California Pier Report — January 2020 (254) — Northern California Piers
Lawson's Landing — The pier is currently closed. How To Get There: Take Highway 1 to the middle of the town of Tomales. Turn west onto the road that goes to Dillon Beach. At Dillon Beach you will see a road marked Lawson's Landing; simply follow it down to the entrance, pay your money, and stay on the road to its end at the foot of the pier.
Spud Point Marina Pier (Bodega Bay) — The pier is open and a variety of perch should be available on the bottom along with a few jacksmelt in the top-water section. 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.
Point Arena Pier – The usual variety of fish should be available — striped perch, cabezon, kelp rockfish, buffalo sculpin, and an occasional lingcod. Watch the weather since it can be windy, cold and very wet. 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.
Del Norte Street Fishing Pier (Eureka) — It sounds like the homeless encampment near the parking lot has been cleared up to an extent which should make it safer to park cars in the parking lot. As for the fishing, expect a few perch and small rockfish along with an occasional jacksmelt. 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.
Trinidad Pier — Typically a few perch (primarily striped seaperch), greenlings, small rockfish and cabezon are available but watch the weather conditions. Stormy weather can make the water here very hard if not impossible to fish. 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.
Citizens Dock (Crescent City) — Most of the fishing is around the inshore rocks where a variety of small rockfish, cabezon and an occasional seaperch are almost always available. At times, jacksmelt are also available on Sabikis; simply cast out into the harbor waters. Herring may also begin to show up in the bay this month and if so a Sabiki should be able to catch a few. Most herring though are usually caught over by the Coast Guard Island (where you will need a license). How To Get There: From Highway 101 turn west on Citizens Dock Road and follow it to the dock.
“B” Street Pier (Crescent City) — Not too many fish. The best shot is to try on the top with a Sabiki for jacksmelt. Herring may also begin to show up in the bay this month and if so a Sabiki should be able to catch a few. How To Get There: Take Highway 101 to Front Street, go west on Front Street to B Street, go south (left) on B Street to the pier.
Lawson's Landing — The pier is currently closed. How To Get There: Take Highway 1 to the middle of the town of Tomales. Turn west onto the road that goes to Dillon Beach. At Dillon Beach you will see a road marked Lawson's Landing; simply follow it down to the entrance, pay your money, and stay on the road to its end at the foot of the pier.
Spud Point Marina Pier (Bodega Bay) — The pier is open and a variety of perch should be available on the bottom along with a few jacksmelt in the top-water section. 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.
Point Arena Pier – The usual variety of fish should be available — striped perch, cabezon, kelp rockfish, buffalo sculpin, and an occasional lingcod. Watch the weather since it can be windy, cold and very wet. 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.
Del Norte Street Fishing Pier (Eureka) — It sounds like the homeless encampment near the parking lot has been cleared up to an extent which should make it safer to park cars in the parking lot. As for the fishing, expect a few perch and small rockfish along with an occasional jacksmelt. 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.
Trinidad Pier — Typically a few perch (primarily striped seaperch), greenlings, small rockfish and cabezon are available but watch the weather conditions. Stormy weather can make the water here very hard if not impossible to fish. 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.
Citizens Dock (Crescent City) — Most of the fishing is around the inshore rocks where a variety of small rockfish, cabezon and an occasional seaperch are almost always available. At times, jacksmelt are also available on Sabikis; simply cast out into the harbor waters. Herring may also begin to show up in the bay this month and if so a Sabiki should be able to catch a few. Most herring though are usually caught over by the Coast Guard Island (where you will need a license). How To Get There: From Highway 101 turn west on Citizens Dock Road and follow it to the dock.
“B” Street Pier (Crescent City) — Not too many fish. The best shot is to try on the top with a Sabiki for jacksmelt. Herring may also begin to show up in the bay this month and if so a Sabiki should be able to catch a few. How To Get There: Take Highway 101 to Front Street, go west on Front Street to B Street, go south (left) on B Street to the pier.