What's New at the City Lakes

There are currently concession services at Miramar, Murray, Lower Otay, El Capitan, and Hodges. Please see the individual reservoirs for days and hours of operation. They are just starting up so have limited items for sale. There is bait available - shiners, crawdads, nightcrawlers, meal worms and wax worms. Patrons can use credit cards for boat rentals and other purchases, but permits are cash only. Concession hours are 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Dogs must be on a leash at all times and kept at least 50 feet away from the water. They are not permitted on private or rental boats.

Lake hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset on open days only, except for Barrett, Miramar and Murray (see lake sections below for their individual times).

There is no swimming allowed at any of the San Diego City Reservoirs.

NOTICE: Due to increased security measures, vessels may be inspected as a requirement for entry into the reservoirs.

BOWFISHING

Bowfishing shall be permitted at: El Capitan, Hodges, Otay, San Vicente, and Sutherland on days the lakes are normally open for fishing. Bowfishing is restricted to fishing for Carp only, in compliance with Fish and Game regulations. Bowfishing is NOT permitted at Barrett, Miramar or Murray. The following special conditions shall apply:

Bowfishing tackle must have arrow shaft, point, or both, securely attached by a line to the bow or to a fishing reel; this includes crossbows.

Bowfishing is permitted only by vessel on surface water of approved Reservoirs.

Bowfishing is prohibited within 30 meters (100 feet) of any person outside the vessel of the bowhunter.

Bowfishing is prohibited in areas of nesting water birds.

Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult in order to bowfish.

All fish taken by bow must be removed from the Reservoir property. Disposal of Carp into the Reservoir, upon the shoreline, or in trash cans is prohibited.

Bowhunters must possess proper daily permits.

Bowhunters must possess a valid CA state Fish and Game fishing license.

Any individual out of compliance with these regulations, or exhibiting any unsafe use of bowfishing equipment, is subject to revocation of the permit and ejection from the Reservoir.

Current Operating Schedules:

For general City Reservoir information not found on these pages, please call our office (Monday through Friday) at 619-668-2050 or email water@sandiego.gov.

All City Lakes are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Miramar and Murray will be open for shore fishing, walking, picnicking, but parking lots will be closed, so no boating.

All City Lakes, except Barrett, are open for regularly scheduled activities on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

All other holidays, City Lakes that are normally open on that day of the week, will be open. Lakes that are normally closed on that day of the week will be closed. An exception will be this upcoming President's Day holiday on Monday February 20th, 2012. Otay will be open for fishing and boating and the concession will be open for rentals.

Barrett will reopen for fishing on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule in May. Reservations will be purchaseable through Ticketmaster in April (phone 800-745-3000 or web site www.ticketmaster.com). One reservation per household on the first day of sale.

Waterfowl hunting is offered on a Wednesday and Saturday schedule October through January. For more information call the Lakes Office at 619-668-2050.

El Capitan's concession is currently CLOSED for the winter season. There will be no rentals available until they reopen. Phone: 619-443-4110

El Capitan is open on its winter schedule (Oct-May) one half hour before sunrise to sunset as follows:

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday - open for fishing and general boating only; Sunday - fishing, general boating and water contact (water-skiing, wakeboarding, jetskiing, etc.).

Tuesday and Wednesday - closed.

To see if the lake has reached its boat capacity (85 boats), please call 619-668-2770.

El Capitan is now using only the high water ramp which has two lanes.

Maximum speed limit is 35 mph.

All persons (age 8 and older) entering reservoir property are required to pay daily use fees, including launch and per person fees, see Permits & Fees (daily).

Boats are either classified as fishing or water contact, there are no mixed boats. If a boat is towing even one person, it is classified as a water contact boat and everyone on board must pay the water contact fees.

Stand-Up Paddleboards are not permitted at any time.

Kayaks are permitted Thursday through Monday during winter schedule. The $2.00 single person kayak launch permit fee or the $7.00 double person kayak launch permit fee does NOT apply at El Capitan. Each person pays the $8.00 (adult) or $2.50 (youth) user fee, but there is no additional fee for the kayak.

Hodges is open for fishing and boating on a Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday schedule from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Maximum speed limit is 35 mph.

The concession will remain CLOSED until the end of February or early March and there will be no rentals available until they reopen.

For information on trails please check the San Dieguito River Park's web site at sdrp.org

Otay's concession is open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone: 619-397-5212. The concession may close early or not open at all if attendance levels are low, if possible please call ahead of time to check the concession's status.

Otay will be open on Monday February 20th, in observance of President's Day for fishing, general boating and boat rentals.

Lower Otay Reservoir will be open for shore and float tube fishing only on March 17 and April 11, 2012, due to Olympic qualification trials for USA Rowing. No boats will be allowed on these dates.

Lower Otay is open for fishing and general boating on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday only, from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Boat rentals are available on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Private boats, float tubes, and kayaks are permitted Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Maximum speed limit is 35 mph.

Miramar's concession is CLOSED for the winter season until April 2012. There will be no rentals available until they reopen at that time. Phone: 858-527-1722

There will be no trout stocked at Miramar this winter.

The electronic pay station at Lake Miramar is out of order and patrons will have to use the iron ranger envelopes on days or times that the concession is closed. Please bring exact change for purchase of permits. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause patrons

Miramar is open to fishing and private boats, kayaks and float tubes seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The picnic area, and perimeter road are open seven days a week, however, vehicles are only allowed on the road Saturday through Tuesday.

Patrons can walk completely around the lake, a distance of 4.92 miles. Gates to the dam close at sunset, same as the main gates/parking lot.

Permits on days and times that the concession is closed must be purchased from the iron ranger pay stations or the electronic pay station (please bring exact change for the iron ranger). For permit prices please see Permits & Fees (daily).

Murray's concession is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone: 619-466-4847

The electronic pay station at Lake Murray is out of order and patrons will have to use the iron ranger envelopes on days or times that the concession is closed. Please bring exact change for purchase of permits. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause patrons.

Murray is open for shore fishing and private boats, kayaks and float tubes seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The picnic area and perimeter road are open seven days a week.

Maximum speed limit is 5 mph.

Murray's concession is renting boats Wednesdays through Sundays only.

Permits on days and times that the concession is closed must be purchased from the iron ranger pay stations around the lake (please bring exact change for the iron ranger). For permit prices please see Permits & Fees (daily).

San Vicente is now closed to all public access and recreation for construction on the San Diego County Water Authority's San Vicente Dam Raise Project.

It is expected to be closed for 3-6 years and reopen between 2014 and 2017.

For questions about the project, please call the toll-free project information line at 877-426-2010. or check the San Diego County Water Authority's web site at www.sdcwa.org and click on San Vicente Dam Raise.

Sutherland is closed to all fishing and boating activities and will reopen the first weekend of March 2012.

There are no concession services at Sutherland.

Turkey hunting is offered on a Monday, Wednesday and Saturday schedule for the fall season (November) and the spring season (end of March to beginning of May).

The 2012 Spring Turkey Tune-up will be on February 25th, 2012 at San Vicente Reservoir from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

For more information on Turkey Hunting please check the Wild "Turkey Federation's web site at www.sandiegoturkey.com

Upper Otay is open for fishing on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday only from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Patrons can purchase permits from the Iron Ranger pay station (please bring exact change). Upper Otay is a catch and release only fishery. Bait is not permitted, only artificial lures with barbless hooks. Boats are not permitted on Upper Otay, only shore fishing, waders and float tubes.

After a large rain the road to Upper Otay may be closed due to muddy, unsafe driving conditions. Upper Otay Gates are open on a seasonal schedule from February 1st thru October 31st (weather permitting). Pedestrian access is allowed for fishing on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday on a year round basis.

Hunting

Waterfowl hunting is allowed at Barrett only and the season runs from mid-October through January. Please call the Lakes office at 619-668-2050 for more information on available dates.

Turkey hunting is allowed at Sutherland only and the spring season runs from the end of March to the beginning of May. The fall season is mid-November to the end of November.

For more information on the Spring Turkey Tune-Up which will be held at the San Vicente Yard on February 25th 2012, please check the Wild Turkey Federation's web site at www.sandiegoturkey.com

To be added to the mailing list for the 2011-2012 waterfowl season or the 2012 turkey season, call 619-668-2050, or email water@sandiego.gov and include an email address or mailing address and which hunting list you want to be included in.

Boat Reservations

Concessions are not taking reservations for boats. All boats are available on a first come basis. See individual lakes information above for concession phone numbers to call for availability.

Fish Stocking

Special Events

For more details on special events at the City Reservoirs, or if you would like to have an event at one of the City Reservoirs, please call (619) 668-2050 or email water@sandiego.gov for more information on fees and regulations and to request an application form. All participants at events on weekends held at Lake Miramar must park off site and be shuttled in. At Murray for weekend events there is a limit of 50 parking spaces for event parking in the new lot just outside the main gate.

Club Bass Fishing Tournaments

To hold a night tournament, a tournament on a closed day, or any other type of on-water event at a City Reservoir, please download our application form (PDF: 27K) .

Form should be returned to water@sandiego.gov or faxed to 619-443-7681.