O'Neill Forebay

Boat Ramps: 2
Access Points: 3
Species: 7

O'Neill Forebay is a 2,250-acre auxiliary reservoir located in Merced County, California, approximately 120 miles from San Francisco and 276 miles from Los Angeles. Situated just east of San Luis Reservoir, this relatively shallow body of water has an average depth of 40 feet with a maximum depth reaching 56 feet when full. The forebay is shaped like an upside-down Y with the O'Neill Dam on the east side, stretching about 3 miles in length and just over a mile in width. The reservoir is part of the State Water Project and serves as a popular fishing destination known particularly for its world-class striped bass fishing, with the California state record of 67 pounds 8 ounces caught here in 1992.

California licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at O'Neill Forebay and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Bluegill Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

White Catfish

Ameiurus catus

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on O'Neill Forebay. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

O'Neill Forebay Access

Access Point

Know where you can legally fish on O'Neill Forebay

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

California licenses and regulations

California Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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California Fishing License Online

In California, anyone under the age of 16 or above is required to get a sport fishing license to take any fish; shell fish, reptile or amphibian in the state.

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California Freshwater Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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California Stream Access Laws

The courts have described the reach of the California public right of navigation as “the right to navigate and to exercise the incidents of navigation in a lawful manner at any point below high water mark” on waters that satisfy California’s small craft test. Thus, property owners cannot interfere with the public’s right to navigate or use shoreline areas below the ordinary high water mark for incidents of navigation. In fact, unauthorized obstruction of the public’s right to access and use a navigable waterway constitutes a public nuisance.

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Take O'Neill Forebay with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around O'Neill Forebay to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for O'Neill Forebay to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.