Southern California
Imperial Beach Pier - John, at Cox Bait & Tackle, reports that the pier reopened Memorial Day weekend and that the fishing has proven good. Most action has been on fat little barred surfperch in the inshore area along with some corbina; both are falling to bloodworms. Further out, anglers are getting a mix of mackerel, small sand bass, a few sculpin, and an occasional halibut. Sharks and stingrays are also hitting on squid.
Ocean Beach Pier - Bruce, at the Ocean Beach Bait Shop (on the pier), reports that the pier is open after a 3 1/2-month closure (about 1,000 feet of the south rail was torn out by the El Nino-storms and the city decided to wait until the storms died down before fixing the railing and reopening the pier). He also said that the fishing is VERY GOOD. Out at the end, anglers are catching mackerel on a variety of live baits including anchovies and sardines, pieces of mackerel, and bait rigs. Sheephead have also made a showing with a number of 2-3 pound fish being caught out at the south corner of the T-end of the pier. That area has a rocky reef which yields quite a few bottom fish. The mid-pier area is yielding up lots of leopard sharks and Bruce said he has already seen four of the tasty sharks that were over 5-foot in length since the shop reopened. Sargo are also making a good appearance with most being caught on fresh mussels. Last, but not least, are a plethora of the smaller species such as walleye surfperch, queenfish, jacksmelt and topsmelt; most of these are caught in the mid-pier area on bait rigs or small pieces of anchovy. Terry Griffin reported that he fished the south corner of the end near the kelp beds on the 16th and managed to haul in three calico (kelp) bass.
Crystal Pier - No report this month.
Pepper Park Pier - Rick Thibeault reports that fishing has been slow at this small pier in National City.
Ferry Landing Pier (Coronado) - Rich Reano reported that the halibut finally have started to show up at the pier. He's seen three fish over 22 inches, two on live smelt and one on a fish trap. Mackerel still are sparse, but he's heard of some decent croaker fishing at night by those using ghost shrimp. He mentioned that there are pelagic crabs swimming around the waters of the pier but so far they haven't impacted the fishing. Rick Thibeault also visited the pier and reported that fishing was slow. He did see a few bass but it sounded like you really had to work for them and use the right bait -- ghost shrimp. He also saw a youngster land a needlefish using a smelt for bait under a bobber (the best bait and rig for these toothy critters).
Shelter Island Pier - Buddy Hakes, at the Shelter Island Pier Bait & Tackle Shop (on the pier), says that the fishing is DEAD, the worst he has ever seen it (and he has been there a long, long time). Doesn't know what to attribute the poor fishing to but wishes it would improve. Sounds like things are dead in the bay and that most of the fish have moved out into the ocean.
Oceanside Pier - Carl, at the Oceanside Pier Bait & Tackle, reports that fishing has been up and down. There was a good run of spotfin croakers for a couple of weeks with anglers reporting some 8-9 pound fish being caught on mussels (although Carl says the ones he saw were only in the 5-6 pound range). Inshore, there have also been some decent runs on yellowfin croakers and barred surfperch, both being caught on mussels and bloodworms. At the end of the pier it's the usual action -- mackerel, sardines and jacksmelt, A number of sharks have also been landed, primarily shovelnose sharks (guitarfish) and leopard sharks. Lastly, Carl reports that a few sheephead continue to show up out at the end, most are caught on shrimp or mussels. Robert Karapet visited the pier twice during May. On his first visit he spotted some corbina in the shallows but was only able to land a 10-inch sand bass, a small guitarfish and a couple of croakers. He did see one angler land a 45-pound bat ray. A second visit at night was less productive, in fact it was DEAD, at least in regard to fishing. He said his fishing buddy got into a short fight with a gang that seemed to be looking for trouble. The fight ended when one gang member pulled out a knife.
Aliso Beach Pier - The pier is closed and probably needs to be rebuilt. Orange County officials are considering their options and trying to figure out where the money will come from.
Newport Pier - No report this month.
Balboa Pier - No report this month.
Huntington Beach Pier - No report this month.
Seal Beach Pier - Janie, at Norm's Big Fish Sportfishing Shop (on the pier), says that the fishing is fair at this time. Out at the end of the pier anglers are catching lots of small mackerel and tons of tom cod (3-4 at a time) with an occasional halibut adding some excitement (and Janie recently got a 23-inch flattie herself). The halibut action has been sporadic; the flat fish primarily seem to show up when grunion and small smelt invade the local waters/beaches. Inshore, the croaker action seems to have slowed but anglers were getting a lot of walleye surfperch with most of the fish being caught on bait rigs sweetened with small pieces of bloodworms or ghost shrimp. A few sharks are also being caught, mostly shovelnose (guitarfish), although what appeared to be a large bat ray had spooled an angler of his line just before I called. Do remember that there is now a limit on tom cod (white croaker)!
Cabrillo Pier - No report this month.
Redondo Beach Pier - Chad reported on several trips to the pier. Said he hadn't seen any halibut but did see mackerel, sea trout (small white seabass), croakers, sting rays and shovelnose sharks (guitarfish). Spider crabs and starfish also managed to make an appearance. He said some bonito were being landed by people using heavy Lucky Lura rigs.
Redondo Beach Sportfishing Pier (King Harbor) - Tim (TC), at Redondo Sportfishing (on the pier), says that some bonito are finally starting to show up in the harbor and they should begin to be caught from the pier. He also said that the last few days finally saw the bait boats begin to bring in some anchovies after an El Nino-spawned absence of over a year. With anchovies showing up in local waters (including the harbor) and the bonito finally reentering the bay, it appears that the fishin' is about ready to break loose. The morning I called saw some fishermen catching mackerel out at the end, and fisher folk angling under the pier catching opaleye and other species of perch on live ghost shrimp. By the way, when the bonito start to really hit at the pier, the sportfishing landing will carry live anchovies on the pier. As it is, the $150 electrical bill just can't be justified. However, other baits, such as ghost shrimp and frozen anchovies, are available.
Hermosa Beach Pier - Don, at Just Fishing by Pete (near the front of the pier), says that the fishing is picking up. Inshore, a few corbinas are being picked up on fresh mussels and sand crabs while the mid-pier to the end areas are offering up small mackerel, sardines and a few halibut. The best bait for the halibut are the small-sized, live mackerel, and sardines which you have just caught. Some sand bass and calico (kelp) bass are also being landed, generally on live sardines. A few leopard sharks have also shown up but hardly any thresher sharks. One angler did report hooking a thresher but he and his buddy lost it half way up to the top of the pier; always be prepared with the proper equipment if you plan to fish for the bigger sharks and rays.
Venice Pier - Robert Karapet visited the pier mid-month on a crowded weekend day and reports that although the pier was very clean, the fishing was a little slow. About the only thing biting the day he was there was mackerel and small sand bass. He did see a guy with a 15-inch flounder who insisted it was a halibut and (to his credit) tossed it back. Rob said the guy had no idea what. flounders, turbots, sanddabs and soles look like. Folks, you need to learn how to identify your fish (maybe you should buy my book)!
Santa Monica Pier - Karen at the Santa Monica Pier Bait & Tackle Company (on the pier), reports that fishing has been great -- some days. In the last week he had seen eight thresher sharks landed (including one that was 8-foot long) and numerous keeper halibut (including fish 24", 26" and 28" long). Mackerel are in one day, out the next, but sand bass have been fairly steady and he even saw one needlefish landed (a somewhat rare fish from the pier). Inshore, a few corbina have been landed by anglers using fresh mussels.
Malibu Pier - the pier remains closed as officials try to figure out where to get the money needed to rebuild the pier.
Port Hueneme Pier - Michelle, at the Hueneme Bait and Tackle Shop (near the foot of the pier), reports that anglers are getting jacksmelt and mackerel while using Filipino Jigs near the end of the pier. Some sand sharks (guitarfish?) and sand bass are also being caught on the bottom. She said quite a few spider crabs are also being landed, most by anglers using mackerel as bait. Robert Karapet managed to visit the pier the first part of May with a bunch of friends and said he didn't see a decent fish although the group managed to catch about 25 thornback rays! He said there seemed to be millions of crabs in the water. Every few minutes his drop net would be loaded up with 10-20 little blue (?) and rock crabs and 2-3 of the little crabs would be hanging onto his baited hooks.
Goleta Pier - Robert Karapet visited the pier and managed to pull in some skates and mackerel at night but not much else -- although he did hook, but lose, a "big shovelnose." Zoy Hann visited the pier on the 18th and ran into a "Mac Attack" out at the end of the pier. Lucky Luras sweetened with a small piece of mackerel produced one or two mackerel every few minutes. His short visited included twenty mackerel and a jacksmelt -- all released. Other anglers also caught mackerel (after he told them to use mackerel for bait), and he saw a round stingray and a tiny halibut. Inshore, anglers were catching surfperch.
Gaviota Pier - Zoy Hann reported that the pier was still closed on the 18th although some anglers appeared to have scaled the barrier at the front of the pier and were fishing from the pier. He didn't join them nor should you. Wait until it is opened.
Central California
Pismo Beach Pier - Troy, from Sheldon's Clam Stand (on the pier), reports that fishermen are still catching barred surfperch and large jacksmelt but not much else. A few thresher sharks have also been seen and regulars are using chum to bring them in at night -- but not too many are being caught so far. Unusual sightings recently have included some humpback whales and one killer whale; both are rarely seen from the pier. He also said he could see more than a hundred salmon boats from the pier the day I called (the 31st) -- so there must be some salmon in the area..
Port San Luis Pier - Mike, at Avila Beach Sportfishing (on the pier), said it still seems like winter with rain and wind. Anglers are catching some jacksmelt, silver perch (walleyes?) and a few halibut and mackerel, but nothing seems really hot. The exception might be on kingfish (white croaker) which always seem to be around. The landing has been fixed and the bottom boats to continue to catch rockcod, along with a few stray salmon.
Cayucos Pier - Lorna, at the Tidepool (near the front of the pier), reports that the sun is out and the fishing is "GOOD." Most of the fish being caught are the "old regulars" -- surfperch, jacksmelt and kingfish, but surprisingly some striped bass have also entered the picture (which is really unusual for this pier). She says some stripers and white sea bass have been landed near the rocks, but so far no white sea bass have been landed from the pier. Halibut have also started to bite and she says quite a few of them are keepers so now may be the time to go to the pier!
San Simeon Pier - Harry at Virg's San Simeon Landing (near the front of the pier), says that anglers are pulling in some perch (barred, walleye and silver), a few jacksmelt and the usual kingfish. He says a few salmon were also hooked but none were landed. As for the landing on the pier, it is still out and they don't know when it will be fixed. The state is evidently hoping for FEMA money to repair it and that often takes a long, long time. So, no sportfishing boats from the pier at this time.
Monterey Wharf #2 - No report this month.
Capitola Wharf - Frank, at the Capitola Boat and Bait Shop (on the wharf), reported that most of the action currently is on barred surfperch, walleye surfperch and the always-present kingfish (white croaker). Most of the perch are being caught on bait rigs sweetened with small pieces of shrimp. Although the halibut have been few, one young lad did manage to pull in a 23-inch flattie on a piece of squid. Frank said it really made the kid's day! Not too much else action although a bat ray is being landed about every four to five days.
Santa Cruz Wharf - Andre, at Andy's Bait and Tackle (at the end of the wharf), says it's still kind of slow, hit and miss. Anglers are picking up kingfish, perch, jacksmelt, and for the past couple of weeks, some mackerel. However, he hasn't seen any halibut or salmon. He's hoping it will improve soon! A report from Matt Shockney said that he visited the pier toward the end of the month and was skunked. About the only thing he saw that day were a few jacksmelt and mackerel caught by a couple of fishermen. However, he was told by a local angler that the previous day had seen quite a few fish, including some salmon. So, as Andre said, it sounds hit and miss.
Piller Point Pier - No report this month.
Pacifica Pier - Jaye, at the Community Bait & Tackle shop (near the entrance to the pier), said that fishing is only fair at this time. A few king salmon and striped bass are being caught but action isn't exactly what you would call hot. At this time probably less than a dozen keeper-sized salmon and bass are being caught daily although the small species (surfperch, jacksmelt and kingfish) are plentiful. She hadn't heard of any halibut lately and even the crabbing seemed slow.
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Shoreline Piers - Hippo, at Hi's Tackle Box in San Francisco, said there is a good run of sardines in the bay, the first run of sardines in many a year. He also says they are nice looking fish. Anglers seem to be catching the 'dines all along the waterfront including Piers 2 and 7, the Muni Pier and the Fort Point Pier. There are also lots of striped bass and halibut showing up in some areas so anglers in the know are using some of the sardines for live bait to pull in a few of the bigger fish. He says some kingfish (white croaker) are also being landed as are jacksmelt , but neither are offering steady, reliable sport. Lastly, he's heard of a few sharks and rays but only a few.
South San Francisco Bay Piers - No report this month.
Dumbarton Pier - No report this month.
San Mateo Pier - Closed until November.
Ravenswood Pier - Closed and may not reopen.
Berkeley Pier - Bob, at the Berkeley Marina Sport Center (near the pier), reports that the halibut are starting to put on a pretty good show with quite a few keepers being landed most days. Most unusual have been the baits. Although most of the halibut have been landed on live shinerperch (the most common bait), a number have been landed on live jacksmelt, and some apparently on pretty good-sized jacksmelt. Bob said the halibut fishermen are buying jacksmelt off the smelt fishermen when they land appropriately sized bait. This means of course that some jacksmelt are being landed (on pile worms) as are a few kingfish. Not too many striped bass lately but the shark and ray fishing is picking up. Bob says he seen both prickleback sharks (dogfish) and smoothies (brown smoothhound) as well as a few leopard sharks. Bob says regulars are also picking up some "mud marlin" -- good old, hard-fighting bat rays.
Point Pinole Pier - The Anglers' Edge reported that the great striped bass action of the first part of the month has slowed although both stripers and kingfish continue to be caught by anglers fishing with anchovies.
Vallejo Pier - The pier has been torn down and the Vallejo Recreation Department is apparently discussing the feasibility of rebuilding the pier -- and trying to find the money.
Antioch Marina Pier - No report this month.
Antioch Pier - Mark Grim reports that the fishing is slow at the pier. However, he says "there are many people strolling along the pier to keep a fisherman company between bites. I was able to catch a couple of small striped bass off of frozen anchovies. The Antioch Farmer's Market has started up again. It is open on Saturday's through the summer between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the foot of G Street overlooking the City of Antioch Pier. It is a great place to pick up a few goodies to munch on while fishing, and to bring home after fishing."
Antioch Bridge Pier - Mark Grim reports that the weather and the bite is improving. He says, "The striped bass are biting on frozen anchovies, shad, and sardines. Several stripers up to 25 inches have been caught almost daily. My two-year-old son, Keifer, caught a starry flounder off of a piece of anchovy. A monument at the base of the pier was dedicated this month. The plaque on the monument says that at this site in 1775, the Spanish explorer DeAnza with his group of soldiers and missionaries, stopped and camped. It goes on to say that one priest said that "from this point you can see the Delta, the Sierra Nevada, and Mount Diablo." I wonder if they tried any fishing?"
Marin Rod and Gun Club Pier - No report this month.
McNear Beach Fishing Pier (San Rafael) - Paul, at Western Boat & Tackle, says that there has been a good sturgeon bite at both the McNear Beach Pier and at the Paradise Beach Pier. Many of the diamondbacks are being caught on anchovies but ghost shrimp should be a better bait. Striped bass action seems to have slowed but perch are still available from piers and wharfs up around Sausalito. He said he's also heard of very good halibut action in Tomales Bay.
Elephant Rock Pier - closed for repairs but should reopen by the end of July.
Northern California
Lawson's Landing - No report this month although jacksmelt, perch and a possible halibut may appear.
Spud Point Marina Pier (Bodega Bay) - No report this month although jacksmelt and perch should be available.
Point Arena Pier - Allen Fung reported fishing with shrimp and catching a lot of fat striped seaperch up to about 15 inches in length. I stopped by on the 30th and heard reports of bucket loads of perch, but you have to be there when the schools move in. A lot of cabezon are also showing up for anglers using shrimp.
Del Norte Street Fishing Pier (Eureka) - No report this month although redtail surfperch should start to enter the bay and be caught at the pier along with the normal sharks, rays, and crabs.
Trinidad Pier - Glenace, at Bob's Boat Basin (at the foot of the pier), said that it was raining and no one was one the pier. Late storms have put a damper on the action although anglers were picking up a few striped seaperch and sea trout (kelp greenling) when the weather was good. The weather will improve, it will improve, it will improve, say after me it will improve...
Citizen's Dock (Crescent City) - Leonard, at Englund Marine (near the front of the pier), says that anglers are picking up a few striped seaperch, some small snappers, and lingcod from the dock although the perch fishing has slowed somewhat. People at the "B" Street Pier are primarily crabbing and getting quite a few legal-size Dungeness crabs.
I would like to thank the following people who have bought
books and thus help to keep this site alive:
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)
Robert Galvin Jr. (Boulder Creek, 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)
Elizabeth Shockney (Montara, California)
Janet Fram (Rupert, Vermont)
Richard Brewer Jr. (Santa Maria, California)
Cal Mock (Vacaville, California)
Mark Spangler (Quartz Hill, California)
Barb Storms (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
Mary Silver (Santa Cruz, California)
Cristina Pelina (San Francisco, California)
David Cottrell (Pacifica, California)
Tsutomu Kagiyama (Westminister, Colorado)
Mark Von Seggern (Grass Valley, California)
John Siembieda (Santa Cruz, California)
Anastacio Herrera, (Cathedral City, California)
Thanks for your support and hope you liked the books!
Embarcadero Marina Park Pier, Oceanside Small Craft Harbor Pier, Dana Point Harbor Pier, Balboa Pier, Newport Pier, Green Pleasure Pier at Avalon, Redondo Beach Pier, Manhattan Beach Pier, Burton Chace Park Pier, Venice Pier, Paradise Cove Pier, Ventura Pier, Morro Bay Piers, Seacliff State Beach Pier, Fort Point Pier, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Pier 7, Agua Vista Park Pier, Candlestick Point Pier, Brisbane Pier, Oyster Point Pier, San Mateo Pier, Dumbarton Pier, San Leandro Marina Pier, Fruitvale Bridge Pier, San Antonio Pier, Franklin D. Roosevelt Pier, Port View Park Pier, Point Pinole Pier, Angel Island Pier, Sausalito Public Pier, Lawson's Landing Pier and the "B" Street Pier in Crescent City.
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.