February 2025 Fishing Report, Central California (#299)
San Luis Obispo County Piers
Pismo Beach Pier — No report but some surfperch (barred and walleye) should be available on the bottom and some jacksmelt or sardines on top. 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 has been closed for a decade (since 2015). The pier, managed by the Port San Luis Harbor District, started Stage 1 repairs in 2022 with plans to repair or replace approximately 50 pilings. Work started but was delayed following new damage in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Additional funds were needed and found but the need for more funds in an ongoing problem (the original estimate for total repairs was at least $12 million). Stage 1 repairs were hoped to be finished at the end of 2024 and then repairs to the boat landing, the restrooms, and old bait shop, could commence. The problem here, to a degree is finding the necessary funding. Ongoing local efforts continue to find the money needed to fund “The People’s Pier.” 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 —Debbie at the Patriot Sportfishing says it’s been slow on the 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 and small rockfish should still be available—blackperch, pileperch, and striped perch along with grass, brown, copper, blue and black 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 — No report, need a reporter. Traditionally there should be some decent surfperch action on barred, walleye and possible calico surfperch. Barred and calico surfperch will be found inshore. Walleye surfperch should be caught under the pier, mid-pier to the end, using small hooks or a Sabiki baited with pieces of worms or other bait. White croaker should be on the bottom (cast out from the pier using pieces of worm, anchovy or strips of squid). Jacksmelt should be in the top-waters all along the pier. 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 — No report, need a reporter. 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 the usual mix of perch, small rockfish and an occasional cabezon or 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 — No reports and hard to predict; we need a reporter. The pier is usually very good or very bad. 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 — Gone, removed, demolished, destroyed and no longer there. How To Get There: From Highway 1 take the State Park Drive exit; follow the road west to the park entrance.
Capitola Wharf — This pier reopened in October 2024 following a nearly year-long rebuild following destruction from monster waves in December 2023, waves that basically broke the pier in half and destroyed a large portion of the pier. (Anglers who got onto the pier before the grand opening saw GREAT fishing.) 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 — Unable to contact our reporter but some surfperch should be available inshore to mid-pier, some small white croaker always seem to be around mid-pier, and jacksmelt should be available on top. In addition—I’ve seen many piers damaged and some destroyed by storms. This one was the first where we saw an entire end section detach and begin to float away from the pier itself. And, it was a little amazing to see men and machinery on top of that section as it floated away. In addition to a Santa Cruz Wharf, and the normal Santa Cruz wharf rats (aka pier rats), we now had the Santa Cruz Wharf Raft! The men rode for a period of time before being rescued while the large machinery continued to ride for a period of time before finally sinking into the sea. Wood from the wharf would be scattered a considerable distance away on local beaches (and result in several beach closures). Amazingly the pier was already under repair in response to prior conditions requiring repair. Repairs continue but it will be some time before that end section is replaced. However, the rest of the wharf including the many shops and restaurants along with fishing areas remain open. 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.
Johnson Pier (Pillar Point Harbor) — 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.
Pillar Point Pier (Pillar Point Harbor) — No report. Need a reporter. Traditionally there are small rockfish and perch by the rocks and kingfish (white croaker) available with a cast from the pier. 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 — Unable to get a report from Coastside #2 Bait and Tackle our traditional reporter. Need a reporter. Surfperch should be available inshore and jacksmelt available on top mid-pier. Most of the action though (when the weather cooperates) should continue to be crabbers seeking out Dungeness crab. 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 to the pier.
San Luis Obispo County Piers
Pismo Beach Pier — No report but some surfperch (barred and walleye) should be available on the bottom and some jacksmelt or sardines on top. 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 has been closed for a decade (since 2015). The pier, managed by the Port San Luis Harbor District, started Stage 1 repairs in 2022 with plans to repair or replace approximately 50 pilings. Work started but was delayed following new damage in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Additional funds were needed and found but the need for more funds in an ongoing problem (the original estimate for total repairs was at least $12 million). Stage 1 repairs were hoped to be finished at the end of 2024 and then repairs to the boat landing, the restrooms, and old bait shop, could commence. The problem here, to a degree is finding the necessary funding. Ongoing local efforts continue to find the money needed to fund “The People’s Pier.” 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 —Debbie at the Patriot Sportfishing says it’s been slow on the 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 and small rockfish should still be available—blackperch, pileperch, and striped perch along with grass, brown, copper, blue and black 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 — No report, need a reporter. Traditionally there should be some decent surfperch action on barred, walleye and possible calico surfperch. Barred and calico surfperch will be found inshore. Walleye surfperch should be caught under the pier, mid-pier to the end, using small hooks or a Sabiki baited with pieces of worms or other bait. White croaker should be on the bottom (cast out from the pier using pieces of worm, anchovy or strips of squid). Jacksmelt should be in the top-waters all along the pier. 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 — No report, need a reporter. 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 the usual mix of perch, small rockfish and an occasional cabezon or 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 — No reports and hard to predict; we need a reporter. The pier is usually very good or very bad. 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 — Gone, removed, demolished, destroyed and no longer there. How To Get There: From Highway 1 take the State Park Drive exit; follow the road west to the park entrance.
Capitola Wharf — This pier reopened in October 2024 following a nearly year-long rebuild following destruction from monster waves in December 2023, waves that basically broke the pier in half and destroyed a large portion of the pier. (Anglers who got onto the pier before the grand opening saw GREAT fishing.) 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 — Unable to contact our reporter but some surfperch should be available inshore to mid-pier, some small white croaker always seem to be around mid-pier, and jacksmelt should be available on top. In addition—I’ve seen many piers damaged and some destroyed by storms. This one was the first where we saw an entire end section detach and begin to float away from the pier itself. And, it was a little amazing to see men and machinery on top of that section as it floated away. In addition to a Santa Cruz Wharf, and the normal Santa Cruz wharf rats (aka pier rats), we now had the Santa Cruz Wharf Raft! The men rode for a period of time before being rescued while the large machinery continued to ride for a period of time before finally sinking into the sea. Wood from the wharf would be scattered a considerable distance away on local beaches (and result in several beach closures). Amazingly the pier was already under repair in response to prior conditions requiring repair. Repairs continue but it will be some time before that end section is replaced. However, the rest of the wharf including the many shops and restaurants along with fishing areas remain open. 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.
Johnson Pier (Pillar Point Harbor) — 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.
Pillar Point Pier (Pillar Point Harbor) — No report. Need a reporter. Traditionally there are small rockfish and perch by the rocks and kingfish (white croaker) available with a cast from the pier. 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 — Unable to get a report from Coastside #2 Bait and Tackle our traditional reporter. Need a reporter. Surfperch should be available inshore and jacksmelt available on top mid-pier. Most of the action though (when the weather cooperates) should continue to be crabbers seeking out Dungeness crab. 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 to the pier.