Good "introductory pier"?

[HookedUp!]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning on hosting a pier fishing social with one of my clubs. There would be about 5-24 people in attendance, with only about 3 (myself included) with fishing experience. I'm hoping to host it at a pier to save on costs and licensing.

I'm just not sure which pier to host it at. I can host it anywhere from San Clemente to Redondo Beach. I'm trying to find one with a balance of consistent fishing, decent parking, and protection from the wind. I've fished at most of these piers except Redondo. Here is what I am thinking:
-San Clemente - Convenient access with public transport (Amtrak/Metrolink station); Far for most attendees
-Dana Point - Great parking; Dependent on incoming tides
-M Street Dock - Have not fished; No input
-Balboa - Great fishing, has Ruby's, close to everyone; Bad parking, crowded with both anglers and visitors
-Newport - Great fishing, has Seaside Bakery (which lots of people from this club like), close to everyone; Same issues as Balboa
-Huntington - Buildings provide protection from wind; Rowdy crowd, bad parking, slippery rails
-Seal Beach - Great parking, El Burrito Jr. for food; No protection from wind
-Belmont - Convenient access with public transport (Aqualink); Pier is a mess
-Shoreline Park - Cozy spot, easy access to Pierpoint Landing for snacks; Dependent on incoming tides
-J Street - Have not fished; No input
-Cabrillo - Scenic drive, Good parking; Dependent on incoming tides
-Cabrillo Mole - Great fishing; Ferry gets pricey
-Green Pleasure - Great fishing; Ferry gets pricey, pier is cluttered
-Redondo - Have not fished; No input

I just wanted to get your thoughts on this, and what you think would be an appropriate pier to invite everyone to. I also wonder if you think any of my judgements about the piers I mentioned above are consistent with your experience or misplaced. I am hoping the social turns out well, and I am looking forward to hearing your feedback.

I also wanted to ask if anglers need a license to catch crabs off of a pier. I am planning on bringing a couple of nets for crabs (NOT lobster), and want to have some of the guests pull up the net. Is this legal if they don't have a fishing license?

 

[TheFrood]

I think most of the piers are going to have the same issues as Balboa and Newport... at least the
ones large enough for 24 people to get together.

Dana Point would actually be one of my first choices but it's really small for 24 people plus locals
that come... But if not everyone is going to fish then there are excellent facilities for a get together at
Dana Point, especially near the baby beach. I'd only consider this pier if you were going to do this
during the week rather than the weekend. That will alleviate a lot of parking anxiety as well as
hopefully let you have the run of the pier.

If you are willing to do beach fishing instead of pier fishing then Doheny Beach has some of the best
facilities I've seen. Be sure to reserve one of the spots though. Not sure on the cost but don't think it's
that much. People use them for birthdays and such so it can't be too costly. Plan on doing this on a
free fishing day instead of trying to use a pier if you want everyone to be able to fish here...

Redondo would be a good choice but you will not be able to fit everybody on the mackerel corner.
It's usually pretty crowded. Of all the piers listed it also has the most amenities for non-fishers... Food,
shopping, lots of eateries in walking distance, etc. It's also one of the most spacious piers for a group
your size and a significant size parking structure is right there at the base of the pier and shopping
district. I think fishing is only allowed on the southern portion of this pier, but even then most seem
to group up heavily in the sw corner targeting macs. Once again, a weekday is likely the best option.

One thing you can consider is hosting this on July 4 or September 5 if it's a licensing issue... Those
are the free fishing days so you don't need a license statewide. If you are going to do Doheny on one
of those days then you need to try to book your pavilion asap.
https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing/Free-Fishing-Days

And you can fish for crab off of a pier without a license (with a net, no snares in so. cal). I believe
this applies to lobster as well, but you still have to follow all other regulations (report card in the
case of lobster) and can't fish for species out of season even on piers or free-fishing days.

 

[Ken Jones]

From Pier Fishing In California Facebook Page —

Raul Sarmiento
I’ve fished most of the the OC and LB piers, I find Redondo Pier to be the most consistent in catching. Lots of people to help newbies, restaurants and bathrooms right in the pier and 3-levels of parking at $2/hr.

Jojo Kaiapu Kaneoka
Redondo gets pretty packed and parking is pretty expensive

 

[Ken Jones]

Although Catalina might be more fun it's very expensive and would require additional planning. It can also fill up on the weekend.

I would probably suggest (1) San Clemente and (2) Seal Beach.

 

[moonshine]

I like Dana Point, if like you said, the tide is right.

 

[HookedUp!]

I think most of the piers are going to have the same issues as Balboa and Newport... at least the
ones large enough for 24 people to get together.

Dana Point would actually be one of my first choices but it's really small for 24 people plus locals
that come... But if not everyone is going to fish then there are excellent facilities for a get together at
Dana Point, especially near the baby beach. I'd only consider this pier if you were going to do this
during the week rather than the weekend. That will alleviate a lot of parking anxiety as well as
hopefully let you have the run of the pier.

If you are willing to do beach fishing instead of pier fishing then Doheny Beach has some of the best
facilities I've seen. Be sure to reserve one of the spots though. Not sure on the cost but don't think it's
that much. People use them for birthdays and such so it can't be too costly. Plan on doing this on a
free fishing day instead of trying to use a pier if you want everyone to be able to fish here...

Redondo would be a good choice but you will not be able to fit everybody on the mackerel corner.
It's usually pretty crowded. Of all the piers listed it also has the most amenities for non-fishers... Food,
shopping, lots of eateries in walking distance, etc. It's also one of the most spacious piers for a group
your size and a significant size parking structure is right there at the base of the pier and shopping
district. I think fishing is only allowed on the southern portion of this pier, but even then most seem
to group up heavily in the sw corner targeting macs. Once again, a weekday is likely the best option.

One thing you can consider is hosting this on July 4 or September 5 if it's a licensing issue... Those
are the free fishing days so you don't need a license statewide. If you are going to do Doheny on one
of those days then you need to try to book your pavilion asap.
https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing/Free-Fishing-Days

And you can fish for crab off of a pier without a license (with a net, no snares in so. cal). I believe
this applies to lobster as well, but you still have to follow all other regulations (report card in the
case of lobster) and can't fish for species out of season even on piers or free-fishing days.

I think most of the piers are going to have the same issues as Balboa and Newport... at least the
ones large enough for 24 people to get together.

Dana Point would actually be one of my first choices but it's really small for 24 people plus locals
that come... But if not everyone is going to fish then there are excellent facilities for a get together at
Dana Point, especially near the baby beach. I'd only consider this pier if you were going to do this
during the week rather than the weekend. That will alleviate a lot of parking anxiety as well as
hopefully let you have the run of the pier.

If you are willing to do beach fishing instead of pier fishing then Doheny Beach has some of the best
facilities I've seen. Be sure to reserve one of the spots though. Not sure on the cost but don't think it's
that much. People use them for birthdays and such so it can't be too costly. Plan on doing this on a
free fishing day instead of trying to use a pier if you want everyone to be able to fish here...

Redondo would be a good choice but you will not be able to fit everybody on the mackerel corner.
It's usually pretty crowded. Of all the piers listed it also has the most amenities for non-fishers... Food,
shopping, lots of eateries in walking distance, etc. It's also one of the most spacious piers for a group
your size and a significant size parking structure is right there at the base of the pier and shopping
district. I think fishing is only allowed on the southern portion of this pier, but even then most seem
to group up heavily in the sw corner targeting macs. Once again, a weekday is likely the best option.

One thing you can consider is hosting this on July 4 or September 5 if it's a licensing issue... Those
are the free fishing days so you don't need a license statewide. If you are going to do Doheny on one
of those days then you need to try to book your pavilion asap.
https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing/Free-Fishing-Days

And you can fish for crab off of a pier without a license (with a net, no snares in so. cal). I believe
this applies to lobster as well, but you still have to follow all other regulations (report card in the
case of lobster) and can't fish for species out of season even on piers or free-fishing days.

I appreciate the feedback. I am hoping to do the event on a weekday, and I have had some excellent days fishing at Dana Point. I would like to take them there. I especially like the lobsters at Dana Point Pier. Even though they're out of season, I feel like the people I am bringing would have lots of fun if we do catch one. I have never fished at Doheny Beach, and going there sounds like a good idea. I'm hoping everyone is available on a free fishing day.

I also haven't fished Redondo. It would be an experience to head up there, and I would like to try fishing it before I host the event.

 

[HookedUp!]

From Pier Fishing In California Facebook Page —

Raul Sarmiento
I’ve fished most of the the OC and LB piers, I find Redondo Pier to be the most consistent in catching. Lots of people to help newbies, restaurants and bathrooms right in the pier and 3-levels of parking at $2/hr.

Jojo Kaiapu Kaneoka
Redondo gets pretty packed and parking is pretty expensive

I saw the replies on Facebook. Thank you for reposting. I'm not sure why, but I'm not able to respond to the comments on Facebook.

 

[TheFrood]

I appreciate the feedback. I am hoping to do the event on a weekday, and I have had some excellent days fishing at Dana Point. I would like to take them there. I especially like the lobsters at Dana Point Pier. Even though they're out of season, I feel like the people I am bringing would have lots of fun if we do catch one. I have never fished at Doheny Beach, and going there sounds like a good idea. I'm hoping everyone is available on a free fishing day.

I also haven't fished Redondo. It would be an experience to head up there, and I would like to try fishing it before I host the event.

I just got back from Redondo... Took my mom there and ate at Quality Sea Food (touristy, this is not a recommendation) for Mothers day.
If you want new fishers to catch fish then setting them up with some sabikis at Redondo would be the way to go I think. Even just walking
down the pier we say 2-3 people reeling in some Macs. I was able to park for 3 hours for $7 in the parking structure. Paid using an app so
didn't have to even mess around at the kiosk.

If there are going to be families and BBQ, etc, then Dana Point pier and have some people hanging out at the Baby Beach would be a better
choice (even if the fishing isn't likely to be as great). I will say that pile worms seem to be the go-to bait for the Dana Point pier.

At Doheny I've only fished way down away from the surf/swim beach (towards the end where you can park right in front of the bbq pits/picnic
tables). You will have a walk out the the little jetty from the beach with the really nice group facilities.