December 2018 Fishing Report, Central California, (#243),

Ken Jones

Administrator
Staff member
#1
Central California December 2018 Fishing Report, CenCal (#243)

San Luis Obispo County Piers

Pismo Beach Pier — The pier is open and apparently kicking out a number of barred surfperch. How To Get There: From the north, take Hwy. 101 to the Five Cities Dr. exit; follow Dolliver into the middle of town, then turn west on Pomeroy and follow it to the pier and parking lot. From the south, take the Pismo Beach Exit (Price St.), follow it to Pomeroy; turn west and follow it to the pier.

Avila Pier – The pier is currently closed. How To Get There: Take Hwy. 101 to Avila Rd. and go west; turn left off of Avila Rd. on to Front St. and follow it to the pier.

San Luis (Harford) Pier — A few surfperch (barred and calico) are showing up inshore, a few seaperch (blacks and rubberlips) out toward the end, and increasing numbers of jacksmelt from inshore to mid-pier. How To Get There: Take Hwy. 101 to the Avila Rd. turnoff and head west; follow the road to the end and the pier.

Morro Bay T-Piers – A variety of perch should be available—blackperch, pileperch, and striped perch along with a few small rockfish. How To Get There: From Highway 1 turn south onto Main Street, follow it to Morro Bay Boulevard, turn left toward the bay and follow it to Embarcadero, turn right and follow Embarcadero to the end of the public parking which adjoins the piers.

Cayucos Pier — There’s been some wind and rain but when clear the barred surfperch should be increasing in numbers. How To Get There: Take Highway 1 to either Ocean Boulevard, which is the main street and will take you past the pier, or take the Cayucos Drive exit which will take you straight to the pier. San Simeon Pier — There’s been some wind and rain but when clear the barred surfperch should be increasing in numbers. How To Get There: Highway 1 to the entrance to the park.

Monterey-Santa Cruz-San Mateo County Piers

Monterey Coast Guard Pier — No report although perch, rockfish and occasional cabezon and lingcod should be available. How To Get There: From Hwy 1 going north: Take the Aguajito Road exit, turn left at the first traffic signal intersection, which is Aguajito Road, and continue under Highway 1 and cross Fremont Street. At the next traffic signal intersection, which is Del Monte Avenue, turn left. Continue down Del Monte Avenue and under the tunnel where the street turns into Lighthouse Avenue. Get into the right-hand lane. As the street veers to the right it turns into Foam Street. Continue on Foam Street to the first right and turn into the parking lot. From Hwy 1 going south: Take the Del Monte Avenue exit, continue down Del Monte Avenue for several blocks and go under the tunnel where the street turns into Lighthouse Avenue. Get into the right-hand lane. As the street veers to the right it turns into Foam Street. Continue on Foam Street to the first right and turn into the parking lot.

Monterey Wharf #2 — One report said no fish were observed. How To Get There: From Highway 1 take the central Monterey exit and follow Del Monte Avenue to Figueroa Street, turn right and follow to the wharf.

Seacliff State Beach Pier — Ed at the Capitola Boat & Bait, said not much is going on at Seacliff. The pier has largely been shut down since the concrete ship turned on its side. A few barred surfperch and calico surfperch should be in the surf area, along with some walleye perch, but action apparently has been pretty dead. How To Get There: How To Get There: From Highway 1 take the State Park Drive exit; follow the road west to the park entrance.

Capitola Wharf — Ed at the Capitola Boat & Bait, on the pier, said most of the action during the day has been on the normal species—kingfish (white croaker), jacksmelt and perch (barred surfperch and calicos in the surf area; blackperch at the end down by the pilings). Nighttime action sees sharks, mainly dogfish sharks and a few leopard sharks, added to the mix. He says the pier is open all night out to mid-pier and the gate. He also said there have been a lot of pinhead-size anchovies hanging around the pier which has increased the action inshore on the barred surfperch (including some slab-size fish) and, with the opening to the creek, some steelhead (to about two pounds in size). He says the barred surfperch are hitting on mussels and shrimp while the steelhead will hit a live anchovy fished under a bobber. How To Get There: From Highway 1 take the Bay Avenue exit west until it hits Capitola Avenue where you turn right; stay on this to Cliff Drive, turn right and park wherever you can find a spot.

Santa Cruz Wharf — Carrera from the Santa Cruz Boat Rental (on the pier) said things are a little slow although she had seen some striped bass caught inshore and a couple of lingcod caught mid-pier. Perch continue to be caught as well as kingfish in the deeper waters. How to get There: Ocean Street south from Highway 1; when you get to Laurel Street turn right and follow it to Pacific Street, turn left and follow Pacific to the wharf.

Pillar Point Pier — No report, need a reporter. How To Get There: From Highway 1 simply take the Pillar Point Harbor turnoff and follow the road down to the main parking lot. This pier is to the far right of the parking lot

Pacifica Pier — Marque at Coastside #2 Bait and Tackle, 1604 Francisco Blvd, said the pier had been closed for several days due to high winds, heavy surf, and fire but it had reopened the morning I called. Anglers were starting to pick up some nice surfperch and the normal mix of kingfish and smaller perch. He said the crabbing had been good when the weather cooperates. How To Get There: Take Highway 1 to Pacifica, take the Paloma Avenue-Francisco Boulevard exit, take Paloma west to Beach Road, turn left and proceed a short way until you see markers indicating the way to Fort Point, turn left on Long Avenue and it will take you down to the pier.
 
#2
RE: Capitola wharf, I wouldn’t suggest ‘targeting’ steelhead in the ocean. When caught (which is rare) they’re usually incidental catches and must be released immediately.