Gaviota Pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required Closed since 2014 — Awaiting repair and/or reconstruction. A prime example (perhaps the perfect example) of government inefficiency, in this case the California State Parks Department. For years there have been promises of repair and reopening but as…

San Simeon Pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required In 1542 Rodriguez Cabrillo, the Portuguese navigator sailed northward from Mexico to explore the coast of California. After visiting the bay of San Luis Obispo (that he called the Bay of  Todos Santos, or All-Saints Bay) he visited…

Pismo Beach Pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required This pier, together with the other piers along this stretch of coast, provides both recreational fishing and a relief from the summer heat for those who travel over from the hot Central Valley. In fact, the summertime influx…

Leopard Shark

 Smoothhounds: Family Triakididae Species: Triakis semifasciata from the Greek word tria (meaning the number three, like a triad) and Latin cis (meaning on the side), and the Latin fasciata (bundled) referring to the stripes or bars on the side. Alternate Names: Cat shark or (mistakenly)…

Broadnose Sevengill Shark

Species: Notorynchus cepedianus (Perón, 1807); from the Greek roots noto (back) and r(h)ynchos (snout); and the Latin cepidianus (spotted).   Alternate Names: Sevengill shark, cow shark, spotted cow shark, mud shark, bluntnose shark, broad-snout, sevengill, k’wet’thenéchte (Salish, British Columbia), and my personal favorite (from Australia)…