Anglers' Edge Online

Vol. 1175 | January 22, 2021

Collection of all fees will resume effective Monday, January 4, 2021.
This will include Iron Rangers and VenTek machines in addition to collection of fees in the kiosks.

NO SMOKING on EBRPD property, including all piers, parks & trails. (Ord. 38, Sec. 404.3)

Boat inspections are performed at the following lakes:
Lake Chabot, Del Valle, Quarry Lakes, Contra Loma, and Shadow Cliffs

• Fishing Rules
• Which Fish Are in Which Lakes?
• Fish Planting Information
• General Activity
• Boat Rental Information
• General Information

Fish Planting Information

The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) plants rainbow trout and channel catfish up to 6+ pounds each. The California Department of Fish & Wildlife (DF&W) plants trout averaging over ½ pound each. Note: Plants are subject to change due to weather conditions.

NOTICE: The East Bay Regional Park District is currently open, and allowing fishing where fishing is permittable. Please wear face mask and practice safe Social Distancing. Daily Fishing Permits and State of California Fishing Licenses are required. All regulations, bag limits, slot limits still apply.

Attention Anglers

1. DO NOT LET YOUR DOG EAT OR LICK RAW TROUT/SALMON. They may be infected with a parasitic disease which can be fatal to your pet. For more information call Fisheries Manager Joe Sullivan at (510) 544-2329.
2. EBRPD recommends all bass be released. Please do not remove tags from released bass. Record the tag number, length, and weight of the fish to include in your catch report.
3. Please report your catches and turn in all retrieved tags from kept bass to the marina or kiosk attendant. Length and weight (if possible), location and date would be helpful also.
4. Please remember to clean up any fouled line and bait containers. Wildlife can be injured or killed by fishing line!! Please use the special fishing line disposal tubes at Del Valle, Lake Chabot, Quarry Lakes and Shadow Cliffs. Recycling your broken fishing monofilament helps protect wildlife.
5. All park hours are 6am to 7pm unless otherwise posted.

General Activity

DEL VALLE (LIVERMORE) »

HOURS OF OPERATION
OPEN Seven Days a Week
November-February: 7:00 am - 6:00 pm; all watercrafts must be off the lake by 5:00 pm.

Boaters are required to prepay boat inspection and boat launch at Del Valle and Quarry Lakes at www.ebparks.org/Register and bring proof with them to limit touchpoints.

Don’t forget to fish Lake Del Valle anyone 16 or older must have a Del Valle Fishing Permit, and  a California Fishing License. The Fishing Permit is $5.00 per person 16 or older. You can purchase them at the Main Kiosk or at the Bait Store located at the Marina.  For the Fishing License you can purchase them at the Bait Store. It is $17.02 for the day. And if you are a California residence for the year it would be $52.66.

Fishing at Del Valle has been good for Stripers and Trout with a lot of people fishing in the Lower Narrows and at Heron Bay.

The weather has been in the 40’s to 60’s. The water clarity is clear near the Boat Docks. Once you get past the Lower Narrows it is still clear, with about a 15-foot visibility.

The current temperature of the lake is 53 degrees F

Here is a report from our very own local Fisherman Dr. Al Hurwitz:

A tough day for Al Hurwitz of Saratoga and Abbey Lev of Sunnyvale who trolled the lake very diligently for 51/2 hours on 1/14/2021. We trolled all sections of Del Valle with both jointed Rapalas and feathered Panther Martin spinners. We set back the lures at varying depths from 5-15 feet below the surface (both flat lining and with leaded line). We applied various scents to the lures. NO BITES for us, and that was also the rule of the day for most other angler’s bait fishing and trolling on the open lake. The water was quite clear with a surface surface temperature of 52-53 degrees.

The poor bite experienced by most of the fishermen today was likely due to the lake being drawn down 15-20 feet from its maximum original level. Hopefully with some rain and the lake rising again, the fishing will improve. For now, I suspect that the fish are offshore in deeper water and tougher to catch. Bait fishing and jigging off the bottom (as one successful fisherman told us) are probably going to be the most successful methods at the present time.

For now, we trollers have to be patient. I suspect that trolling and casting techniques will be more successful as winter continues and the rains (hopefully) begin. As always, the Del Valle staff are very helpful in getting us on and off the water! All the best, Dr. Al Hurwitz

Greg Michaels from Livermore caught a 24 lb. Striper he was using a Swimbait he caught it at a secret spot.

Jack Forzano from Livermore caught a 7.85 lb. Trout he was using Powerbait caught at the Narrows.

Eric Fall from San Jose caught a 6.10 lb. and a 3.9 lb. Striper and his buddy caught a 8 lb. Trout, they were using Anchovies and Powerbait they caught them at the Lower Narrows.

Ashton from San Jose caught a 5 lb. Striper he was using Anchovies caught at the Dam.

Levi, Tod, and Dylan caught three Trout with a combine weight of 8 lbs. and they got 2 Stripers one was 5 lbs. and the other was 6 lbs. They were using Worms caught at the Lower Narrows.

LAKE CHABOT (CASTRO VALLEY) »

HOURS OF OPERATION
November-February: 6:30 am – 5:00 pm with boats due in by 4:30 pm.

Hours are subject to change based on weather conditions and light levels.

We encourage all anglers to report their stories, comments, or concerns to the Marina. Thanks again for choosing Lake Chabot as your recreation destination.

Please practice catch and release for bass as they are not stocked into the lake and their population depends on you!

Bella Gomez went fishing from the dock while at Lake Chabot!

TEMESCAL (OAKLAND) »

HOURS OF OPERATION
OPEN Seven Days a Week
5:00 am – 10:00 pm, unless otherwise posted. Gate hours are 8:00 am – 10:00 pm.

DON CASTRO (HAYWARD) »

HOURS OF OPERATION
OPEN Seven Days a Week
8:00 am – 8:00 pm; Park Curfew is 8:00 pm – 5:00 am

GENERAL CONDITIONS
Please remember that a California state-fishing license is required for anglers aged 16 or older. In addition, a Park District daily fishing permit is required and may be purchased from the iron ranger located at the swim complex gate.
Please remember there is NO fishing on or around the fish plant site and dock for two hours after a fish plant.

Damian, age 6 from Hayward caught this 6.5 pound rainbow trout from the dock using a mousetail. This was Damian’s first time fishing ever! Even better, this big fish was off of his VERY FIRST cast!

HORSESHOE LAKE, QUARRY LAKES (UNION CITY/FREMONT) »

HOURS OF OPERATION
OPEN Seven Days a Week
• January: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm; Kiosk Hours: 7:00 am – 4:00 pm; boaters can go through inspection and launch up until 3:00 pm and get banded before 4:00 pm.
• February-March: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm; Kiosk Hours: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm; boaters can go through inspection and launch up until 4:00 pm and get banded before 5:00 pm

Boaters are required to prepay boat inspection and boat launch at Del Valle and Quarry Lakes  at EBParks.org/Register and bring proof with them to limit touchpoints.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

If the kiosk is closed, please use the yellow Ventek machine to pay for parking (exact change only, please). For fishing permits, you may use either the Ventek machine or the blue iron ranger posts across from the kiosk, from the entrance from the Isherwood Staging Area, and from the walk-through gates by the Sequoia Bridge and from the Niles gate.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU MUST BE 100 FEET AWAY FROM THE FISH TUBE, THE BOAT DOCK, AND THE BEACH AREA while fishing from the shore and from a boat. Also, note that the use of lead fishing tackle is prohibited at Quarry Lakes. You can exchange lead tackle at the kiosk in a “1 for 1” trade for stainless steel weights.

If you want to report your catches, or have your photo taken, please come to the kiosk, and we will take your information!

On January 03, Gabriel F. of Union City caught an 8 lb rainbow trout trolling a night crawler from his boat in the front part of Horseshoe Lake!

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU MUST BE 100 FEET AWAY FROM THE FISH TUBE, THE BOAT DOCK, AND THE BEACH AREA while fishing from the shore and from a boat. Also, note that the use of lead fishing tackle is prohibited at Quarry Lakes. You can exchange lead tackle at the kiosk in a “1 for 1” trade for stainless steel weights.

CONTRA LOMA (ANTIOCH) »

HOURS OF OPERATION
November-February: 7:00 am – 5:30 pm; all watercraft must be off the lake by 3:30 pm.

GENERAL CONDITIONS
Reminder to boaters: All watercrafts (including float tubes) need to have a wearable Coast Guard approved personal floatation device (PFD) per person. Children age 12 and under must wear personal floatation device (PFD) while the vessel is underway.

Please practice catch and release for bass as they are not stocked into the lake and their population depends on you!

SHADOW CLIFFS REGIONAL PARK (PLEASANTON) »

HOURS OF OPERATION
January – February: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm
Concession Hours: Closed for the season
Marina Hours: Closed for the season

Trail Closures: The third dock is only accessible via the levee trail. The trail between the second and third dock that runs alongside the lake is closed until further notice.

Please note boaters must be 100 feet away from the fish tube, swim ropes and the boat docks.

We encourage all anglers to stop by our kiosk on the way out to report catches, stories, comments, and/or concerns.
All personal watercraft must be off the lake ½ hour before sunset.

REGULATIONS FOR THE ARROYO PONDS
• EBRPD Daily Fishing Permit, CA State Fishing License - Catch and Release, Barbless Hooks, Artificial lures, Float tubes only.

FERRY PT. (MILLER KNOX) »

HOURS OF OPERATION
OPEN Seven Days a Week
Park Hours: 5:00 am - 10:00 pm
Parking lot open 7:00 am - 4:30 pm

Reminder to boaters: Seas have been rough due to the high winds!
Attention anglers: Please do your part to keep the pier clean!

PT. PINOLE PIER (RICHMOND) »

HOURS OF OPERATION
OPEN Seven Days a Week
San Pablo Bay open 24 hours for fishing
Park/Gate hours 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Shuttle service is currently suspended.

GENERAL CONDITIONS
Reminder to boaters: Please check conditions before launching your boat as conditions can change quickly this time of year.
Pier retrofit is complete, with all new benches, windscreens and cleaning station.
Fishing has been uneven, with strong winds and muddy waters.
A few Striped Bass have been caught, some between 20-35 inches, but most are too small.

ANTIOCH (OAKLEY) »

HOURS OF OPERATION
PIER OPEN 24/7 - Free Parking - No Overnight Camping 
NO SMOKING in the park or on the pier

General Fishing Information
Fishing information can be found our Fishing page.
Fees and Licenses: A California State Fishing License and an EBRPD fishing access permit ($5 per day for persons 16 years+) are required to fish at Del Valle, Contra Loma, Lake Chabot, Shadow Cliffs, Temescal, Don Castro, and Quarry Lakes.

NEW STURGEON REGULATIONS:  Sturgeon must be between 40 and 60 inches, (fork length) to keep.
• Sturgeon regulations - California Department of Fish & Wildlife [PDF] 

General Information

General Fishing information: Fishing Activities

Guidelines for Fish Consumption: Fishing Advisories

Fees and Licenses: A California State Fishing License and an EBRPD fishing access permit ($5 per day for persons 16 years+) are required to fish at Del Valle, Contra Loma, Lake Chabot, Shadow Cliffs, Temescal, Don Castro, and Quarry Lakes.

Individual Membership Program

Angler

• Includes all the benefits of Basic Membership plus boat launch and annual fishing permit for one named individual; state fishing permit also required for individuals 16 years and older $300.

Special Access Angler (Seniors, Students, Veterans and persons with disabilities)

• Senior Anglers must be 62+ years of age
• Proof of eligibility required. Please supply documentation to membership@ebparks.org or fax it to (510) 635-3478 (attn: Membership) $180.