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Fishing near Oakland, California
Alameda County, population 440,646.
- 3 milesto nearest lake
- 10launches nearby
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Oakland, California
Fishable water a drive from Oakland
The 2020 census counted 440,646 residents in Oakland, Alameda County. The nearest lake entry is Lake Merritt, about 3 miles to the northwest. Alameda Grand Street BLF is the closest named ramp, about 2 miles off.
No license is needed on Union Point Park Pier, the nearest pier at under a mile. CDFW maps 2 MPAs inside 15 miles.
3 milesto Lake Merritt
10launches within 15 mi
6piers within 25 mi
8shops within 15 mi
Lakes
Still water near Oakland
- Lake Merritt3 miles northwest
- Temescal Lake5 miles north, 10 acres
- Chabot Reservoir7 miles southeast, 315 acres
- Lafayette Reservoir9 miles northeast, 111 acres
- Cull Canyon Lake10 miles southeast
- San Pablo Reservoir11 miles north, 854 acres
Catch options on lakes by Oakland
| Species | Nearby lakes flagged |
|---|---|
| Black bass | 4 |
| Catfish | 4 |
| Hatchery trout | 3 |
| Sunfish and crappie | 3 |
Nearby rivers for Oakland
- Corte Madera Creek21 miles
- Alameda Creek25 miles
- Suisun Slough30 miles
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Where to fish near Oakland, mapped
- Alameda Grand Street BLFOakland Harbor, 2 miles
- Grand MarinaOakland Harbor, 2 miles
- Martin Luther King Jr. Regional ShorelineSan Leandro Bay, 2 miles
- Alameda Fishing AccessSan Francisco Bay-East Bay, 3 miles
- Lake Merritt Boating CenterLake Merrit, 3 miles
- Ballena Isle Marina (An Almar Marina)San Francisco Bay-East Bay, 3 miles
- Alameda Encinal BLFSan Francisco Bay-East Bay, 3 miles
- San Leandro Shoreline Recreation AreaSan Francisco Bay-East Bay, 6 miles
- Emery Cove Yacht HarborSan Francisco Bay-East Bay, 7 miles
- Emeryville Boating AccessSan Francisco Bay-East Bay, 7 miles
Straight line distances from the Census point for Oakland.
Salt water
Bay water in reach of Oakland
Pier fishing around Oakland
- Union Point Park Pierpier, under a mile
- San Antonio Pierpier, 1 mile
- San Antonio North (Best Western) Pierpier, 2 miles
- Veteran's Pierpier, 2 miles
- Arrowhead Marsh/MLK Pierpier, 2 miles
- Estuary Park Pierpier, 3 miles
Bays near Oakland
- San Francisco Bay6 miles
- Richardson Bay16 miles
- Carquinez Strait20 miles
Where take is limited near Oakland
- Robert W. Crown SMCASMCA, 3 miles
- Albany Mudflats SMPSMP, 10 miles
Flow
River levels near Oakland
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| San Lorenzo C A San Lorenzo Ca | 1 cfs, 2.70 ft gage height | Oct 12 4:30 pm |
| Cull C Ab Cull C Res Nr Castro Valley Ca | 0 cfs, 1.55 ft gage height | Oct 12 4:50 pm |
| Castro Valley C A Hayward Ca | 0 cfs, 0.66 ft gage height | Oct 12 5:20 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 12, 2026 5:35 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Local help
Supplies for Oakland anglers
Tackle stores around Oakland
- Llewellyn the Fit Foodiebait and tackle shop, Alameda, under a mile
- Grand Street Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Alameda, 1 mile
- West Marine Store #1343marine supply store, Alameda, 2 miles
- Big 5 Sporting Goods #135sporting goods store, Alameda, 2 miles
- Phu Quy Bait & Supplybait and tackle shop, Oakland, 2 miles
- Oakland Baitsbait and tackle shop, Oakland, 2 miles
- Central Avenue Bait & Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Alameda, 3 miles
- Marina Liquormarina, San Leandro, 5 miles
Where to buy a license near Oakland
- Neptune Marketlicense agent, 3 miles
- Walmart Store #5434department store, 8 miles
- Center Hardware & Supplylicense agent, 9 miles
Who guides Oakland
- Big Game Fishing Incunclassified, Oakland, (510) 531-3701
Stocking
Where CDFW plants trout near Oakland
| Lake | Distance | Plant weeks | Last plant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temescal Lake | 5 miles | 2 | 2026-01-04 |
| North Merced Lake | 15 miles | 5 | 2026-03-29 |
| Hidden Valley Pond | 16 miles | 4 | 2026-03-01 |
| Lakeshore Park Pond | 18 miles | 1 | 2025-12-14 |
| Horseshoe Lake, Alameda County | 18 miles | 5 | 2026-03-01 |
| Shadow Cliff Lake | 22 miles | 5 | 2026-02-15 |
| Lake Herman | 23 miles | 2 | 2026-02-15 |
| Lake Chabot | 25 miles | 3 | 2026-03-15 |
CDFW Fish Planting Schedule, last 52 weeks.
Limits
Bag rules around Oakland
Oakland anglers fish under the South Central or Valley District rules inland.
| Species | Daily bag | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black bass | 5 a day | 12 in minimum | All year |
| Trout | 5 a day | none | All year |
| Striped bass | 2 a day | 18 in minimum | All year except closures in special regulations |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 a day | none | All year, except closures under district or special regulations |
| Catfish | no limit | none | All year, except closures under special regulations |
| Kokanee and inland salmon | 5 a day | none | All year |
CDFW 2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations.
Nearby
Beyond Oakland
Overnight options near Oakland
- Alameda3 miles
- San Leandro6 miles
- Berkeley8 miles
- Castro Valley10 miles
Oakland on the county pages
- Alameda Countyseat: Oakland
In pictures
Pictures taken near Oakland
Photo: UncleVinny, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Clyde Charles Brown, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Robert Campbell, CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers
Near Oakland, answered
Which lake can I fish from Oakland?
Lake Merritt, 3 miles northwest.
Where does a boat go in near Oakland?
Alameda Grand Street BLF is closest at 2 miles.
Which public piers stand near Oakland?
The nearest is Union Point Park Pier at under a mile.
Where does Oakland buy its bait?
The nearest is Llewellyn the Fit Foodie.
Do charter boats sail from Oakland?
There are 1 guide or charter.
Which California county is Oakland part of?
Alameda County, California.
Are there no-take zones near Oakland?
Watch Robert W. Crown SMCA and 1 others.
Which stream lies closest to Oakland?
Corte Madera Creek, about 21 miles.
Can tourists fish Oakland without a license?
One day $21.09, two days $32.4, for anyone 16 or older.