Fishing

Sonoma County Regional Parks offer a variety of fishing locations, from Bodega Bay and North Coast beaches to the Russian River and inland lakes and ponds. For a complete list, visit our Find a Park page and search for parks with fishing. Don't forget to bring your California fishing license if you are 16 years or older.

Fishing on the Russian River

The Russian River is a year-round fishing destination, where some of the best access is at Steelhead Beach in Forestville, Wohler Bridge between Healdsburg and Forestville, and Cloverdale River Park. Russian River fisheries include steelhead trout (fall, winter and spring), bass, bluegill and catfish (summer), and shad (spring.)

Fishing on the Sonoma Coast

The Sonoma Coast attracts anglers who fish for salmon, halibut, cod, Dungeness crab, clams, and other catch. Doran and Westside parks feature boat launches on Bodega Harbor or fishing from shore. Spud Point Marina on the harbor is the center of the county's commercial fishing industry.

Sonoma County Regional Parks operates the Sport Fishing Center located across the harbor from Spud Point Marina within the private Porto Bodega Marina. The Sport Fishing Center is the only place in Bodega Bay where privately chartered fishing boats may dock for passenger loading and unloading.

Up the coast, Stillwater Cove attracts abalone divers and kayak fishers.  Gualala Point Regional Park offers seasonal fishing on the Gualala River.

Fishing in lakes, ponds, bay

Inland fishing options include ponds in Helen Putnam, Foothill and Riverfront parks and 72-acre Spring Lake, where you can fish for blue gill, bass, and sunfish. Hudeman Slough along San Pablo Bay attracts bass anglers.  

Leave No Trace

Please practice Leave No Trace: Pack out all fishing lines and hooks. Discarded fishing lines and hooks cause unnecessary harm to birds and other aquatic wildlife. An accidentally swallowed fishing hook can lead to suffering and death.