Find upcoming trout and catfish stocking dates for Orange County lakes, plus California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) fish planting information throughout the state. Orange County trout are generally stocked during the cooler months, while OC Parks stocks catfish primarily from spring through fall. Stocking weeks can change, so check the official schedule before heading out.
CDFW publishes a dynamic fish planting schedule showing planned and completed stockings by water, county and species. The schedule is updated by CDFW hatchery staff, and fish plants are subject to change based on road, water, weather and operational conditions.
Official fish stocking schedules:
- 2025-2026 Trout Stocking Schedule (released in October)
- 2026 Catfish Stocking Schedule (released in March)
CDFW 2026-27 California Fish Stocking Schedule
Here are California’s free fishing days plus more ways to fish for free.
Note: These fish stocking schedules do not include non-CDFW or private lakes and rivers such as the Santa Ana River Lakes.
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Next Orange County Fish Stocking Dates
OC Parks currently has catfish stockings scheduled for the weeks of September 7-11 and October 12-16, 2026. The next OC Parks trout season is expected to begin in late November; check the official OC Parks schedule for the latest release.
| Week | Lakes |
|---|---|
| September 7-11, 2026 | Laguna Niguel Regional Park, Mile Square Regional Park, Tri-City Regional Park |
| October 12-16, 2026 | Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Ralph B. Clark Regional Park, Tri-City Regional Park, Yorba Regional Park |
Stocking dates are approximate. Dates shown are the scheduled week of stocking and can change because of weather, water conditions, fish availability and other operational factors. Check the official OC Parks or CDFW schedule before making a special trip.
Orange County Lakes Fish Stocking Schedule
In Orange County, trout are typically stocked during the cooler months and catfish primarily from spring through fall. The table below combines OC Parks and CDFW listings; TBA entries are retained where a current date has not been announced.
| Lake | Fish | Date |
| Carbon Canyon Regional Park | Catfish | Week of April 20-24, 2026 Week of June 8-12, 2026 Week of Aug. 10-14, 2026 Week of Oct. 12-16, 2026 |
| Carbon Canyon Regional Park | Trout | Week of Jan. 12-16, 2026 Week of Feb. 9-13, 2026 |
| Carr Park Lake | Catfish | TBA |
| Carr Park Lake | Trout | Week of Mar. 8-14, 2026 |
| Centennial Lake | Catfish | TBA |
| Centennial Lake | Trout | Week of Mar. 8-14, 2026 |
| Eisenhower Park | Trout | Week of Mar. 8-14, 2026 |
| Greer Park Lake | Catfish | TBA |
| Greer Park Lake | Trout | TBA |
| Huntington Park Lake | Catfish | TBA |
| Huntington Park Lake | Trout | Week of Mar. 8-14, 2026 |
| Irvine Lake | Catfish | Week of March 16-20, 2026 Week of May 18-22, 2026 Week of Aug. 10-14, 2026 |
| Irvine Lake | Trout | Week of Jan. 5-9, 2026 Week of Jan. 12-16, 2026 Week of Jan. 19-23, 2026 Week of Jan. 26-30, 2026 Week of Feb. 2-6, 2026 Week of Feb. 9-13, 2026 Week of Feb. 16-20, 2026 Week of Feb. 23-27, 2026 |
| Irvine Regional Park | Catfish | Week of June 8-12, 2026 Week of Aug. 10-14, 2026 |
| Irvine Regional Park | Trout | Week of Jan. 5-9, 2026 Week of Jan. 26-30, 2026 Week of Feb. 9-13, 2026 |
| Laguna Lake | Catfish | TBA |
| Laguna Lake | Trout | Week of Mar. 8-14, 2026 |
| Laguna Niguel Regional Park Lake | Catfish | Week of April 20-24, 2026 Week of June 8-12, 2026 Week of July 13-17, 2026 Week of Sept. 7-11, 2026 |
| Laguna Niguel Regional Park Lake | Trout | Week of Jan. 5-9, 2026 Week of Jan. 12-16, 2026 Week of Jan. 19-23, 2026 Week of Jan. 26-30, 2026 Week of Feb. 2-6, 2026 Week of Feb. 9-13, 2026 Week of Feb. 16-20, 2026 Week of Feb. 23-27, 2026 |
| Mile Square Park | Catfish | Week of March 16-20, 2026 Week of May 18-22, 2026 Week of July 13-17, 2026 Week of Sept. 7-11, 2026 |
| Mile Square Park | Trout | Week of Jan. 19-23, 2026 Week of Jan. 26-30, 2026 Week of Feb. 2-6, 2026 Week of Feb. 16-20, 2026 Week of Feb. 23-27, 2026 |
| Ralph B. Clark Regional Park | Catfish | Week of March 16-20, 2026 Week of April 20-24, 2026 Week of Oct. 12-16, 2026 |
| Ralph B. Clark Regional Park | Trout | Week of Jan. 5-9, 2026 Week of Jan. 26-30, 2026 Week of Feb. 9-13, 2026 Week of Feb. 23-27, 2026 |
| Sulphur Creek Reservoir | Trout | 2026 TBA |
| Trabuco Creek | Trout | 2026 TBA |
| Tri-City Regional Park | Catfish | Week of May 18-22, 2026 Week of July 13-17, 2026 Week of Sept. 7-11, 2026 Week of Oct. 12-16, 2026 |
| Tri-City Regional Park | Trout | Week of Jan. 19-23, 2026 Week of Feb. 23-27, 2026 |
| Yorba Regional Park | Catfish | Week of March 16-20, 2026 Week of June 8-12, 2026 Week of July 13-17, 2026 Week of Oct. 12-16, 2026 |
| Yorba Regional Park | Trout | Week of Jan. 12-16, 2026 Week of Feb. 2-6, 2026 Week of Feb. 16-20, 2026 |
California Fish Planting Schedule
Looking for fish stocking elsewhere in California? Use the official CDFW Fish Planting Schedule to search planned and completed fish plants by county, water and date.
Fishing License Requirements
A California fishing license is generally required for anglers age 16 and older. OC Parks currently lists Irvine Lake as an exception to the license requirement. Fishing regulations, bag limits and other rules still apply. See our Orange County fishing guide and California free fishing days for more information.