On the Water

At the heart of Big Bear is its lake and 22 miles of shoreline. Get the gear you need for a day on the water.

Rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard from Paddles and Pedals. Check out Big Bear Watersports School or Designated Wakesports for tubing, waterskiing, wake boarding, and Jet Ski lessons and rentals. All private watercraft, including non-motorized vessels, must display a permit, which can be bought at any marina.

Head to Big Bear Sporting Goods to stock up on everything you need to fish before hopping aboard with the expert anglers at Big Bear Charter Fishing, Cantrell Guide Service, or Fish Big Bear Charter Services.

Fish Friendly in Big Bear Lake

Help Keep Big Bear's fishing tradition strong by knowing which fish to keep and which to let go.

A smorgasbord of fishes swim in Big Bear Lake, from rainbow trout to bullhead catfish to the lake’s most numerous species, the common carp. You can help the underwater ecosystem flourish by following these guidelines:

Big Bear’s rainbow trout can reach weights of up to 18 pounds, but these hatchery-raised fish can’t reproduce and are destined for the dinner table. Keep up to five per day, any size.

Catch-and-release is the best technique for bass. Lake rules say you may keep five bass that are larger than 12 inches, but it’s best to give the smaller bass a chance to grow and reproduce. You can help ensure their survival by using barbless hooks, handling smaller bass as little as possible, and getting the fish back into the lake quickly.

Never toss back a common carp. This invasive fish destroys algae and other aquatic vegetation that other fish depend on to survive. If you don’t eat carp, take your catch to Big Bear Municipal Water District’s disposal site (40524 Lakeview Drive).

Catch and keep all you want of bullhead catfish, but the channel catfish limit is 10. (The difference is in the tail: the channel catfish has a forked tail; the bullhead’s is rounded.) If crappie or sunfish take your hook, keep up to 25 per day.

Top Boat Fishing Spots

SPRING TO EARLY SUMMER (APRIL, MAY, JUNE) From Pine Knot Landing to Observatory and Gilner Point

LATE SUMMER TO FALL (SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER) East of Windy Point towards Observatory

Top Shore Fishing Spots

EARLY SUMMER (APRIL, MAY) Stanfield Cutoff and Juniper Point

LATE SUMMER TO FALL (SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER) Between North Shore Landing and Observatory

Pine Knot Marina/Miss Liberty

One-stop shop

At Pine Knot Marina, rent a fishing boat and venture into the coves, or take a pontoon for a group outing. An onsite bait and tackle shop is stocked with all you need for fishing and fun. The Marina also offers kayaks, paddleboards, and Jet Skis, and hosts Big Bear Watersports School, offering expert instruction in wake sports.