San Diego County, Southern California
El Capitan Reservoir Boating
El Capitan Reservoir Boating: Marina, Fees and Rules, Ramps, Rentals
Nearby Lakes
- Santee Lakes,
190-acre recreation park with 7 lakes. Camping and fishing. - Lake Jennings,
west of El Capitan Reservoir. Camping, fishing, picnicking. - Lake Cuyamaca,
near Julian on Highway 79. No-wake boating, camping, bird watching, picnicking, hiking - Sutherland Reservoir,
45 miles northeast of San Diego. Fishing. - Lower Otay Reservoir,
east of Chula Vista. Fishing, boat rentals, general boating.
Fish Finder
El Capitan Reservoir Boating in a Nutshell
- Pleasure Cruising, Fishing Boats, Personal Watercraft
- Kayaking, Canoeing, Sailing
- Specified days for Waterskiing, Wakeboarding
Boating Information
Because El Capitan Reservoir is a drinking water supply, body contact with the water is limited. Water skiing and similar sports are only permitted on specified days during the summer. Swimming and stand-up paddleboards are not allowed.
Days Open: Thursday - Monday, closed on Tuesday and Wednesday
Thursday - Sunday open for general boating and water skiing, etc. (During winter water skiing, etc., are only permitted on Sundays.)
Monday open for fishing and general boating, no water contact activities, e.g. water skiing
Concession and Rentals open Friday - Sunday, 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
Lake Hours: Change regularly with season, generally one half hour before sunrise to sunset. Check What's New at the City Reservoir Lakes for current opening and closing times.
Fees (cash only)
Entrance: $8 per persons age 16 and older, $2.50 for 8 to 15 years.
Children 7 and under are free.
Boat Launch Fee: $7 (kayaks free)
Water Contact Fees: $10 for ages 16 and older, $5 for youths ages 8-15. (This fee is for those using personal watercraft, waterskiing, or similar activities.)
El Capitan Marina and Boat Rentals
Located at the end of El Monte Road
(619) 443-4110, Rocky Mountain Recreation
Marina:
- 2 Launch Ramps $7 (kayaks, canoes free)
- Facilities: 2 docks, snacks and drinks for sale, bait and tackle, fishing permits
| Boat | Seats | 2 Hours | Each Added Hour | Half Day | Full Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First come, first served. $60 deposit on fishing boats, $30 on rowboats. Credit cards accepted for boat rentals. | |||||
| Fishing Boat with motor | 4 | $35 | $10 | $75 | |
| Rowboat | 4 | $15 | $30 | ||
New Rules Due to Low Water Level - 2016
Notice from the City of San Diego: "Due to the effects of dropping water levels water-skiing, wakeboarding and all other towable devices will be limited to 25 vessels per day. Once the 25 vessel capacity is reached, there will be no permits sold for water contact towing. Towable devices include traditional water skis, training water skis, air chairs, wakeboards, wakeskates, kneeboards, ski seats, tubes and all other towable devises. Weekends will often reach capacity by 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays are generally slower. Please plan accordingly. Currently there are no restrictions for the launching of personal water craft (PWC) or vessels not engaged in water contact activities that involve towing."
Boat capacity hotline: (619) 668-2770
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Avoid the Spread of Quagga Mussels
Fiberglass Restoration
Boaters at El Capitan Reservoir are asked to help avoid the spread of quagga mussels and the potential closure of the reservoir by doing the following:
- Drain all water from your vessel before leaving the reservoir parking lot.
- Drain any water through the vessel's hull plug.
- Drain and dry live-wells.
- Drain ballast tanks.
- Empty and dry any buckets.
Any vessel traveling from one freshwater body to another should be thoroughly dry, inside and out. It is best for boats to remain dry and out of the water for at least five days before going to another water body.
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Boat Rental Companies
Invert Sports
(888) 205-7119 Invert Sports
Luxury inboard V-drive tournament wakeboard boats, ski boats, and jet ski rentals.
Prices subject to change.
El Capitan Reservoir Boating Index
- El Capitan Marina
- New Rules for 2014 Due to Low Water
- Prevent Quagga Mussels Spread
- Boat Rental Companies
- Launch Ramps
- Boating and Waterskiing Regulations
- Current El Capitan Water Level
- Marine Services
El Capitan Reservoir
Boating and Waterskiing Regulations
- No pets are allowed in boats
- Waterskiing in a counterclockwise direction.
- Maximum speed 35 MPH
- Skis, kneeboards, and similar devices are permitted, as well as towed inflatables.
- Each private boat needs a private boat permit (launch fee). Every person in a water contact boat must pay a water contact fee, even if they do not participate.1
- 3-person personal watercraft may tow skiers, wakeboarders, etc., in the ski zone only.
- Personal watercraft must be operated in the PWC zone, unless towing a skier.
1Boats 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.
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Marine Services
Livesay Marine
1250 Pioneer Way, El Cajon, CA
(619) 447-0399
Sunset Marine, Inc
772 Broadway, El Cajon, CA
(619) 593-4006
Sunset Marine, Inc.
Sailor John's Marine
1160 Pioneer Way, El Cajon, CA
(619) 334-7701
JP Marine
10046 Maine Ave., Lakeside, CA
(619) 443-3320
Horizon Marine
1743 31st St., San Diego, CA
(619) 702-8500
West Marine
1250 Rosecrans St., San Diego, CA
(619) 225-8844
West Marine