California towns

Fishing near Costa Mesa, California

Orange County, population 111,918.

  • 4 milesto nearest lake
  • 10launches nearby
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Photo of Newport Beach Pier: Don Ramey Logan, CC BY-SA 3.0

Costa Mesa, California

Angling from Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa sits in Orange County; its 2020 population was 111,918. Centennial Lake lies 4 miles north, the nearest CDFW lake. The closest launch page is Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina (3 miles).

Newport Beach Pier, 4 miles away, is the nearest license-free pier. Note the 6 MPAs within 15 miles.

4 milesto Centennial Lake
10launches within 15 mi
6piers within 25 mi
8shops within 15 mi
Lakes

Lake trips from Costa Mesa

  • Centennial Lake4 miles north, 10 acres
  • Mile Square Park Lake5 miles north
  • Lake Huntington6 miles west, 10.7 acres
  • Greer Park Lake7 miles northwest, 1.1 acres
  • Carr Park Lake7 miles northwest, 1.4 acres
  • Eisenhower Park Lake12 miles north, 2.9 acres

What the lakes around Costa Mesa hold

SpeciesNearby lakes flagged
Hatchery trout4

Moving water near Costa Mesa

  • Trabuco Creek21 miles
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Map

Spots near Costa Mesa on the map

  • Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & MarinaNewport Harbor, 3 miles
  • Newport Dunes Launch RampNewport Harbor, 3 miles
  • Orange County Sheriff's Harbor Patrol DivisionNewport Harbor, 5 miles
  • Huntington Beach Boat RampHuntington Harbor, 9 miles
  • Sunset Aquatic MarinaHuntington Harbor, 10 miles
  • Alamitos Bay Marina ( Basin 2)Alamitos Bay, 13 miles
  • Alamitos Bay Marina ( Basin 1)Alamitos Bay, 13 miles
  • Alamitos Bay Marina ( Basin 3)Alamitos Bay, 13 miles
  • Alamitos Bay MarinaAlamitos Bay, 13 miles
  • Alamitos Bay Marina ( Basin 4)Alamitos Bay, 13 miles

Straight line distances from the Census point for Costa Mesa.

Salt water

Public piers and bays by Costa Mesa

Piers a short drive from Costa Mesa

  • Newport Beach Pierpier, 4 miles
  • Balboa Pier, Newportpier, 5 miles
  • Huntington Beach Pierpier, 5 miles
  • Newport Harbor North Jettyjetty, 5 miles
  • Newport Harbor South Jettyjetty, 5 miles
  • Seal Beach Pierpier, 12 miles

Bay pages near Costa Mesa

  • Upper Newport Bay2 miles
  • Newport Bay3 miles
  • Anaheim Bay11 miles

Closed water close to Costa Mesa

Flow

Live stream readings around Costa Mesa

USGS gaugeLatest readingTime (ET)
Bonita C A Irvine Ca5 cfs, 10.50 ft gage heightOct 12 4:45 pm
Santa Ana R A Santa Ana Ca4 cfs, 1.53 ft gage heightOct 12 5:15 pm
Santiago C A Santa Ana Ca0 cfs, 7.30 ft gage heightOct 12 4:45 pm

US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 12, 2026 5:35 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.

Local help

Bait and guides by Costa Mesa

Shops a short drive from Costa Mesa

  • Big 5 Sporting Goods #019sporting goods store, Costa Mesa, under a mile
  • Glenns Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Costa Mesa, 1 mile
  • EZ Hitch Tailgate Tablebait and tackle shop, Costa Mesa, 2 miles
  • Sharon's Worm Salesbait and tackle shop, Costa Mesa, 2 miles
  • Baier Marinebait and tackle shop, Costa Mesa, 2 miles
  • Jimmy's Fishing Supplybait and tackle shop, Costa Mesa, 2 miles
  • Iron Grip Barbell Cobait and tackle shop, Santa Ana, 3 miles
  • Anglers Centerbait and tackle shop, Newport Beach, 3 miles

Get a license near Costa Mesa

Guided trips near Costa Mesa

  • We Hook 'Em Sport Fishingocean charter, Costa Mesa, (949) 650-6588
  • Limitless Chartersunclassified, Costa Mesa, (949) 650-4636
Stocking

Hatchery fish near Costa Mesa

LakeDistancePlant weeksLast plant
Centennial Lake4 miles52026-03-08
Lake Huntington6 miles52026-03-08
Greer Park Lake7 miles12025-11-16
Carr Park Lake7 miles52026-03-08
Eisenhower Park Lake12 miles52026-03-08
El Dorado Park Lakes15 miles82026-03-15
Cerritos Lake15 miles62026-05-31
Ralph Clark Regional Park Lake16 miles12026-08-23

CDFW Fish Planting Schedule, last 52 weeks.

Limits

Rules on lakes near Costa Mesa

For lakes near Costa Mesa, the Southern District applies.

SpeciesDaily bagSizeSeason
Black bass5 a day12 in minimumAll year
Trout5 a daynoneAll year
Striped bass10 a daynoneAll year
Sunfish and crappie25 a daynoneAll year, except closures under district or special regulations
Catfish10 a daynoneAll year
Kokanee and inland salmon5 a daynoneAll year

CDFW 2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations.

Nearby

Outside Costa Mesa

Closest communities to Costa Mesa

Which counties Costa Mesa touches

  • Orange Countyseat: Santa Ana
Field guide

What anglers hook near Costa Mesa

Rainbow trout and steelhead, California
Rainbow trout and steelhead
Photo: Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bluegill, California
Bluegill
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Channel catfish, California
Channel catfish
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Kokanee, California
Kokanee
Photo: Intermountain Forest Service, USDA Region 4 Photography, Public domain
Answers

Anglers near Costa Mesa ask

Which CDFW lake lies closest to Costa Mesa?

Centennial Lake, 4 miles north.

Where can a boat go in near Costa Mesa?

Head to Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina, 3 miles out.

Can I fish a public pier from Costa Mesa?

Newport Beach Pier is closest (4 miles); no license required.

Which tackle counter is closest to Costa Mesa?

Big 5 Sporting Goods #019 is nearest.

Does Costa Mesa have working fishing guides?

2 guides and charters on our lists.

Which California county holds Costa Mesa?

It sits inside Orange County.

Are there protected areas near Costa Mesa?

Upper Newport Bay SMCA and 5 more within 15 miles.

Which stream can I fish from Costa Mesa?

Trabuco Creek, roughly 21 miles away.

Do visitors need a license in Costa Mesa?

A one-day license costs $21.09; two days, $32.4.

Map out a trip from Costa Mesa

Open a spot above to see its rules.

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