One of 13 inland trout hatcheries operated by the California Department of Fish and Game. The Moccasin Creek Trout Hatchery raises trout for stocking in high mountain lakes, streams, creeks and local reservoirs. Eggs for these fish are acquired from “brood stock” fish and reared until mature enough to be released into the wild. Come and see how the trout rearing process takes place.

Moccasin Creek Hatchery receives it eggs from other Department (State) fish hatcheries in winter, spring and late summer. It takes approximately 14 months to produce a catchable half-pound trout at Moccasin Hatchery. After a 3 month stay in the hatchery building the fry/fingerlings (size of your pinky finger) are moved to the concrete ponds where they’ll remain for eleven to twelve months until they get planted. Some interesting facts you may like is our hatchery will feed 550,000 pounds of feed in a years time. The feed varies from powder, which goes to the smaller fish, and gradually increases up to large pellets for the larger fish. Our hatchery produces 300,000 to 500,000 pounds of fish yearly, roughly 800,000 to 1.2 million total fish. We raise rainbow trout, brown trout and we've historically raised brook trout. We plant select rivers, lakes in streams in the following counties; Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Merced, Mariposa, and portions of Calaveras, Alpine, Madera, Contra Costa and Alameda.

In 2011, the Hatchery partnered with the U.S.Fish & Wildlife Service and we were designated as the statewide Cutthroat Trout restoration hatchery. For others who are interested in visiting, we are open to the public daily from 7:30am to 3:30pm. It is an interesting place that families love and make sure you bring your quarters so you can feed the fish. Also during the trout season Moccasin Creek, which runs directly behind the hatchery, gets planted weekly. So if you like to fish bring your pole! :)

Seasons Open: Year round

Hours Open: 7:30 am to 3:30 pm daily

Fees: No fees