Fishing

 

 

What comes to mind when you think about fishing? Patience, relaxation, challenge, and memories are a few words often associated with fishing. We want you to have an enjoyable time fishing during your visit, along with future visitors; learn your responsibilities before casting a line or flicking a fly into the water.

Licenses

Visitors to Yosemite 16 or older must have a valid California fishing license. Fishing licenses are available online.The California Department of Fish and Wildlife website lists current sport fishing license fees and regulations.

Fishing Regulations

California Regulations

Except as noted below, California fishing regulations apply in Yosemite National Park, including the requirement that people 16 or older have a valid California fishing license.

All waters are open to fishing all year, except as noted below.

Yosemite National Park and El Portal Administrative Site Regulations

Some special regulations apply within Yosemite National Park and the El Portal Administrative Site (outlined below). These can also be found in the Superintendent's Compendium.

 

General Regulations

• Except as noted below, all waters are open all year.
• Live, dead, or scented bait is prohibited. This includes (but is not limited to):
  • Any other natural or manufactured product or device that is used to alert and attract fish by sense of taste or smell, including any product or device to which scents or attraction agents have been added or externally applied
  • Worms, grubs, crickets, leeches, stink baits, insects, crayfish, human food, pet food, fish, fish parts, and fish eggs
  • Scented natural or artificially manufactured fish eggs
  • Scented or flavored liquid gel or paste
• Bag and possession limits
  • Five per day (all trout species)
  • Ten at one time (all trout species), except as noted below
• Fishing from any piers or bridges (vehicle, pedestrian, or stock) and from the top of O'Shaughnessy Dam in Hetch Hetchy is prohibited.
• Fishing from horseback in any lake or stream is prohibited.
• Lead weights used on fishing lines must be 0.25 ounces or less
• Transporting live fish any distance is prohibited.

 

Merced & South Fork Merced River (Yosemite Valley, El Portal, and Wawona); and Tuolumne River

Hetch Hetchy

Adair Lake and Hanging Basket Lake

 

These area specific rules – limits on types of lures; prohibition of live bait; bag limits; requirements for catch and release of native species; and prohibition on the transportation of live fish – are necessary to help sustain native fish populations, including controlling the spread of non-native fish.

Fish Consumption Advisories

Prior to your trip review the statewide advisory for eating fish from California’s lakes and reservoirs. The chemical of concern for the statewide advisory is Mercury — specifically methylmercury — found in fish tissue. At sufficient doses methylmercury can pose a risk.

 

Rainbow trout: Native to waters at Yosemite's lower elevations and non native at higher elevations.

 

Aquatic Invasive Species and Decontamination Protocols

Please help keep Yosemite free of aquatic invasive species! Anglers, kayakers, and boaters please inspect, clean, drain and dry all of your equipment prior to your visit. Clean and dry all personal belongings, clothing, and footwear that have come in contact with the water. Boaters and Kayakers, keep your watercraft dry for at least five days in warm, dry weather and up to 30 days in cool, moist weather before you visit Yosemite.

For more information:

• Learn about Yosemite's aquatic resources and what we are doing to protect them.

• California Department of Fish and Wildlife - Quagga and Zebra Mussel Information

Fishing Throughout the National Park Service

Learn more about fish and fishing throughout the National Park Service. You can learn about conservation, different fish species, and parks that offer fishing.