Date: August 30, 2017; To: PFIC Message Board; From: Ken Jones; Subject: Dana Point Bonefish
This past weekend saw me scheduled to (1) present the “Basics of Pier Fishing” to a group of neophyte anglers at a classroom in Dana Point Harbor and to (2) help them test out their new knowledge on a visit to the San Clemente Pier. Both the class and the visit to San Clemente went great.
Most interesting was a visit to the Dana Point Harbor Pier following the class on Saturday. Mahigeer (Hashem) who was going to join me at the San Clemente Pier later to catch some mackerel (bait) for Sunday, surprised me by being at the pier. I began to fish and though I tried a variety of baits — bloodworms, fresh mussels — cut mackerel and anchovies —I didn’t have a bite for over an hour until a small opaleye decided to grab a piece of worm.
Mahigeer decided he would head to the San Clemente Pier and I told him I would join him but that I wanted to try the small pier a little bit longer. Soon after I decided to change positions and moved inshore where I cast to the waters just outside “Baby Beach.” A few minutes later I caught a decent-sized spotfin croaker so I once again decided the spot deserved a little more time.
My Cortez Bonefish
A few minutes later my second rod had a good hit. I grabbed it and made sure the fish was hooked and then watched the fish and line perform a large curving arc from about the 15 minute spot on a watch to the 45 minute spot. The fish was moving fast and I wasn’t sure what I had hooked. It didn’t fight like a croaker, bass, mackerel, flatfish or sharay, species that typically inhabit the harbor. But within a short time I had the fish to the pier and much to my surprise saw it was a bonefish, a Cortez bonefish to be exact, the first I had caught in nineteen years. I had landed two from the Embarcadero Marina Pier in San Diego Bay in 1999 but they had been caught in deeper water on a heavier line and didn’t give the same fight as this fish. The fish MADE MY TRIP.
<*}}}}}}}}}>< — Surveys done by the Fish and Game Department between 2004-2009 showed a nice mix of 19 species — (numerically) white seaperch, topsmelt, walleye surfperch, opaleye, white croaker, halfmoon, jacksmelt, kelp bass, black perch, spotfin croaker, yellowfin croaker, California scorpionfish, sargo, shiner perch, Pacific mackerel, California halibut, barred sandbass, Pacific bonito and rock wrasse. I’m pretty sure if they done some surveys at night they would have recorded some barracida, sharks and rays.
<*}}}}}}}}}>< — Two California state record fish are recorded from Dana Point Harbor. One was a 6 lb 9 oz corbina taken on May 23, 1997; the second was a 2 lb 1 oz yellowfin croaker taken on August 3, 1995. Since I’ve seen larger fish than these taken from several piers, including a larger yellowfin croaker by yours truly, I don’t imagine these records will last very long.
<*}}}}}}}}}>< — Elephant Parade at the pier? If you happened to visit Dana Point in August of 2013 (which I did) you might have seen some colorful elephant sculpture. More than 40 “elephants” were scattered around Dana Point and Doheny State Beach and one, “The Gentle Giant,” made it to the pier. It was all part of an elephant parade, a fundraiser for the “Asian Elephant Foundation.” Apparently by 2013 more than 1,000 such elephant sculptures (every one different) had been created and nearly a dozen such parades had been held in Asia and Europe. This was the first one in the U.S.A.
“The Gentle Giant”
An interesting addition to the pier — 2013
<*}}}}}}}}}>< — California F&G Bulletin #96 from 1953 says of Dana Point, “Located on the coast 16 miles southeast of Newport Beach and seven miles southeast of Laguna Beach. The point is a stubby peninsula with a sheltered cove on the southeast side. It was called Point San Juan Capistrano, after the nearby mission, or was shortened to San Juan Point. It had been called Punta de Arboleda. Richard Henry Dana, Jr., in ‘Two Years Before the Mast’ described (1835) the hauling of dried hides in squeaking carretas from the mission and surrounding ranchos to the point and dumping them over the cliff to be picked up by the ship’s small boats.
This was at the cove which, like the point and the town, has been given the name Dana. The cove is now owned by Mr. Probar and is often called Probar’s Cove. There is a short pier here for the landing of small craft. The town of Dana Point, started in 1926, is on the mesa back a little from the cove. Some people now apply the name Point San Juan to the west corner of the peninsula and Dana Point to the east corner… In May, 1949, about 28,000 pounds of abalone were credited to Point San Juan and 20 pounds in 1950 were so recorded but normally the catches are reported as Dana Point. In 1950 and 1951 the landings at Dana Point averaged 64,000 pounds per year. The species were, in order of volume, lobster, abalone, albacore, sheep-head, barracuda and halibut. The rocky shores of Dana Point and the offshore rocks were the fishing grounds for some of the first paddleboard skin divers along the coast and this area remains an outstanding locality for this sport.”
History Note. All piers see change but few have seen the changes that this pier and area, have experienced.
An “oceanfront pleasure pier” was one of the many attractions that the Dana Point Syndicate hoped would bring buyers to the area (then known as Stillwater Bay) when their $1,150 home sites went on sale in January of 1927. The syndicate’s partners, led by developer Sidney Woodruff (famous as the developer of Hollywoodland, today’s Hollywood), Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler, and General M.H. Sherman, Director of the Pacific Electric Railway Company, bought 1,388 acres of land and envisioned quite a town. Attractions were to include a scenic beach pavilion, a breakwater, a yacht club, and a “Pompeian” bath with heated salt water. The highlight was to be the Dana Point Inn, a luxury hotel that was to include an elevator to bring guests from the hillside hotel down to the beach. However, only 35 homes and several commercial structures were built before the Great Depression brought an end to the developers’ dreams.
But at least one structure had been built—the “pleasure pier.” That 304-foot-long wooden pier (some sources say 295 feet) was located in the cove at the base of the cliffs, a cove that sat inside the protective curve of Dana Point, and a cove that eventually gained the name Stillwater Bay.
Fisherman were attracted to the area and the words on one brochure—“The wise birds fish at Dana Point”—seemed to come true. The pier was a popular and heavily visited site and even included its own Sportfishing barge, the Ace I.
However, in 1956 the Orange County Board of Supervisors began to develop Dana Cove as a recreation area. An early necessity was a parking lot for the cove and a dike to protect the lot. Soon, a dike began to be constructed near the shore end of the pier and eventually the pier was severed with the dike running through the innermost section of the pier. The original inshore section now ended at the dike, and the outermost section started at the dike. Development in the cove continued throughout the year. Barbecue and picnic areas, restrooms, and new roads were added. Then, in January of 1957, the old, and by now rotting, pier was demolished.
A new 300-foot-long oceanfront-fishing pier was then designed and constructed. At the same time, calls began to be heard for changing the cove into a truly protected harbor. When state and federal backing for the harbor project was gained, it made inevitable an ending for the “oceanfront” pier at the cove. Dredging and expansion during the ’60s and ’70s turned the harbor into a protected bay and turned the pier into a small bay pier.
The pier was shortened at the time of the harbor expansion and then refurbished in 1988. Some decking was replaced as were some pilings, a new gangway and float were installed, fish cleaning facilities were added, and the snack bar and bait and tackle shop were moved off the pier and placed at the shoreline entrance.
The pier in 1990, note the bait shop at the front of the pier.
Today the pier’s length is listed as 150 feet. It is, in some ways, an inconsequential fishing pier, but it is also popular with many local anglers and does offer excellent fishing at times.
The harbor and nearby point are named after the author Richard Henry Dana who visited here in 1835. Earliest maps (by Humboldt) called the small bay “Bahia de San Juan Capistrano.”
Dana Point Harbor Fishing Pier Facts
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Facilities: Most of the facilities were rebuilt in the late 1980s and are in excellent condition. Lights, benches, and a fish cleaning table are on the pier. A small snack bar, which usually carries some bait, is located near the entrance to the pier. Restrooms are located across the street. There is free parking near the front of the pier although signs say no parking between 12 midnight and 6 a.m.
Handicapped Facilities: Handicapped parking and restrooms. The pier surface is wood and the rail height is 40 inches. Posted for handicapped.
How To Get There: The pier is located in the Dana Cove Park area of Dana Point Harbor. From the Pacific Coast Highway take Green Lantern Road south to the harbor, turn left on Cove Road, and follow it to the pier.
Management: Dana Point Harbor District.
I would like to fish off the pier after midnight.
Can I park my truck over night.
I can’t find any info on night parking or
phone number to call. Please help.
Can you drop hoop nets there and catch lobster at night?
A Yellow Snake Eel was caught (and kept) June, 27, 2020 at about 9:30pm. Looked to be about 2.5-3ft long. Don’t know what it was caught with.
A 15-20 inch Halibut was also hooked on the same day but it got away before it could be hauled up to the pier.
Thanks for the report Andrew. Always appreciate reports about that pier. Ken
I use to come fishing at the pier almost every night back in 2018. Took a bit of time off and returned within the past 6 months to find that catching what I use to is totally rare. Being that it is the start of fishing season, one would expect your poles to be hooking a ton, however, these past couple weeks have been pretty flat. My daughter and I have come multiple times a week only to snag smelt, yellowfin croakers and a few spotted bass. Most of these were all babies – although, we never keep our catches anyhow.
Nonetheless, it’s still an amazing place to get out and spend quality time with your family and enjoy the fresh air. Much better than sitting in the couch watching garbage tv.
I’m interested in catching crab. How is the pier area there for crab or am I better off at Huntington Beach?
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Dana Point Harbor Fishing Pier is a great family-friendly spot, especially for beginners and kids since no fishing license is required. Its calm waters, nearby Baby Beach, and surrounding park make it a relaxed place to spend the day. While fishing can be hit or miss, the variety of species and occasional excellent bites keep things interesting. Early mornings, evenings, or nighttime fishing seem to offer the best experience—plus fewer boats and crowds. Overall, a nice alternative pier when nearby spots are busy and a solid option for casual pier fishing.
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Dana Point Harbor Fishing Pier seems like a perfect spot for a family outing! Love that kids can safely fish near Baby Beach, though it’s good to be aware of the occasional pollution issues. Interesting tidbit about the sand being brought in—makes you appreciate all the effort behind this little slice of coastal fun!”
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“Dana Point Harbor Fishing Pier looks like the perfect spot for a chill family fishing day! Love that it’s beginner-friendly and close to Baby Beach, making it safe and fun for kids. The fact that sand was brought in to shape the shoreline is such an interesting detail — it really shows the effort behind this coastal gem.
Definitely adding this to my travel list and sharing it on my socials! Spots like this deserve a feature on every outdoor lover’s feed — and maybe even a relaxing fishing vlog night after the trip!
“Dana Point Harbor Fishing Pier looks like such a peaceful yet fun family escape! The calm waters near Baby Beach make it perfect for kids to safely enjoy fishing, and that cool fact about the imported sand adds such an interesting backstory to the spot.
This place seriously feels like it deserves a cinematic sunset reel — slow-motion casts, ocean breeze shots, and a relaxing background track. Definitely adding this to my travel list and future vlog ideas!
“Dana Point Harbor Fishing Pier is giving major coastal aesthetic goals! The calm waters near Baby Beach make it such a wholesome family-friendly fishing spot, and that little detail about the imported sand? Low-key fascinating!
This place is totally reel-worthy — golden hour casts, ocean breeze, and those peaceful harbor views hitting just right
This was very helpful and easy to understand.
Thanks for details. a sport fishing license is required for anyone 16 years of age or older attempting to take fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians, or reptiles in inland or ocean waters (unless fishing from a public pier
Really enjoyed reading these pier fishing stories—those unexpected catches and near-misses make every trip memorable. It reminds me of playing BitLife, a life simulation game where your choices shape random outcomes, just like fishing luck!
I love that this pier is family-friendly with its shallow Baby Beach nearby! Though the pollution issue is concerning, it’s great the county is working on fixes. Perfect spot for a casual fishing day with kids.
Thanks for the info on Dana Point Pier! I’m planning a trip with my kids soon, and this is super helpful. Hopefully, we can avoid those lead sinkers near the Pilgrim!
I can’t wait to share this with others.
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Thanks for the detailed information about the Dana Point Harbor Fishing Pier! It’s good to know about the nearby attractions like the Pilgrim and the Ocean Institute, makes it more than just a fishing trip. I appreciate the heads up about Baby Beach too!
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This is a really detailed look at the Dana Point Harbor Fishing Pier. It’s great finding resources that offer clear insights, whether it’s about local fishing spots or understanding different aspects of life.
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Interesting read: “Dana Point Harbor Fishing Pier – Pier Fishing in California”. Thanks for sharing this!
Fishing guides are always helpful for anglers planning their next trip. Local knowledge about the best spots and techniques makes a real difference.
Took the kids here last weekend, they had a blast. I recorded a bunch of videos of their first catches but the files were too huge for texting. Found a browser tool that shrinks them right on my laptop with presets for different apps, so I didn’t have to upload our family stuff anywhere. Made sharing with the grandparents effortless.
My family had a great time fishing off this pier, and my daughter took a photo of the Pilgrim replica to sketch later. We found a handy free browser tool that puts an adjustable grid over a photo—no uploads or accounts needed, so the picture stays on your device. It made drawing the ship’s rigging a lot more manageable, and it turned into a nice way to keep the kids engaged with art after the trip.
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This article about Dana Point Harbor fishing shows how relaxing outdoor activities can connect people with nature and the ocean. After reading stories like this, I usually play Subway Surfers which is an endless runner game that brings exciting challenges and quick entertainment.
Thanks
Took the kids here last weekend and they had a blast. We even made a little scrolling banner with the day’s catch count using a scrolling text generator to add to our fishing photo album. It was a fun way to remember the trip.
I like that this pier is public and doesn’t require a fishing license, which makes it a practical spot for introducing kids to fishing. The note about Baby Beach and the shallow water nearby is helpful too, since that kind of safe setting matters more than scenery when you’re bringing young ones along.
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This is a really interesting fishing spot with a lot of variety in catches. I like how people share their real experiences here because local reports can be more useful than just general information. Keeping updated with reliable guides and community discussions always helps when planning a trip or trying a new location. Thanks everyone for sharing these detailed fishing reports.