Corralitos Lagoon, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Santa Cruz County entry here is Corralitos Lagoon, in California. Land around it is oak and grass. At roughly 21 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It lies lower than most water we list in California. The closest town, Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, is 1.1 miles distant. Salinas is the closest city, 22 miles away. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Corralitos Lagoon

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Santa Cruz County: flathead grey mullet, rainbow trout, bluegill and cabezon. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Corralitos Lagoon the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 64°F, with December the cold end at about 50°F. Fish stay active all year, but they move with the heat. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. The season on Corralitos Lagoon rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Nursery Parking gives parking half a mile away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Pinto Lake is 2.5 miles off. None of that is settled for Corralitos Lagoon in what we hold.