August 2026 Fishing Report, Northern California (#309)
The season for Dungeness crab is now closed. The recreational fishery for Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) was open south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line through June 30, 2026. The fishery was open north of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line through July 30, 2025. Both areas are now closed. The daily bag limit was10 crabs, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches. Both rock and red crabs can continue to be caught.
Given that we lack reporters for these piers, I am relying on past records and making predictions.
Spud Point Marina Pier (Bodega Bay) — The pier should be open and a variety of perch (shiner, kelp, walleye, black, white and striped) should be available on the bottom along with a few jacksmelt in the top-water section. Bat ray and leopard shark action should also be a possibility. How To Get There: Take East Shore Rd. off of Hwy. 1 to Bay Flat Rd. Turn right and follow until the road turns into West Shore Rd. Continue on past the marina until you see the breakwater.
https://www.pierfishing.com/spud-point-pier-bodega-bay/
Point Arena Pier – The usual variety of fish should be available — striped perch, calico surfperch, cabezon, kelp rockfish, ugly buffalo sculpin, and an occasional lingcod. Typically the best bait here has been fresh mussels or market shrimp while lingcod will fall to live bait or lures. How To Get There: From the south, turn left from Hwy. 1 onto Iverson Ave., which will turn into Port Rd. Simply follow the road to the pier. From the north, turn right onto Port Rd. and follow it to the pier.
https://www.pierfishing.com/point-arena-pier/
WARNING — Eureka Piers can see heavy tidal action in and out the bay and at almost every pier listed can see so much eel grass at times that it makes the fishing impossible. All you can do is wait out the tide and try it when it changes.
Del Norte Street Fishing Pier (Eureka) — Expect a lot of small shinerperch and small staghorn sculpin (bullheads) along with some brown and grass rockfish. Occasionally you’ll catch a gnarly looking buffalo sculpin and some summers see a lot of undersized, baby lingcod hanging around the pier. Top water action is usually fairly limited, mainly jacksmelt. Both spiny dogfish and bat rays are available, especially at night. Crabs always seem to be around and can, at times, make it hard to fish the bottom. One of the main problems here is you have to park quite a distance from the pier and last time I was there a homeless encampment was near the parking lot. Lock your car and take valuables with you How To Get There: Take Highway 101 to the south end of Eureka, turn west on Del Norte Street and follow it to the pier.
https://www.pierfishing.com/del-norte-street-pier-eureka/
Commercial Street Dock — A long time favorite of locals although the space has been squeezed a bit over the years. I used to fish on the left end behind the building and had great action but it’s now closed off. Most of the action here is on small fish with very high catches of walleye surfperch, jacksmelt, small brown rockfish and shinerperch. Usually they are just caught on a hi/low setup with number 6 hooks. Additional fish include black. grass, and copper rockfish, kelp greenling, and cabezon. They should be there but I haven’t seen a lingcod landed. The main sharays are dogfish and bat rays. Once again the anchovies can sometimes seem to be everywhere in the water and a small-hook Sabiki can provide all the bait you want for future trips. Crabs always seem to be around and can, at times, make it hard to fish the bottom. How To Get There: Take Hwy. 101 to Commercial Street; turn north toward the bay and follow the street to the pier parking lot.
https://www.pierfishing.com/commercial-st-dock-eureka/
Eureka Boardwalk — Not really a fishing pier (so it requires a license), the waterfront boardwalk is a walkway along the Humboldt Bay that stretches for three blocks. It provides a pleasant place to fish with ample parking and surprisingly good fishing. Fishing the bottom with a typical hi/low rig baited with mussels or shrimp can produce a variety of perch, mainly black, white, and striped seaperch. Unfortunately, using small hooks will also see some shinerperch and staghorn sculpin (bullhead) grab the bait. Switching to top action, the Humboldt Bay waters can see both jacksmelt and Pacific sardine. Some years also sees vast numbers of anchovies in the bay. When present you can easily load up your cooler with some future bait. Unfortunately not too much else seems to hit on the bottom excepting some sharks, mainly dogfish, and bat rays (and some can be huge). An occasional flatfish—California halibut or starry flounder may also show up if using live anchovies (for the halibut) or both anchovies, shrimp or worms for the starries. Once in a while you may also see a skate, mainly big skates. Crabs always seem to be around and can, at times, make it hard to fish the bottom. How to get there: How to get there: Take Highway 101 (north or south) and turn west on F Street towards the bay and the boardwalk.
https://www.pierfishing.com/eureka-boardwalk/
Adorni Pier — This is another spot that is not really a fishing pier (so it requires a license) but a pleasant spot that I’ve fished several time. It has enough room for one, maybe two people, and if you try it you had better keep it clean. Like the Commercial Street Dock it is primarily the home of small fish—shinerperch, staghorn sculpin, and brown rockfish, but I’ve had some excellent action on walleye surfperch, jacksmelt and (quite naturally in this bay during the summer) numerous anchovies (if you decide to catch some). There should be a few flatfish, halibut, soles, starry flounders, on the muddy bottom but they seem few and far between. Crabs always seem to be around and can, at times, make it hard to fish the bottom. How to get there: Take Highway 101 to L Street. Turn west on L Street toward the water and follow it down to Waterfront Drive. When you get to Waterfront Drive turn left and follow the street to just past the Adorni Center. The pier is at the western corner of the center.
https://www.pierfishing.com/adorni-pier-eureka/
Trinidad Pier — An absolutely beautiful setting that can make up, at least in part, for sometimes slow fishing. Unfortunately due to its private status a fishing license is required. Most action is on the bottom and typically I have used a hi/lo rig with size 4 hooks and a one-ounce sinker fished under the pier or by adjacent rocks. Care must be taken because the bottom is basically one rock after another and your best bet is to hold your rod and try to keep the line from getting hung up on a rock. Typical action centers on kelp greenling (#1 here), black rockfish (#2), striped seaperch (#3), rock greenling (#4) and cabezon (#5). All will hit on pieces of market shrimp or (if you bring some) seaworms. A variety of rockfish can also be caught—black and yellow rockfish, blue rockfish, and surprisingly widow rockfish. Casting away from the pier on the left side sees a sandy bottom and there I have caught several white seaperch as well as sand sole and speckled sanddab. Fishing near the ramp down to rental boats can yield small shinerperch and they are a top live bait if you want to try for lingcod of which many are caught here on live bait and lures. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Trinidad exit and follow the road all the way to the harbor-it will change from Main Street to Trinity to Edwards Street. (A license is required from this pier.
https://www.pierfishing.com/trinidad-pier/
Citizens Dock (Crescent City) — The pier is now restricted so anglers can only fish on the rocks leading to the pier and the parking area fronting the bay. Nevertheless, I have had some simply amazing action here. The rocks by the pier entrance can yield an amazing number of fish. My own list includes — (#1) copper rockfish, (#2) kelp greenling, (#3) cabezon, (#4) blue rockfish, (#5) brown rockfish, (#6) lingcod., (#7) black and yellow rockfish. Additional rockfish have included grass rockfish, gopher rockfish, orange rockfish (juvenile), bocaccio (juvenile), and a closely related brown Irishlord. In addition, several types of sculpin have been caught. Although I rarely fish the top waters, I will do so occasionally with a Sabiki and here you simply cast into the waters between the shore and pier (essentially a small bay). Fish have included Pacific sardine, Pacific herring, Pacific mackerel (in a warm water year), and Northern anchovy (that again seem to cover the water some summer and fall months). All in all I have caught 27 different species so it’s just a matter of trying your luck both on the top and bottom. Luckily you do not have to worry as much about the crabs at this spot. How To Get There: From Highway 101 turn west on Citizens Dock Road and follow it to the dock.
https://www.pierfishing.com/citizens-dock/
“B” Street Pier aka Michael J. Scavuzzo Pier (Crescent City) — Unfortunately what is one of the most beautiful settings in the state for a pier does not see a matching quality of fish. At times the bottom seems covered with crabs, both Dungeness and rock crabs, and it can actually be hard to fish for fish— kelp greenling, black rockfish (usually small), starry flounder, and too many shinerperch. Often in frustration I will simply switch to top water action and that usually means a Sabiki. It can be a good pier for both jacksmelt and topsmelt and too many king salmon smolt (although one day I caught a decent-sized but illegal silver salmon). In years past some large halibut were caught from the pier but luck had to be involved and some years can see jack mackerel enter the bay and by the time they do they are usually good-sized fish much larger than those seen in SoCal. But it’s unrivaled scenery. How To Get There: Take Highway 101 to Front Street, go west on Front Street to B Street, then go south (left) on B Street to the pier.
https://www.pierfishing.com/b-street-pier-aka-michael-j-scavuzzo-pier-crescent-city/
The season for Dungeness crab is now closed. The recreational fishery for Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) was open south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line through June 30, 2026. The fishery was open north of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line through July 30, 2025. Both areas are now closed. The daily bag limit was10 crabs, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches. Both rock and red crabs can continue to be caught.
Given that we lack reporters for these piers, I am relying on past records and making predictions.
Spud Point Marina Pier (Bodega Bay) — The pier should be open and a variety of perch (shiner, kelp, walleye, black, white and striped) should be available on the bottom along with a few jacksmelt in the top-water section. Bat ray and leopard shark action should also be a possibility. How To Get There: Take East Shore Rd. off of Hwy. 1 to Bay Flat Rd. Turn right and follow until the road turns into West Shore Rd. Continue on past the marina until you see the breakwater.
https://www.pierfishing.com/spud-point-pier-bodega-bay/
Point Arena Pier – The usual variety of fish should be available — striped perch, calico surfperch, cabezon, kelp rockfish, ugly buffalo sculpin, and an occasional lingcod. Typically the best bait here has been fresh mussels or market shrimp while lingcod will fall to live bait or lures. How To Get There: From the south, turn left from Hwy. 1 onto Iverson Ave., which will turn into Port Rd. Simply follow the road to the pier. From the north, turn right onto Port Rd. and follow it to the pier.
https://www.pierfishing.com/point-arena-pier/
WARNING — Eureka Piers can see heavy tidal action in and out the bay and at almost every pier listed can see so much eel grass at times that it makes the fishing impossible. All you can do is wait out the tide and try it when it changes.
Del Norte Street Fishing Pier (Eureka) — Expect a lot of small shinerperch and small staghorn sculpin (bullheads) along with some brown and grass rockfish. Occasionally you’ll catch a gnarly looking buffalo sculpin and some summers see a lot of undersized, baby lingcod hanging around the pier. Top water action is usually fairly limited, mainly jacksmelt. Both spiny dogfish and bat rays are available, especially at night. Crabs always seem to be around and can, at times, make it hard to fish the bottom. One of the main problems here is you have to park quite a distance from the pier and last time I was there a homeless encampment was near the parking lot. Lock your car and take valuables with you How To Get There: Take Highway 101 to the south end of Eureka, turn west on Del Norte Street and follow it to the pier.
https://www.pierfishing.com/del-norte-street-pier-eureka/
Commercial Street Dock — A long time favorite of locals although the space has been squeezed a bit over the years. I used to fish on the left end behind the building and had great action but it’s now closed off. Most of the action here is on small fish with very high catches of walleye surfperch, jacksmelt, small brown rockfish and shinerperch. Usually they are just caught on a hi/low setup with number 6 hooks. Additional fish include black. grass, and copper rockfish, kelp greenling, and cabezon. They should be there but I haven’t seen a lingcod landed. The main sharays are dogfish and bat rays. Once again the anchovies can sometimes seem to be everywhere in the water and a small-hook Sabiki can provide all the bait you want for future trips. Crabs always seem to be around and can, at times, make it hard to fish the bottom. How To Get There: Take Hwy. 101 to Commercial Street; turn north toward the bay and follow the street to the pier parking lot.
https://www.pierfishing.com/commercial-st-dock-eureka/
Eureka Boardwalk — Not really a fishing pier (so it requires a license), the waterfront boardwalk is a walkway along the Humboldt Bay that stretches for three blocks. It provides a pleasant place to fish with ample parking and surprisingly good fishing. Fishing the bottom with a typical hi/low rig baited with mussels or shrimp can produce a variety of perch, mainly black, white, and striped seaperch. Unfortunately, using small hooks will also see some shinerperch and staghorn sculpin (bullhead) grab the bait. Switching to top action, the Humboldt Bay waters can see both jacksmelt and Pacific sardine. Some years also sees vast numbers of anchovies in the bay. When present you can easily load up your cooler with some future bait. Unfortunately not too much else seems to hit on the bottom excepting some sharks, mainly dogfish, and bat rays (and some can be huge). An occasional flatfish—California halibut or starry flounder may also show up if using live anchovies (for the halibut) or both anchovies, shrimp or worms for the starries. Once in a while you may also see a skate, mainly big skates. Crabs always seem to be around and can, at times, make it hard to fish the bottom. How to get there: How to get there: Take Highway 101 (north or south) and turn west on F Street towards the bay and the boardwalk.
https://www.pierfishing.com/eureka-boardwalk/
Adorni Pier — This is another spot that is not really a fishing pier (so it requires a license) but a pleasant spot that I’ve fished several time. It has enough room for one, maybe two people, and if you try it you had better keep it clean. Like the Commercial Street Dock it is primarily the home of small fish—shinerperch, staghorn sculpin, and brown rockfish, but I’ve had some excellent action on walleye surfperch, jacksmelt and (quite naturally in this bay during the summer) numerous anchovies (if you decide to catch some). There should be a few flatfish, halibut, soles, starry flounders, on the muddy bottom but they seem few and far between. Crabs always seem to be around and can, at times, make it hard to fish the bottom. How to get there: Take Highway 101 to L Street. Turn west on L Street toward the water and follow it down to Waterfront Drive. When you get to Waterfront Drive turn left and follow the street to just past the Adorni Center. The pier is at the western corner of the center.
https://www.pierfishing.com/adorni-pier-eureka/
Trinidad Pier — An absolutely beautiful setting that can make up, at least in part, for sometimes slow fishing. Unfortunately due to its private status a fishing license is required. Most action is on the bottom and typically I have used a hi/lo rig with size 4 hooks and a one-ounce sinker fished under the pier or by adjacent rocks. Care must be taken because the bottom is basically one rock after another and your best bet is to hold your rod and try to keep the line from getting hung up on a rock. Typical action centers on kelp greenling (#1 here), black rockfish (#2), striped seaperch (#3), rock greenling (#4) and cabezon (#5). All will hit on pieces of market shrimp or (if you bring some) seaworms. A variety of rockfish can also be caught—black and yellow rockfish, blue rockfish, and surprisingly widow rockfish. Casting away from the pier on the left side sees a sandy bottom and there I have caught several white seaperch as well as sand sole and speckled sanddab. Fishing near the ramp down to rental boats can yield small shinerperch and they are a top live bait if you want to try for lingcod of which many are caught here on live bait and lures. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Trinidad exit and follow the road all the way to the harbor-it will change from Main Street to Trinity to Edwards Street. (A license is required from this pier.
https://www.pierfishing.com/trinidad-pier/
Citizens Dock (Crescent City) — The pier is now restricted so anglers can only fish on the rocks leading to the pier and the parking area fronting the bay. Nevertheless, I have had some simply amazing action here. The rocks by the pier entrance can yield an amazing number of fish. My own list includes — (#1) copper rockfish, (#2) kelp greenling, (#3) cabezon, (#4) blue rockfish, (#5) brown rockfish, (#6) lingcod., (#7) black and yellow rockfish. Additional rockfish have included grass rockfish, gopher rockfish, orange rockfish (juvenile), bocaccio (juvenile), and a closely related brown Irishlord. In addition, several types of sculpin have been caught. Although I rarely fish the top waters, I will do so occasionally with a Sabiki and here you simply cast into the waters between the shore and pier (essentially a small bay). Fish have included Pacific sardine, Pacific herring, Pacific mackerel (in a warm water year), and Northern anchovy (that again seem to cover the water some summer and fall months). All in all I have caught 27 different species so it’s just a matter of trying your luck both on the top and bottom. Luckily you do not have to worry as much about the crabs at this spot. How To Get There: From Highway 101 turn west on Citizens Dock Road and follow it to the dock.
https://www.pierfishing.com/citizens-dock/
“B” Street Pier aka Michael J. Scavuzzo Pier (Crescent City) — Unfortunately what is one of the most beautiful settings in the state for a pier does not see a matching quality of fish. At times the bottom seems covered with crabs, both Dungeness and rock crabs, and it can actually be hard to fish for fish— kelp greenling, black rockfish (usually small), starry flounder, and too many shinerperch. Often in frustration I will simply switch to top water action and that usually means a Sabiki. It can be a good pier for both jacksmelt and topsmelt and too many king salmon smolt (although one day I caught a decent-sized but illegal silver salmon). In years past some large halibut were caught from the pier but luck had to be involved and some years can see jack mackerel enter the bay and by the time they do they are usually good-sized fish much larger than those seen in SoCal. But it’s unrivaled scenery. How To Get There: Take Highway 101 to Front Street, go west on Front Street to B Street, then go south (left) on B Street to the pier.
https://www.pierfishing.com/b-street-pier-aka-michael-j-scavuzzo-pier-crescent-city/