Which San Diego lakes are open in winter for fishing and kayaking?
This winter, Miramar and Murray are open daily (except one Tuesday a month), El Capitan and San Vicente most days, and the Otay lakes Wed/Sat/Sun. Hodges is closed Nov-Jan and Sutherland until March 6. Permits are $10 adults, cash or check.
- Open daily
- Miramar, Murray
- Closed for winter
- Hodges, Sutherland
- Adult permit
- $10
- Kayak launch
- $7
Except one Tuesday a month and 3 holidays
Hodges reopens Feb; Sutherland Mar 6
Cash or check only
Included in admission at El Capitan and San Vicente
The short version
- Miramar and Murray are open daily sunrise to sunset, except the 1st Tuesday (Miramar) and 2nd Tuesday (Murray) of each month (City of San Diego).
- Hodges is closed November through January, and Sutherland is closed until March 6 (City of San Diego).
- Lake permits cost $10 for adults 16-65, $7 for 65+, $5 for ages 8-15, free for 7 and under, cash or check only.
- Every City lake is closed on Thanksgiving (Nov 26, 2026), Christmas and New Year's Day.
- Anglers 16 and older also need a California fishing license.
The City of San Diego runs nine reservoirs, and in winter only some are open, on set days. We read each reservoir's page on the City's Public Utilities website on November 4, 2026. Barrett is reservation-only (guided sport fishing and waterfowl hunting), so it's left out here. Swimming and wading are banned at every lake. For ocean fishing instead, see fishing licenses and San Diego piers.
Which San Diego lakes are open in November, December and January?
City of San Diego lakes, winter 2026-27
| Lake | Winter days open | Monthly closure | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miramar (Scripps Ranch) | Daily, sunrise-sunset | 1st Tuesday | Rainbow trout; boat ramp closed about Oct 27-Nov 17; algae advisory posted |
| Murray (La Mesa) | Daily, sunrise-sunset | 2nd Tuesday | Rainbow trout; low-water notice on ramp and shoreline |
| El Capitan (Lakeside) | Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue (Nov-Apr) | 1st Friday | Ramp closed for low water; shore, kayaks, canoes, float tubes OK |
| San Vicente (Lakeside) | Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun (Nov-Apr) | 2nd Friday | Waterskiing on weekends only in winter |
| Lower Otay (Chula Vista) | Wed, Sat, Sun | 2nd Wednesday | Ramp closed since June 3, 2026 for low water |
| Upper Otay (Chula Vista) | Wed, Sat, Sun, walk-in only | 2nd Wednesday | Catch-and-release, barbless artificial lures only; no boats |
| Hodges (Escondido) | Closed Nov-Jan | - | Reopens February, Wed/Sat/Sun |
| Sutherland (Ramona) | Closed until March 6 | 3rd Friday | Then Fri-Sun through Sept 29 |
Miramar (Scripps Ranch)
- Winter days open
- Daily, sunrise-sunset
- Monthly closure
- 1st Tuesday
- Good to know
- Rainbow trout; boat ramp closed about Oct 27-Nov 17; algae advisory posted
Murray (La Mesa)
- Winter days open
- Daily, sunrise-sunset
- Monthly closure
- 2nd Tuesday
- Good to know
- Rainbow trout; low-water notice on ramp and shoreline
El Capitan (Lakeside)
- Winter days open
- Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue (Nov-Apr)
- Monthly closure
- 1st Friday
- Good to know
- Ramp closed for low water; shore, kayaks, canoes, float tubes OK
San Vicente (Lakeside)
- Winter days open
- Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun (Nov-Apr)
- Monthly closure
- 2nd Friday
- Good to know
- Waterskiing on weekends only in winter
Lower Otay (Chula Vista)
- Winter days open
- Wed, Sat, Sun
- Monthly closure
- 2nd Wednesday
- Good to know
- Ramp closed since June 3, 2026 for low water
Upper Otay (Chula Vista)
- Winter days open
- Wed, Sat, Sun, walk-in only
- Monthly closure
- 2nd Wednesday
- Good to know
- Catch-and-release, barbless artificial lures only; no boats
Hodges (Escondido)
- Winter days open
- Closed Nov-Jan
- Monthly closure
- -
- Good to know
- Reopens February, Wed/Sat/Sun
Sutherland (Ramona)
- Winter days open
- Closed until March 6
- Monthly closure
- 3rd Friday
- Good to know
- Then Fri-Sun through Sept 29
Source: City of San Diego Public Utilities reservoir pages, checked Nov 4, 2026. All lakes close on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
How much does it cost to fish or kayak at San Diego lakes?
City reservoir fees
| Permit | Price |
|---|---|
| Fishing or general admission, ages 16-65 | $10 |
| Seniors 65+ | $7 |
| Youth 8-15 | $5 |
| Children 7 and under | Free |
| Private boat launch | $10 per boat |
| Kayak or canoe launch | $7 (included in admission at El Capitan and San Vicente) |
Fishing or general admission, ages 16-65
$10
Seniors 65+
$7
Youth 8-15
$5
Children 7 and under
Free
Private boat launch
$10 per boat
Kayak or canoe launch
$7 (included in admission at El Capitan and San Vicente)
Source: City of San Diego reservoir pages and fee schedule, checked Nov 4, 2026. Cash or check only. A permit bought at Lower or Upper Otay is good at the other the same day.
At El Capitan and San Vicente everyone 8 and older pays admission even if they aren't fishing. Anglers 16 and older also need a California fishing license from the state. Lake Murray has a boat rental concession; its operator's listing shows kayaks from $20 for the first hour and rowboats from $35 a half day, cash only, open Wednesday to Sunday.
Which lake is best for an easy winter outing?
Miramar vs. Murray
| Miramar | Murray | |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Daily except 1st Tuesday | Daily except 2nd Tuesday |
| Address | 10710 Scripps Lake Dr, San Diego 92131 | 5540 Kiowa Dr, La Mesa 91942 |
| Fish | Bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish, rainbow trout | Bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish, rainbow trout |
| Dogs | Leashed, not on boats | Leashed, not on boats |
| Not allowed | Paddleboards, swimming, wading | Paddleboards, swimming, alcohol, glass |
| Current notice | Algae advisory: don't touch the water; keep pets out | Low-water notice on ramp and shoreline |
Miramar
- Open
- Daily except 1st Tuesday
- Address
- 10710 Scripps Lake Dr, San Diego 92131
- Fish
- Bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish, rainbow trout
- Dogs
- Leashed, not on boats
- Not allowed
- Paddleboards, swimming, wading
- Current notice
- Algae advisory: don't touch the water; keep pets out
Murray
- Open
- Daily except 2nd Tuesday
- Address
- 5540 Kiowa Dr, La Mesa 91942
- Fish
- Bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish, rainbow trout
- Dogs
- Leashed, not on boats
- Not allowed
- Paddleboards, swimming, alcohol, glass
- Current notice
- Low-water notice on ramp and shoreline
Open daily
Some days
Entrance addresses from City of San Diego reservoir pages. San Vicente pin marks the lake; use 12387 Moreno Ave, Lakeside for directions.
See these on the full San Diego mapIs this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 4, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryMiramar Reservoir
City of San Diego Public Utilities · Checked November 4, 2026
Daily hours, 1st-Tuesday closure, holidays, fees, ramp closure, algae advisory
- PrimaryMurray Reservoir
City of San Diego Public Utilities · Checked November 4, 2026
Daily hours, 2nd-Tuesday closure, rules, fees, low-water notice
- PrimaryEl Capitan Reservoir
City of San Diego Public Utilities · Checked November 4, 2026
Winter days, 1st-Friday closure, ramp closed, admission
- PrimarySan Vicente Reservoir
City of San Diego Public Utilities · Checked November 4, 2026
Winter days, 2nd-Friday closure, water-contact fees
- PrimaryLower Otay Reservoir
City of San Diego Public Utilities · Checked November 4, 2026
Wed/Sat/Sun, 2nd-Wednesday closure, ramp closed June 3, 2026
- PrimaryUpper Otay Reservoir
City of San Diego Public Utilities · Checked November 4, 2026
Walk-in fishing, catch and release, permits shared with Lower Otay
- PrimaryHodges Reservoir
City of San Diego Public Utilities · Checked November 4, 2026
Closed November through January
- PrimarySutherland Reservoir
City of San Diego Public Utilities · Checked November 4, 2026
Open March 6-Sept 29, ramp closed
City of San Diego Public Utilities · Checked November 4, 2026
Permit and launch fees; Barrett sport fishing reservation
- PrimaryFishing and Hunting
City of San Diego Public Utilities · Checked November 4, 2026
Rainbow trout at Miramar and Murray only
- BackgroundLake Murray concession listing
Rocky Mountain Recreation · Checked November 4, 2026
Rental prices and concession hours