free Fishing Days). Kids 15 and younger do not need a license to fish in California.
Where can I get a license and how much does it cost?
You could purchase sport fishing licenses by phone, online or at any California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) regional office.
If you’re a California resident older than 16, licenses cost $62.90 per year, while non-residents must pay $169.82 to fish for sport. Discounts are available to members of the military, those who are low-income Native Americans and those 65 or older who rely on Supplemental Security Income or cash assistance.
Short-term licenses for one to 10 days of sport fishing are also available.
I’ve never fished before. Where can I learn?
The CDFW offers several online video courses to amateur anglers that teach people the how-tos of fishing. Learn to cast a reel, rig a line, tie knots, prepare caught fish and other basics of fishing on the CDFW YouTube channel or other county parks departments’ guides.
What kind of fish could I catch?
Catfish, bass, bluegills and hatchery trout are some of the fish you might find tugging at your line in many Eastside lakes where fishing is permitted.
Can I take these fish home?
Hollenbeck Park Lake and Lincoln Park Lake follow a catch-and-release policy, which means all fish must be released back into the water after being caught. Belvedere Park Lake, however, does not follow this rule and allows anglers to take home up to five fish a day.
Is it safe to eat the fish I catch?
Fish from Hollenbeck Park Lake and Lincoln Park Lake are not safe to eat and must be released back into the water.
Because Belvedere Park does not have its own site-specific advisory, the state’s general fish consumption guidelines apply. These guidelines explain who can safely eat certain types of fish, according to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), which tracks advisories statewide. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health also warns that fish caught in local lakes may contain contaminants like mercury, PCBs, and DDT, and urges residents to check advisories before eating their catch. Officials also say it’s important to review signs posted at park lakes.
Learn about consumption guidelines for all lakes and reservoirs in California that do not have their own advisory and see a quick fact sheet in English and Spanish.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, to add more information about consumption guidelines.
