Pier Fishing In California Fish Reports
August 1997—Janie, at the Seal Beach Sportfishing shop, reports that fishing continues to be good. Inshore, a lot of good-sized corbina are being caught on sand crabs and mussels while the area by the lifeguard tower is yielding a lot of sargo on mussels and ghost shrimp. Further out on the pier, the mackerel bite remains steady and barracuda are starting to provide a little excitement. The barries are primarily hitting on live anchovies, as are a few keeper halibut. Sometimes the bait shop has live bait while other times you'll need to catch your own using bait rigs. Janie also reports she caught a nice spotted sand bass while a few barred sand bass have been brought in by other anglers. Finally, anglers are getting some big shovelnose sharks (guitarfish) and bat rays while using squid and mackerel as bait. Anglers also continue to land too many under-sized and illegal white sea bass—throw them back!
April 1998—Janie, at Norm's Big Fish Sportfishing Shop at the end of the pier, says that anglers out at the end of the pier are taking LOTS of tomcod (white croaker); they're hitting on bloodworms. Inshore, anglers are still catching yellowfin croaker on fresh mussels and ghost shrimp and recently some big corbina have also made a nice showing. Out toward the bait shop, halibut have also begun to show whenever the grunion make a local appearance. Best bait for the bottom fish is a small smelt (if you can snag one), otherwise try anchovies on the bottom. Anglers also continue to pull in some bat rays and shovelnose sharks (guitarfish) and an angler lost a big bat ray just before I called on the 29th. It had headed up and down the pier and finally decided to tangle up some other lines together with a trip around a piling—such is big game fishing on a pier
May 1998—Janie, at Norm's Big Fish Sportfishing Shop, says that fishing remains fair. Out at the end of the pier, anglers are catching jacksmelt on bait rigs, big sargo on ghost shrimp, and lots of big eyed perch (walleye surfperch). The perch are found between the pilings near the bait shop and most are hitting on bloodworms. Inshore, some corbina, yellowfin croaker and spotfin croaker continue to fall to anglers using ghost shrimp and fresh mussels; some barred surfperch fall to mussels. Janie says there are also a lot of baby sharks, various varieties, showing up. Janie managed to do a little fishing herself (she is one of the true experts on the pier) and landed a 23 1/2 inch halibut while fishing with a small but lively sardine. Most unusual catch of the month was a 20-pound striped bass caught by an angler fishing out by the tower. The striper, which is rare in these waters, was caught on ghost shrimp.
November 1999—There were several messages posted to the Message Board: (1) On October 10 Anthony reported “Fished from 9 am to 2 p.m. Caught 1 cabezon, 1 spotfin croaker, 6 perch, and all you wanted of the 5-9 inch smelt. I got 3 runs using the large smelt for bait; 2 never took the hook. But one definitely took the hook and ran for its life. The fish never showed, but ran up and down the pier twice and then took a 200-yard run before breaking off. I never saw what it was. Any Ideas? The guys at Norms told me that threshers have been seen in the area recently. I also saw a 27-inch halibut caught on the end of the pier. Tons of huge mullet swimming around the pier.” (2) Craig posted a report the same day: “I also fished the pier Sunday from 9-2pm. We had a lot of similar smelt over the rail, 5+ inches as well. We were able to capitalize on a midday session of croaker. A lull had taken over and suddenly rods were going off all over the place. All I have to say is our biggest was about 2 lbs. and we all had a little luck on our croaker score. Mussels and Ghosties.” (3) Anthony posted a third message on October 16: “Fished from 11 am to 5 p.m. caught plenty of smelt for bait on bait rig tipped with mussel. The mussel was the key, Caught one 20-inch halibut (of course released) and one huge yellowfin croaker (also released). Hopefully the next time they are caught they will be even bigger. People using mussels were catching sargo, yellowfin and spotfin croaker just below the mid section of the pier. There was one mackerel and a 24-inch barracuda at the end of the pier. Tons of mullet around the pier all day. They were in large schools some of them even as high has 100+.”
July 2000—Dillon, at Norm's Big Fish Sportfishing Shop (on the pier), says that fishing has been good on halibut—mostly shorts—and quite a few bass; both sand bass and spotted sand bass (bay bass). Most of the bass and halibut have been taken on small live queenfish used by people who have caught them with bait rigs (see my report of a couple of weeks ago). He says there have also been some really big bat rays taken; a couple exceeded 100 pounds in weight. Lastly, he says there was a fantastic sargo bite in the inshore area at the start of the month but things have slowed down there lately
April 2001—Dillon, at Norm's Big Fish Sportfishing Shop (on the pier), says fishing has been great for the past ten days to two weeks. Anglers are filling up buckets with walleye surfperch out toward the end of the pier and are also getting a lot of big jacksmelt—both on bait rigs (i.e. Lucky Luras). Anglers are also getting lots of halibut, including six legal size fish, in the past few days. Most of the halibut are being landed on frozen anchovies although Dillon managed to get a 26” fish himself using a Wham Lure (that looks like an anchovy). But the biggest story may be the huge bat ray estimated to weigh over 200 pounds that was caught and released three weeks ago. The big fish dwarfed recent 140- and 160-pound rays that were landed and weighed—but it was released to fight another day. Dillon said the head area was over three feet thick when the ray was lying on the deck of the pier and that it took five anglers to lift it up to the pier and then back into the water. Why the hot fishing lately? Dillon speculated the halibut and bat rays have followed the grunion into the inshore areas where the little fish are doing their nasties (aka spawning).
July 2001—John, at Norm's Big Fish Sportfishing Shop (on the pier), reports fair fishing. Inshore a few croakers are showing up, along with some corbina and perch. Further out on the pier quite a few shovelnose sharks (guitarfish) and bat rays have been landed including a 95-pound fish last week. On top there are lots of mackerel while mid-depth the herring (queenfish) are showing up. And, anglers using live herring are picking up some halibut, although almost all are short. A few thresher sharks have also been hooked but so far, none have been landed. Finally, he reports the capture of a couple of unusual flatfish—a Dover sole and a c-o turbot. It just goes to show that you never know what will show up.
August 2004—Juan at Big Fish Bait & Tackle says some corbina are being taken inshore by anglers using nuclear worms (a new import from Viet Nam)—interesting. He says the worms look like bloodworms. Anglers are also seeking out and apparently getting a few thresher sharks along with a few smaller sharks and rays. He says there is a lot of baitfish, mainly smelt and he’s getting reports of small bonito.
June 2005—Bobby, at Big Fish Bait & Tackle, says some thresher sharks are starting to make an appearance. About 20 of the long-tailed sharks have recently been hooked on live sardines and smelt but only 4 have been landed. Inshore, sargo are being caught on lugworms; fish by the lifeguard station. Two twin 16-pound halibut were weighed from the pier last week, both caught on live smelt. Lastly, a few bonito are starting to show at the end.
December 2005—Rambo at Big Fish Bait & Tackle says anglers are catching a lot of nice fish out at the pier including a 20 3/4-lb halibut. A lot of halibut are being caught but they’re almost all within 25 feet of the shoreline and most anglers are over-casting the fish. Rambo says the inshore action on big halibut is typical for this time of the year; use live or frozen anchovies, both seem to be working. The surf line is also seeing good numbers of barred surfperch, croakers and corbina. (Guess where I would try on the pier?) Some sharks and rays are available at night
August 2006—Gerry, at Big Fish Bait and Tackle, reports that halibut to 7-pounds and sargo to 4-pounds have been making an appearance. He also says there is good inshore action on yellowfin croakers and spotfins while shark anglers are getting quite a few bat rays and angel sharks. There’s very little action on mackerel and virtually no bonito.
February 2007—Bobbie Lienau at Big Fish in Seal Beach reports excellent action on a variety of fish. Inshore, just past the breakers, try for a nice mix of barred surfperch, yellowfin croaker and sargo. (Daughter Page Lienau reported a stringer of walleyes and four sargo to four pounds—on lugworms). Opaleye are being taken down around the pilings while halibut are showing from the lifeguard tower to the end. Most of the flatties are falling to regulars who put a hook about twice the normal size into the head of a frozen anchovy and then slow troll the anchovy along the pier. Live smelt are also available but the cormorants have been tough lately grabbing almost any live bait cast out by anglers. Biggest halibut reported were by David Chate at 17 pounds, 9 ounces and Randy Copeland at 13 pounds, 9 ounces.
August 2007—Gary, at Big Fish in Seal Beach, reports some great action. Leading off are spotfin croaker (to 8 pounds) and yellowfin croaker hitting inshore; use fresh mussels or ghost shrimp. Sargo (to 6 pounds) are found down next to the pilings; use nuclear worms or ghost shrimp. Gary says mackerel action is a wide open although they haven’t seen bonito as yet. Sharks are also in evidence with good numbers of gray smoothhound, shovelnose (guitarfish) and bat rays.
July 2008 — Mark at Big Fish Bait & Tackle. 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy said the pier was really crowded with the recent hot weather but the fishing has also been good. Inshore there’s been good action on spotfin and yellowfin croaker along with a few corbina and some rubberlip perch. Mid-pier to the end is seeing mackerel, halibut (mostly shorts but some legals) and a few needlefish. Mid-pier to the end, in the evening, is seeing a good sand bass bite.
June 2009— Mo at Big Fish Bait & Tackle. 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, said it’s still mainly perch and croakers inshore (on nuclear worms, lugworms and mussels) as well as quite a few leopard sharks (on mackerel and squid). Some mackerel, sardines and smelt are available to those with Sabikis, especially mackerel. Halibut action has been slow and no bonito have shown recently. Some big bat rays do continue to show, mainly at night, while a 5 ½ foot-long shovelnose was taken recently (and that’s a big one).
July 2010—Gary, at Big Fish Bait & Tackle. 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, reports the pier continues to produce corbina and croakers inshore but the number of halibut has dropped. Good numbers of sharks and rays continue to be seen; leopards and shovelnose to 5-feet have been landed, bat rays to 140 pounds. Good number of mackerel also continue to be caught, probably the reason for the big numbers of sharks.
August 2010—Seal Beach Pier — Gary, at Big Fish Bait & Tackle. 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, reports that Seal Beach sees some corbina and croakers inshore (including good numbers of 2-3 pound spotfins) along with excellent mackerel action out at the end. Halibut action has died. Good numbers of sharays also continue to be taken—bat rays, round stingrays, thornback rays, leopard sharks, and a few California skates.
January 2011— Gary, at Big Fish Bait & Tackle. 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, reports still decent inshore action with spotfin croaker, corbina, and barred surfperch showing up (use ghost shrimp or lug worms). One angler using a California Kastmaster (a special lure from Big Fish B&T) caught three corbina one day in the surf measuring 29-36 inches. While top-water action sees only a few mackerel, needlefish are cruising the pier (and frustrating anglers trying to hook them), and large schools of anchovies have started to show. Some sculpin and small rockfish are available out at the end during the evening hours.
October 2011— Mark at Big Fish Bait & Tackle. 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, says some really nice spotfin croaker are showing up on lug worms and ghost shrimp. Bat ray action and leopard shark fishing is also pretty good while a few halibut join in the fun. Most of the halibut are hitting on Lucky Craft Lures—in metallic sardine, ghost sardine, and anchovy colors/patterns. Out at the end a few guys are still fishing for threshers (with little luck) while a few Humboldt squid continue to make an appearance some nights. Lots of mackerel, jacksmelt, and sardines are available for those seeking the pelagics.
April 2012— Jimmy at Big Fish Bait & Tackle. 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, says the top bite lately has been on mackerel although there continue to be some buttermouth perch taken down by the pilings and a few corbina are starting to show up. There was also a decent halibut bite going on before the recent storms but they seem to have slowed. As for sharks and rays, mainly it’s been a few shovelnose sharks (guitarfish).
June 2012— Bobby at Big Fish Bait & Tackle. 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, says the thresher shark fishing has really picked up for anglers fishing out at the end of the pier. The method: (1) Cast out a 3-6 ounce triangle sinker to hold bottom. (2) Use a sliding “wire” leader with a snap swivel at one end and the hook at the other end. (3) Jig up some mackerel or sardines using a #3 Sabiki bait rig. The leaders with green or red beads are most popular but most regulars in the know then use needlenose pliers to crush the beads, which seems to improve action. (4) Once the live bait is acquired, slide the live “mac” or “dine” down the line and wait for the bite. Inshore, some really nice spotfin croakers have been landed led by Craig Ito’s 6 ½-pound fish; most of the spotties are hitting on ghost shrimp although Ito’s fish hit on a lugworm. On 6/2, early morning anglers using Krocodile lures mid-pier for halibut were surprised when a school of barracuda showed up and they of course love Krocodiles (so heated action for a short time). Most interesting is the story Bobby told about the striped bass. He says to watch the power generators in town and the smoke they are putting out. When in full power mode they are kicking out a lot of smoke AND a lot of warm water. The warm water drives the striped bass away from the plants where they normally hang out sucking up the smelt. One of the places they visit is the water by the pier and in the last couple of weeks a half dozen or so BIG striped bass have been hooked. Unfortunately only one was landed, a 16-pound fish. The lure used was a chartruse-colored Mogambo lure, a 6-inch lure with a 1 ½-ounce leadhead. With the water temperature hitting 65-67 degrees most days the fishing should continue good.
July 2012— Ron at Big Fish Bait & Tackle. 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, says it’s pretty much the normal action with some barred surfperch, spotfin croakers, and corbina showing up inshore on lugworms and fresh mussel. Out at the end it’s a few sharks and rays but nothing spectacular while a few mackerel are also showing mid-pier to the end.
August 2015— Jimmy, at Big Fish B&T, says good numbers of spotfin and yellowfin croakers are showing inshore along with some surfperch while the halibut fishing has slowed. There’s a lot of bait in the water, including sardines, and so good numbers of sharays are also showing, including some really big shovelnose sharks out toward the end. Expect good numbers of mackerel and quite a few barracuda, especially at night. Needlefish are showing up by the jetties so expect some to also show up around the pier.
August 2016— The pier is still closed due to a recent fire. (Closed to Oct).
November 2018 — Jimmy at Big Fish Tackle says anglers inshore continue to pick up some yellowfin croakers on fresh mussels and ghost shrimp while bonito and mackerel action remains fair to good, mid-pier to the end (although the far end is still closed). Most of the bonito are being taken on lures, i.e., Krocodiles. He says there has also been a pretty good bite on kelp bass, which are also hitting lures (plastics like the Shad). Lastly, there’s not much on the bottom; it’s pretty slow on halibut although a few shorts have been taken.
December 2016 — Jimmy, at Big Fish B&T, says a lot of mackerel and jacksmelt are being caught on a variety of gear (Sabikis and bait) while some big spotfin croakers have been showing up near the lifeguard station on the pier (use fresh mussels). Are halibut still around? Yes, but they are mostly small. They’re being taken in the shallows along with a LOT of thornback rays.
March 2017 — Jimmy at Big Fish Tackle says anglers fishing inshore continue to pick up some yellowfin croakers on mussels and ghost shrimp while both herring (queenfish) and mackerel action remains fair to good mid-pier to the end (although the far end is still closed). Even though action on the bottom species remains slow, some halibut have begun to show up.
April 2017 — Jimmy at Big Fish Tackle says fishing has really picked up. Inshore the anglers are getting some barred surfperch (to 14”) along with some yellowfin and spotfin croakers. Anglers using mussels, bloodworms or lug worms, as usual, are having the best success. Mid-pier out to the gate is seeing some mackerel along with a few bass and quite a few halibut (both legal-size and under-sized fish). Sharkers are getting some leopard sharks along with a few thresher sharks out in the deeper waters. Somewhat unusual is the number of barracuda showing up. Anglers are throwing artificial lures at the ‘cuda, a variety of spoons (especially Krocodiles) along with some jerk shad and spinners. All seem to work if the toothy critters are around.
July 2017 — Jimmy at Big Fish Tackle says things have picked up. He says there is a good yellowfin croaker bite inshore (worms and mussels) along with a few spotfin croaker. Mackerel are available almost anywhere in the pier. He said ray and shark action has been somewhat slow with the exception of leopard sharks and apparently there are a lot of the leppies. Water temp is getting into the 70s and that’s good news for the pier.
July 2018— Jimmy, at Big Fish Tackle, 1780 Pacific Coast Hwy., says the fishing’s been good. Big spotfin croaker and smaller yellowfin croaker are biting in the surf area on fresh mussel, lugworms and ghost shrimp, while spotted bay bass have been hitting down by the inshore pilings (the rock wall) on live lugworms and plastics. On the top, mid—pier to the end, a mixture of mackerel, sardines and jacksmelt are hitting on Sabiki bait rigs. Sharkers are getting a few sharks and quite a few bat rays.
September 2018 — Jimmy, at Big Fish Tackle, 1780 Pacific Coast Hwy., says the fishing’s been fair. Inshore it’s corbina, yellowfin croaker and spotfin croaker as well as some bass along the rockwall on the side of the pier. In the top water, mid-pier to the end, anglers are getting a combination of mackerel and sardines. However, it’s been real slow on sharks and rays.
December 2018 — Jimmy, at Big Fish Tackle, 1780 Pacific Coast Hwy., says the weather (Santa Ana winds) has affected fishing but it’s the normal mix of fish: mackerel on top with some yellowfin croaker and an increasing number of surfperch taken on the bottom inshore. Quite a few gray smoothhound sharks and shovelnose sharks (guitarfish) are also being taken.
May 2019 — Jimmy at “Big Fish Bait and Tackle” said there’s a LOT of mackerel at the pier along with some sardines. Inshore, a few yellowfin croaker are hitting along with small leopard sharks but both spotfin croaker and surfperch are slow. Mid-pier is seeing some decent halibut action on both live bait and on lures. He says there are also tons of small bat rays.
November 2019 — Jimmy at “Big Fish Bait and Tackle in Seal Beach” reports both yellowfin and spotfin croaker in the surf area while some short halibut are showing on the bottom in the mid-pier area; expect some mackerel and sardines on top. Sharay seekers continue to pull in some sharks and bat rays, mostly at night.
November 2020 — Jimmy at “Big Fish Bait and Tackle in Seal Beach” reports good fishing for mackerel and bonito out at the end of the pier while good numbers of yellowfin croaker along with a few good-sized spotfin croaker are hitting inshore. Some sharay action—small sharks, some guitarfish, and some bat rays, add to the mix.
April 2021 — Jimmy at Big Fish Bait & Tackle, 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, said things are still somewhat slow but picking up. Anglers are getting some big spotfin croakers inshore, mainly on lug worms, while mid-pier to the end is seeing increasing numbers of mackerel, Quite a few bat rays and gray smoothhounds have also been taken lately (on squid).
July 2021 — Rudy at Big Fish Bait & Tackle, 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, said fishing’s been good lately. Inshore, anglers are picking up some corbina along with some croakers (yellowfin and spotfin) while barred surfperch are hitting during afternoon high tides. Mackerel are hitting mid-pier to the end but mainly in the morning and evening, not too many during the day. Sharkers seeking out the sharks are catching those mackerel and using them for live bait on sliders for thresher sharks at the end. A few halibut are also showing up but most are too small to keep. Fishman Fishman reported a family trip on July 1 that produced bat ray, thornback ray, round stingray, mackerel, smelt, herring, a spider crab and a starfish (sea star). An earlier trip on June 17 produced mackerel, queenfish, salema, smelt, round stingray, and a short halibut. His surprise catch of the day was a 17", about 4 lbs., spotfin croaker caught on a Sabiki rig, while jigging for bait.
August 2021 — Liz at Big Fish Bait & Tackle, 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, said fishing’s been somewhat slow lately, a mix of perch, corbina and croaker, all inshore, while a few mackerel should be out at the end. No reports of halibut. Got a PFIC report on 7/24 from fish-ninja who said, “Fished with a friend during 8am-6pm in the mid pier section mostly. Annual summer camp children swimming around the pier made us busy not to snag big accidental by-catch. There was a capsized boat nearby which was the talk of the day. There were plenty of bait fish but could not find halibut on live baits nor seen anyone else finding one. Some small rays were caught by neighbors on squid. Yellowfin croaker action was constant throughout the day on high-low rig with shrimp or mussel. By-catches on Sabiki rigs were the funniest part of the day for me. Topsmelt, anchovy, and occasional Pacific mackerel were there all day. A school of salema hit the midsection in AM. In PM, a different type of anchovy hit a Sabiki rig. Are these deepbody anchovy (Anchoa Compressa)? Used for halibut bait but they did not stay alive long... [the fish were deepbody anchovy]. Got a PFIC report on 7/8 from fishman fishman who said, “after 40 plus years of pier fishing. Catching and releasing numerous types of rays without incident. It finally happened today at Seal Beach pier. While releasing a small round stingray, I got stung on the outside of my right thumb. The pain lasted for about 3 hours. Numbness, burning, swelling, stinging, throbbing. Pain also traveled to the tip of my index finger. Currently I have no pain, but the sting area feels like a bad burn with numbness. Crazy!”
September 2021 — Liz at Big Fish Bait & Tackle, 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, said fishing’s been somewhat slow lately, pretty much the same mix of perch, corbina and croaker, all inshore, while a few mackerel should be out at the end. No reports of halibut. EgoNonBaptizo made a report on 8/30, I started fishing Seal Beach at 8pm, for even slower action on mussels, catching only one round ray. I moved to the end and got into a wide-open mackerel bite on strips of cut bait behind a glow-stick. I caught something like ~40 fish before I ran back to the car at midnight (yes two hours after closing time).”
February 2022 — Liz at Big Fish Bait & Tackle, 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, said fishing’s been a little slow but fish are being taken. Inshore quite a few barred surfperch are making a showing while both croaker and corbina also showing but in lesser numbers. Nothing much in the top water with the exception of mackerel, which seem to be in decent supply, especially in the morning and at night. A few halibut are showing up but most have been shorts. Ditto some threshers; not fast action but an occasional shark. Same with the bat rays. I asked about bait and she does now have bloodworms and ghost shrimp along with the lugworms and mussels. The shipments usually come in Thursday and sometimes by the end of the weekend they are gone.
April 2022 — Liz at Big Fish Bait & Tackle, 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, said fishing’s been a little slow but fish are being taken. Inshore a few corbina are showing up along with a few croakers but not too many perch. Small rays are around (round stingrays and thornbacks) and she heard of one thresher shark being taken but overall the sharay action is still slow. Apparently a few mackerel are also available but not big numbers. She hadn’t heard of any halibut. PFIC report from Fishman Fishjman: “3/25. Fished this morning at SB pier. Caught and released 10 Thornback rays, 2 Bat rays and 1 short Halibut. Another regular caught a bucket full of Jacksmelt. No Mackerel around. Good times!”
May 2022 — Liz at Big Fish Bait & Tackle, 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, said fishing’s been OK with corbina and croakers showing inshore and mackerel and small sharks showing out at the end. Apparently no red tide. An early in the month report to PFIC from FishmanFishman on 4/5 said, “Pier crowded for a Tuesday. By 6 a.m. front of pier full of fisherman seeking smelt and mackerel. Between 8 - 9 a.m. queenfish moved in and fisherman landing 3, 4 and sometimes more at a time using Sabiki with cut bait. After the run, fisherman left with full buckets. I caught and released 3 thornbacks, 1 bat ray, 1 legal size sand bass. Bass hit live smelt. Overall a nice morning on the pier.”
June 2022 — Liz at Big Fish Bait & Tackle, 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, said fishing’s been fair. Inshore expect some croakers, mainly spotfins, along with some corbina (ghost shrimp or worms). Mid-pier to the end expect some herring (queenfish) under the pier at mid-water depth along with some mackerel in the top waters. Apparently the numbers of sharays is increasing as well as the number of shark fishermen seeking out (mainly) threshers. Got several PFIC reports from Fishman Fishman. On May 3 he said, “Fished the morning and fought through the wind until it passed around 8 a.m. Mackerel and Jacksmelt steady bite. Released a short Calico caught on cut sardine on a Sabiki. Queenfish caught at pier midpoint on Sabiki's. Family catching Walleye surfperch near lifeguard tower on mussel. Haven't seen Walleyes in a long time!
July 2022 — Rada at Big Fish Bait & Tackle, 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, said fishing’s picking up. Inshore expect some yellowfin and spotfin croaker along with some corbina (ghost shrimp or worms for all). Mid-pier to the end expect some herring (queenfish) under the pier at mid-water depth along with some mackerel and, at times, a few sardines in the top waters. As for the sharays, sharks and rays, most of the recent action has been on leopard sharks and bat rays, both good fighters. FishmanFishman gave a report on 6/28, “Fished SB pier this morning. Beautiful day, little to no wind. Fished low and high tides. Steady bite of Pacific Mackerel on various cut baits. Also, hooked three short White Seabass, landed one. Released a short Sand bass and Thornback Ray. Caught Salema and Topsmelt. Another fisherman caught and released a legal-size Sand bass. Queenfish and Walleye Perch caught on Sabiki rigs at midpoint of pier. A starfish enjoyed my anchovy. Left only the head and spine! Overall a good day to be on the pier.” On 6/11, Fishman Fishmane said, “Celebrated my birthday by going pier fishing at Seal Beach today - Saturday June 11th. Had the extra bonus of my wife fishing with me. We had a great day catching a lot of fish. We caught two Bat Rays, two Round Stingrays, two Thornback Rays, two White Seabass (short), several Pacific Mackerel, Salema, Topsmelt and Queenfish. One White Seabass caught on live smelt. The other hit on a Sabiki rig. The Seal Beach PD held a "Cops n Bobbers" fishing derby for kids from 7 - 9 a.m. A lot of Mackerel, Queenfish, Walleye Perch, Yellowfin Croaker and a Spotted Sand bass caught by the kids. It was very enjoyable to see so many children and their parents getting involved and learning how to fish. I had the personal satisfaction of watching a father and son fishing with a Sabiki loaded with too much shrimp. They weren't getting anything. I recommended they reduce the amount of bait on each hook, mix up the hooks baited with squid, anchovy, and shrimp, leaving some hooks bare. Drop to the bottom and slowly work the bait up to the surface. First cast and the kid caught a seven-inch Salema. Father and son ecstatic! For all experienced fisherman, we do what we do so naturally on the pier, and we catch fish. Share your knowledge with a newbie and "our fishing routine goes to another level. Father couldn't thank me enough. On June 4 he reported, “Had some steady action at Seal Beach Thursday morning. Caught a variety of fish - Topsmelt, Queenfish, Pacific and Chub Mackerel, Salema, Round Stingray, Calico Bass (one short, one legal, both released), and White Sea Bass (short). Tossed out Topsmelt and Queenfish as bait, no takers. Calico's and Round ray caught on frozen anchovy. The other fish caught on Sabiki sometimes baited with shrimp, squid or anchovy. Big bait ball cruising around pier appeared to be very small Queenfish. Caught several in the 3 1/2 inch size and used them as bait. Yellowfin croaker bite active with mussel at mid-pier.”