1997

Southern California

Imperial Beach Pier - Kyoko, at Cox Bait & Tackle, says that the fish continue to bite. Inshore, anglers are picking up a few barred surfperch and yellowfin croaker (on fresh mussels), while mackerel and sharks continue to be caught from the end of the pier.

Ocean Beach Pier - Steve, at the Ocean Beach Pier Bait Shop, says fishing has been terrible. Bad weather and high tides combined to damage part of the end of the pier and to cause several closures of the pier. Things are beginning to settle down but fishing remains slow.

Ferry Landing Pier (Coronado) - Coronado - Ritchie Reano reports that fishing is still a little shaky at the pier; there were some pretty big tides and lots of kelp in the water. Only fish of note he's seen recently was a 23" halibut.

Shelter Island Pier - Ed at the Shelter Island Pier Bait & Tackle shop says things are still the same with most anglers catching mackerel and a few hooking up with bass are larger fish. What's needed, Ed says, is some better bait -- bring on the live anchovies.

Oceanside Pier - Carl, at the Oceanside Pier Bait & Tackle shop, says action is slow; mostly bottom fish such as sand bass, calico bass and even a few sheephead -- which are falling to anchovies and squid. Some yellowfin croaker continue to be caught inshore on fresh mussels while mackerel continue to bite out by the end.

San Clemente Pier - Kamal, at the Pier Tackle shop, says fishing remains good. Yellowfin croakers inshore, halfmoon and opaleye perch mid-pier (on fresh mussels), and mackerel in the deeper water. Also, good lobster action at night.

Aliso Beach Pier - Barbara, at the Seaside Cafe on the pier on the foot of the pier, for the 4,373 straight month, reports the same old thing -- mackerel and jacksmelt together with a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Seal Beach Pier - Janie at Norm's Big Fish Sportfishing shop on the pier, reports that anglers are catching yellowfin croaker, black croaker and buttermouth perch (black perch) on fresh mussels, bloodworms and ghost shrimp -- all of which are now available on the pier. Some mackerel also continue to show, as do sharks and rays, mainly at night.

Belmont Pier - Mel, at the Belmont Pier Sportfishing shop, says that big sardines lead the action together with large jacksmelt and mackerel. The sardines are being caught on Lucky Lura bait rigs while the mackerel and jacksmelt are falling to small hooks baited with pieces of shrimp or squid. Inshore, anglers continue to catch yellowfin croakers on fresh mussels.

Cabrillo Pier - Our new reporter, Tom Ran, reports that the pier is open once again even though it doesn't appear that the authorities did too much to the pier during the renovation: there still isn't a bathroom, nor lights or phones. However, they did tear out the old building, put in a new cement wall, and add some new rod holders. Did the fishing improve? Evidently not for Tom; on his last trip he was skunked, not even a bait fish. He did see some people catching huge sargo, some opaleye, and one old man with a 19" illegal halibut that evidently went in the bag (and a phone would have allowed someone to call Call-Tip). Thanks for the report Tom.

Redondo Beach Pier - Nancy, at Redondo, says things are still a little slow. Mostly there has been a few mackerel (at the end), some nice sized sargo, blacksmith perch, opaleye perch and senorita -- all of the latter on fresh mussels or pieces of squid.

Hermosa Beach Pier - Don, at Just Fishing by Pete (near the front of the pier), says that barred surfperch are beginning to show up in the surf although most are on the small side. Also a few sargo and an occasional mackerel or jacksmelt. Shark action is slow because the city continues to close down the pier at sunset.

Venice Pier - apparently open but no reports to date.

Santa Monica Pier - John, at the Santa Monica Pier Bait & Tackle Company, reports that action has been slow. Bad weather and rain have limited action to mackerel and a few legal size halibut and sand bass. The sargo action has stopped and sharks and rays are slow.

Malibu Pier - closed for repairs.

Port Hueneme Pier - Valorie, at the Hueneme Pier Bait and Tackle Shop, says there have been a lot of sardines caught lately, mostly on the locally-produced Filipino jigs.

Santa Barbara Wharf - Mike, at Mikes Bait & Tackle on the wharf reports lots of big mackerel, short halibut, and juvenile white seabass. The weather and wind have been iffy but action has remained good; anglers also continue to catch a lot of white croakers and yellowfin croakers.

Goleta Pier - Boyd Grant reports that things are slow with the exception of lots of mackerel and a few small shovelnose guitarfish.

Gaviota Pier - Boyd Grant says that action is slow at the pier, generally a few mackerel and an occasional perch.

Central California

Pismo Beach Pier - no report this month.

Port San Luis (Harford) Pier - Dave, at Avila Beach Sportfishing on the pier reports lots of jacksmelt and sardines but little else. Most of the fish are being landed on bait rigs.

Morro Bay Wharf - Joe, from Virg's Landing, reports that anglers are picking up a few jacksmelt and perch from the T-pier near the landing.

Cayucos Pier - Glenda at the Tidepool (near the front of the pier) reports that barred surfperch are beginning to show up inshore while kingfish (white croaker) and mackerel continue to be landed out by the end. A number of halibut also showed this last week, the first real run in the last couple of months.

San Simeon Pier - Virg's Landing - San Simeon, near the front of the pier, is closed for the winter season.

Monterey Wharf #2 - Frank Guarrera, at The Compass Boat and Fishing Supplies, reports that action continues to be good on Pacific mackerel and sardines although it is beginning to slow down a little. Anglers are beginning to hook a few steelhead on Kastmaster and Krocodile lures while a few rubberlip seaperch continue to be landed by anglers using fresh mussels or grubs.

Capitola Wharf - Ed, at the Capitola Boat and Bait Shop, says that barred surfperch are beginning to show; while jacksmelt, walleye surfperch and kingfish continue to show up for anglers. Two keeper-size lingcod were also caught last week (one on a live herring), and several steelhead have also been landed (nightcrawlers and a bobber for one, strips of squid for the others). A few sand sharks have also been landed.

Santa Cruz Wharf - Andy's Bait & Tackle - no report.

Pacifica Pier - Joe, at the Community Bait & Tackle, says that the sanddab action has been phenomenal -- the best he has ever seen. He says hundreds of the small flatfish are being landed every day and the action has been going strong for the past two weeks. Anglers are also managing to catch 2-5 legal-size striped bass per day (together with smaller stripers) -- and who ever heard of December stripers? Kingfish and jacksmelt add variety as do an increasing number of barred surfperch inshore and walleye surfperch in the mid-pier area. Crabbers are also getting busy and lots of big Dungeness crabs and rock crabs continue to add action to the pier.

Matt, our new reporter for the Piller Point Pier, says he went over to Pacifica on the 22nd with a couple of friends. They fished most of the day and caught between 50-60 fish (and yes, most were released). Included in the catch were many, many sanddabs, some kingfish (white croaker), jacksmelt and colorful perch. The only unusual fish he saw that day was a medium-sized leopard shark. People are starting to catch some huge Dungeness crabs and a few rock crabs. By the way, Matt says he caught most of the fish on pile worms, bloodworms, and some squid tentacles.

San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Shoreline Piers - Hippo at Hi's Tackle Box in San Francisco says that the best action he has heard is at the Fort Point Pier where anglers are catching sanddabs on just about any bait they can manage to put on a hook (squid, shrimp, anchovies, you name it). Action at other San Francisco piers has been slow -- even including jacksmelt, kingfish, and sharks. He didn't have any reports from South Bay piers.

I did check out several East Bay piers over the Thanksgiving weekend. The San Leandro Pier was very slow with few fishermen and fewer fish. The Doolittle Pier near the Oakland Airport was also slow but just down the street at the Veteran's Court Pier, anglers were catching huge jacksmelt (and reporting recent catches of striped bass). The San Antonio Pier showed a few jacksmelt and some small sharks, while the Middle Harbor Pier yielded up some nice-sized jacksmelt together with kingfish. The Seventh Street Pier (Port View Park Pier) yielded non-stop action on small perch in the cut-out, inner-section of the pier while casts away from the pier yielded kingfish and brown smoothhound sharks. Not fast action by any stretch of the means, but beautiful weather and at least a few fish.

Berkeley Pier - Gil, at the Berkeley Marina Sports Center, says that a few striped bass are still being caught together with some jacksmelt, kingfish, and a few perch. Most are falling to pile worms or pieces of anchovy.

Jeff Green reports that action has been hot for him on the pier. He says, " Last night I went fishing on the Berkeley Pier. It was a literal fish market. Different sections of the pier seemed to be hot spots for a variety of fish. One couple near the end was nailing king fish exclusively. There were two strippers caught over three feet in length. In another section, one man was pounding the day lights out of smelt. There was even a sturgeon taken (first one I have seen landed on theBerkeley Pier). The perch are starting to get excited under the pier and around the pilings. All and all it was a fun night. The busyness of working two poles that were very active kept me from feeling the cold." He also said he would like to hear from other anglers that fish on the pier -- his e-mail address is jm_green@juno.com. Thanks for the report Jeff.

Point Pinole Pier - The Angler's Edge reports that striper action has been strong with most fish falling to anchovies during the outgoing tides. Anglers are also taking sharks and rays using squid or anchovies.

Vallejo Pier - closed for repairs.

Pittsburg Pier - I fished this pier on Thanksgiving weekend and managed to pull in thirteen small stripers and a nearly two-foot long Sacramento Squawfish (Sacramento Pike) in one hour of fishing.

Antioch Marina Fishing Piers - Mark Grim says he rarely sees a fisherman on this pier. Why? "The water moves swiftly and snags are nearly guaranteed if you are not familiar with the waters here. I have found that during the times that the tide is moving swiftly it is a good idea to try some lures and keep them off of the bottom. Another thing to try is fishing to the side of the pier where the water is swirling -- near the restaurant for outgoing tides and near the east end reeds for incoming tides -- use baits like anchovies, shad, or worms. Fishing with a bobber is another thing to try. When the tide is still, try casting straight out into the channel. This is the best time to fish the bottom -- try to get it as far out as possible into the deepest water. On a recent trip I tried all of these techniques on an outgoing tide. I was able to catch several small striped bass and 3 catfish using anchovies for bait."

Antioch Bridge Pier - Mark Grim reports that fishing at the pier remains super! The striped bass are biting on frozen anchovies and shad and the only problem has been crowding. Mark said " the pier has become crowded at times with nearly shoulder to shoulder conditions. I've rarely seen so many fishermen out on this pier -- it reminds me of the Pacifica Pier. It didn't seem to matter where you fished (close in or out on the end) everyone has been pulling in stripers. On a trip to the pier in mid-November, I saw two keeper sized striped bass caught during my one hour visit. I took my 2 year old out for his first fishing trip to this pier recently. He was able to hook and reel in four striped bass by himself. The largest was a 15 incher -- nearly a keeper. With all of the fishermen out on the pier, it is a great time to meet other fishermen. The chance to share ideas and techniques is really fun; much of the year there aren't that many people out on the pier to talk to."

McNear Beach Fishing Pier (San Rafael) - John, at Western Boat & Tackle, says that striped bass action remains fair to excellent at the McNear Pier -- and they're falling to bullheads and herring. Lots of sturgeon are jumping but only a couple have been landed -- and that should soon improve. No report from the Paradise Pier. He also says that perch are beginning to invade the waters around the Sausalito Piers and the fishing is hot for a variety of perch. Also, he says herring are in the bay but are not in a spawning mood quite yet.

Elephant Rock Pier - closed for repairs.

Northern California

Spud Point Marina Pier (Bodega Bay) - Will, at Wil's Bait & Tackle, says anglers continue to pull in jacksmelt, perch, some rockfish, and sharks and rays from piers around the bay.

Point Arena Pier - Reports say striped seaperch remain fair to good if you hit the pier between the winter storms. Call ahead.

Del Norte Street Fishing Pier (Eureka) - Alan at Bucksport Tackle says anglers are picking up a few perch -- redtail and pileperch, jacksmelt and a few sharks and rays from the pier. Crabbing, although just starting, should also be excellent.

"B" Street Pier (Crescent City) -  Linda at Popeye's Bait & Tackle says it has been windy, cold and rainy and few if any fish have been landed recently. However, in the first three hours of the new Dungeness crab season, eight people on the pier landed their limits -- so it looks like another banner year for the Dungeness crabs.

Citizen's Dock (Crescent City) -

Kevin Atwell (Loxley, Alabama)
Richard Kenway (Flint, Michigan)
David Thornton (Mobile, Alabama)
Daniel Franks (Sparks, Nevada)
Gordon Holland (Vinita, Oklahoma)
Patrick Whalen (Canoga Park, California)
David Goings (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Joyce Evans (Suisun City, California)
Bud Raridon (Dana Point, California)
Ariel Blason (Walnut Creek, California)
Scott Strickland (San Jose, California)
Henry Chi (Los Angeles, California)
Jeff Green (Oakland, California)
Gil Sperry (San Clemente, California)
Joe Malat, Nags Head, North Carolina.

If you're a "pier rat," a regular who fishes on one of these piers, knows the ins-and-outs of the pier, and knows what is being caught, send me a message and I'll make you a monthly reporter. You may not make any money, and you may not get much glory, but at least you'll help make this the best pier fishing site in the universe.