Imperial Beach Pier - John Munoz at the Cox Bait & Tackle store reports that action has really slowed at the pier. A few halibut have been landed as have a few sculpin (California scorpionfish) and corbina, but the most important word here is few, as in hardly any. Barred surfperch do continue to hit in the surf area on mussels and blood worms but even there the action is slow (although John was proud of a three-pound perch which one angler brought him). Ditto the shark action - it's slow!

Shelter Island Pier - Buddy Hanks at his Shelter Island Pier Bait & Tackle reports that the top news recently was a 12-pound sand bass taken by pier regular Dan Hoar. It was the largest sandie most of the pier fisherman had ever seen and it may be a record for the pier. Hoar, by the way, has been landing limits of sand bass EVERY DAY using ghost shrimp and cut mackerel as bait. Other action has been slow: a few mackerel, a few sculpin (scorpionfish), and no halibut. It's even been slow for sharks and rays although the bat rays that have been landed have been in the 50-60 pound range. One problem has been lack of live anchovies; the bait boats have provided live sardines but they're really too big for most of the fish caught by pier anglers.

Oceanside Pier - Jack at the Oceanside Pier Bait & Tackle shop says there is action on a number of different species. Inshore, anglers are concentrating on barred surfperch that are falling for fresh mussels and blood worms. In the same area, but also further out on the pier, a few lucky anglers have been nabbing spotfin croaker that are running 2-3 pounds; most of them are falling for ghost shrimp or mussels. At the far end of the pier, fishermen continue to catch a lot of jacksmelt, some mackerel, and a few calico bass (kelp bass) and sand bass. Most of the bass have been caught on squid or anchovies. Halibut action is slow; a few of the flatties are showing up but there haven't been any keepers for a couple of weeks. Shark fisherman continue to pull in a few shovelnose sharks (guitarfish) and many small rays (mostly thornback rays) but overall shark fishing is still slow. The largest shark in the last week was a three-and-a-half-foot-long gray shark (gray smoothhound) which really isn't much of a prize for shark fishermen. It's still winter and fishing will improve with warmer weather - and warmer water.

Seal Beach Pier - Janie at the Seal Beach Sportfishing shop on the pier reports that angling is slow (actually, she said nothing is hitting). Given that, she still reports that a few halibut have been landed, including one measuring 24 inches in length, and a few large mackerel are falling to anglers using live smelt for bait (which they catch with a bait rig). No reports of croakers or corbina or even barred surf perch; she says the barred seem to have moved down the shoreline to Sunset Beach. Things should improve.

Redondo Beach Sportfishing Pier (King Harbor) - Matt at Redondo Beach Sportfishing reports a continued hot bite for bonito off the pier. As is common most winters, the warm harbor water (5-10 degrees warmer than in the open ocean due to two warm-water outlets from the nearby Southern California Edison plant) is producing the best bonito bite in southern California. Anglers are also catching a lot of Pacific mackerel, and both fish are falling for the live anchovies that are available at the pier. Bottom fishermen continue to pull in a mixed bag sculpin (California scorpionfish) as well as perch or perch-like fish. Included in the catch are blacksmiths, blue perch (halfmoon), and opaleye - as well as a few blackperch. Most of these fish are falling for mussels or shrimp. An interesting catch a couple of weeks ago was a California sheephead that weighed in at about 4 1/2 pounds (they are not common at the pier but also are not that rare). Quite a few spider crabs are also falling to those anglers seeking the ugly beasts. Finally, illegal broomtail grouper continue to be sighted by anglers at the harbor. Apparently this is from a resident school of the fish (which are normally found in Baja waters). Since they mainly seem to show up at winter time, a logical question might be - are they there to feed on the winter time bonito? If you hook and land one, be sure to return it to the water (as in stiff fine if you don't). Most of the fish look to be in the 30-60 pound range and most that are hooked eventually break off.

Hermosa Beach Pier - Don at Just Fishing by Pete says there is variety at the Hermosa Beach Pier. Most of the fish being caught currently are the smaller jacksmelt and walleye surfperch while those seeking bigger game are pulling in a few shovelnose sharks (guitarfish) and bat rays. The perch and jacksmelt are falling for mussels, shrimp, or bait rig snag lines, while the sharks are falling for squid. Most interesting news lately has been a pretty good run of thresher sharks - but all have been lost so far. One fish, a 60+ pounder, was up to the pilings but managed to escape. Don says the mackerel bite has been dead and if more live mackerel were available for shark bait, an even greater number of fish would be hooked. Finally, a few spider crabs continue to show up on the pier - usually surprising the lucky anglers.

Santa Monica Pier - Manny at the Santa Monica Pier Bait & Tackle Company reports an upsurge in the halibut bite. Schools of sardines, jacksmelt, and herring (queenfish) have moved into the waters around the pier and the smaller fish are attracting halibut. Anglers are catching the smaller fish on bait rigs and then using the live bait for halibut. Several halibut are being caught daily but unfortunately only a lone fish every couple of days will hit the legal mark. Mackerel action has slowed but the mackerel being landed are of decent size averaging 1 1/2 to 2 pounds. Perch fisherman continue to harvest good sized perch while fishing around the pilings. Both rubberlip seaperch and pileperch are falling for fresh mussels and sidewinder crabs pulled from the pilings. Inshore, fishermen are still landing a fair number of barred surfperch; some anglers are using fresh mussels but more and more fishermen are trying out lures. Try using crappie grubs the next time you seek out the tasty perch. Lastly, shark and bat ray action has been slow.

Santa Barbara Wharf - Mike at Mikes Bait & Tackle reports a mixed bag of fish. Lots of spotted flounder, many in the 12-14" size category, are being taken by anglers fishing bait on the bottom. These are not common at the pier (Mike calls them a FLUKE - get it, fluke of nature) and I'm not sure what they really are. There is no such listed species in this area but they could be one of several different species - diamond turbot (this gets my vote), honeyhead turbot, C-O turbot, rock sole, spotted turbot (which aren't supposed to get to this size) or something else. I sent Mike some pictures so perhaps we can pen it down. Anyway, these spotted flounder are proving to be a lot of fun, especially since the halibut seem to have deserted the pier lately. A few mackerel, mostly small, are also hitting at the end as are a few Ronkie (white croaker) and sculpin (California scorpionfish). Anglers fishing around the pilings and using mussels are getting a lot of big buttermouth perch (blackperch); REMEMBER, fish as close to the pilings as possible. Inshore, fishermen are bagging corbina on mussels and blood worms - even though it is the wrong time of the year for the tasty croakers. Mike also reports that crabbing has been excellent off the wharf. Anglers are getting a mixture of large red rock crabs and HUGE spider crabs (some of the largest he has ever seen at the wharf). But wait, that's not the end of the story. Fish & Game, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that crabbing is not angling (OH!) which to me seems to be a pretty significant splitting of the hairs. In California, the regulations state that a fishing license is not required by anglers fishing from a public pier in ocean or bay waters (period, finito, end of discussion). But what if crabbing isn't angling or fishing? If you restrict the definition of angling to those using a rod and reel to catch fish, then the poor net droppers can be ticketed for lack of a license. That is what seems to be happening in Santa Barbara. The wardens say crabbing is not fishing and have begun to ticket the anglers - as well as people who take sea snails (whelks) from the pier. Who is right? We'll try to find out! (Post script - does this mean that a pier angler who scrapes mussels off a piling for bait needs a license, or an angler accidentally catching a crab on his/her line has broken a law? Common sense, where for art thou?)

Pismo Beach Pier - Troy from Sheldon's Clam Stand on the pier says the barred surfperch fishing is really picking up. Anglers are getting fish up to two pounds using a variety of bait - fresh mussels, cut mackerel, bloodworms, clams and sand crabs - although regulars continue to score using plastic grubs. Most of the perch are caught near the shoreline area or in the holes near the pilings! Large jacksmelt are hitting out toward the end, some up to 14", and most of these are being caught on bait or Lucky Lura riggings sweetened with a small piece of bait. Nothing much else has showed at the pier, no flatfish, no mackerel, and not even any crabs. Fishermen fishing for sharks at night report a few baby sand sharks. Afternoon winds have been a problem so when that happens Troy sends them to the Avila Beach Pier (which is a little more protected) where one of his regulars recently caught a small 20" thresher shark. The Avila Beach pier is also producing a few white croaker.

Port San Luis Pier - Steve from Avila Beach Sportfishing on the pier says that the storms and bad weather have resulted in few fishermen and few fish. The most common fish recently have been barred surfperch and most of theses were caught on mussels or cut mackerel - and most have been on the small side. Some white croakers continue to hit while crabbers are getting a good number of red rock crabs mixed together with a few spider crabs.

Cayucos Pier - Glenda at The Tidepool in Cayucos reports that anglers are kicking butt on surf perch but that's about the extent of fishing success. The barred surfperch are falling to fresh mussels and blood worms so get them while you can. There continues to be a lot of the smaller perch, primarily silver surfperch, further out on the pier, but other species seem absent. Mackerel are missing, as are halibut, and there is little in the way of sharks. However, good tides are on tap so fishing should improve.

San Simeon Pier - Although we expected a report this month (the Sportfishing landing was set to open March 1), high winds have delayed the opening - and delayed a report to next month.

Monterey Wharf #2 - Lloyd Elves from the Elves' Grill & Boat Hoist Restaurant says that fishing continues to be slow at the wharf - perhaps due to the rough weather. Anglers are catching a few rubberlip seaperch near the pilings using strips of squid or mussels, but action isn't hot by any stretch of the imagination. Lloyd says he is going to start carrying both bait and tackle at his restaurant (which should help the pier anglers). Calm seas and the arrival of spring should help even more.

Santa Cruz Wharf - Andre at Andy's Bait & Tackle on the wharf reports that fishing is rather funky, good one day and bad the next. About the only thing in good supply is sanddabs and kingfish. Lots of Pacific sanddab are being caught by anglers using squid and cut anchovies, and the same bait is producing some kingfish (white croakers). Although a few halibut have been landed on anchovies, none were keepers, and Andre says he hasn't seen any sharks or rays recently. Inshore, by the surf line, barred surfperch continue to offer good action for anglers using pieces of shrimp or squid. Andre says the amazing action has been on crabs, both red rock crabs, and HUGE spider crabs (see a similar report at Santa Barbara). He said several spider crabs have been landed which ranged between 20-30 pounds, the largest he has seen in his nine years on the wharf. Andre still hasn't been able to find out what the gillfish were that some fishermen were reporting last month. Maybe it was something out of Hollywood?

Pacifica Pier - Joe at the Community Bait & Tackle shop in Pacifica reports that kingfish (white croaker), jacksmelt, and Dungness crabs have been the main focus of attention in recent weeks. Most of the jacksmelt and kingfish are biting on cut anchovies, while inshore anglers continue to pick up a few redtail and barred surfperch using mussels. Of interest is the fact that a couple of stripers were landed in the surf near the pier and five or six small shaker salmon have already been taken on the pier. Is it a sign for a good striper and salmon season at the pier? One key at the pier remains the weather; some recent days have seen near hurricane strength winds. When the winds are blowing like that, it's a good time to stay home and organize the old tackle box (or check out the Pier Fishing in California web site).

San Francisco Shoreline Piers - Hippo at Hi's Tackle Box in San Francisco says things are pretty dead at local piers; even the jacksmelt and perch are slow although some perch are biting near Crissy Field. It's quite a transition from a few weeks ago when there was a fantastic bite of sturgeon at the San Mateo Pier. Schools of herring made a wintertime visit to the area and the sturgeon weren't far behind. Some days saw two to three dozen sturgeon taken from the deeper waters of the pier, many of which were legal size (in fact some were over legal size - I saw a report of a 76 inch fish). Remember, you can only keep sturgeon between 48 and 72 inches in length.

Winds have been a problem recently. Notable were the efforts of several regulars at the San Mateo Pier on Sunday the 23rd who rescued three anglers whose boat had capsized near the pier. Forming a human chain, and using the strong ropes they had brought to net the sturgeon, they were able to pull the three men up to the pier and keep them warm until helicopters could rescue them. True heroes!

Some anglers do continue to catch fish in the area. One angler sent a note regarding a trip he took to the Municipal Pier in San Francisco: he caught a few kingfish (white croaker), sanddabs, and Pacific tomcod, although all were fairly small. My daughter Kim reports that a few jacksmelt and perch are being landed at the Robert E. Woolley Peninsula Park Pier in Burlingame, most of them on pile worm at high tide.

Berkeley Pier The Berkeley Marina Sports Center reports anglers landing quite a few kingfish (white croaker), and lesser numbers of pileperch and starry flounder from the pier. The kingfish are falling for cut anchovy while the perch and flounder are primarily grabbing grass shrimp baits. Few reports so far of striped bass or halibut, and even the shark and ray fishery seem slow.

Point Pinole Pier - The Anglers' Edge reports that the wintertime trio of white sturgeon, striped bass, and starry flounder continue to lead the hit parade at this beautiful San Pablo Bay pier. Sturgeon are falling for pile worms or grass shrimp on the slack tide, while anchovies and grass shrimp are the piece de resistance for the striped bass, fish which have ranged to 28 inches recently. Most of the starry flounder are falling for grass shrimp. There are no reports of perch, sharks, or rays although a few should be available.

Martinez Pier - Although only a few sturgeon and striped bass have been reported at the pier, there seems to be a good school of steelhead holding in the harbor area adjacent to and inside this Suisun Bay pier. Fish are being caught daily on grass shrimp and worms. The steelhead run is usually a short lived phenomenon but something that happens most winters.

McNear Beach Fishing Pier (San Rafael) - John at Western Boat & Tackle says that the sturgeon action of last month has died down. Things are fairly dead at the McNear Pier but perch anglers are seeing good action at the Paradise Beach Pier and piers all along the Sausalito and Tiburon waterfront areas. The perch are a mixture of rubberlip, forktail perch (white seaperch or pileperch) and porgy (pileperch or blackperch). Most of the perch are falling for pile worms or grass shrimp, but regulars are also using Baby Kastmasters to land some really large rubberlip perch. There's been too much wind for good fishing and even though a few sturgeon, stripers and flounder continue to hit, it appears the local scene is in the doldrums. A typical mid-winter report.

Spud Point Marina Pier (Bodega Bay) - Judy at Wil's Bait & Tackle reports that the recent weather has really put a damper on the fishing. The weather has been horrible, the winds unbelievable, and the water rough. When combined with a surplus of hungry seals it's been somewhat of a disaster. A few anglers are nabbing a stray rubberlip or striped seaperch on mussels and crabs - but the count is way down (at least on the piers). Judy reports that the shop is now carrying pile worms which may help the perch fisherman.

Point Arena Pier - Good weather in the early part of the month led to improved fishing success. Good numbers of striped seaperch were filling anglers' stringers and some of the perch were large, up to 2 1/2 pounds. Most of the perch were falling for pieces of market shrimp, or live sand crabs and rock crabs acquired from nearby beaches. A few lingcod (to 26"), bullheads (cabezon), and seatrout (kelp greenling) rounded out the action while rockfish continued their vacation from the pier. An interesting sight mid-month was the carcass of a baby great white shark. The four-foot-long creature, found floating in the water, was grabbed by a couple of interested anglers. Although winds have been strong for the past week, the perch action should remain hot through April.

Del Norte Street Fishing Pier (Eureka) - Greg at Bucksport Sporting Goods says that fishing is still a little slow for pier fishermen (and most local anglers continue to pursue steelhead in local rivers). Pileperch and redtail surfperch are being caught at the Del Norte Street Pier as well as most docks and piers along the Eureka waterfront. Both are falling for tube worms fished on the bottom. Some sharks, both sand sharks and leopard sharks, as well as a few stingrays (bat rays) are hitting at night off the pier, but most have been on the small side. For the sharks and rays use squid or a smelly bait like mackerel or sardine and fish the incoming tide. Crabbers are also continuing to pull in a lot of Dungness crabs.

"B" Street Pier (Crescent City) - Weather continues to be a problem with big winds and rough water. A few Dungness crabs are being caught at both the B. Street Pier and Citizen's Dock but it isn't great action. The same for the redtail surfperch, action should improve with the weather.