Southern California —January 2020 Fishing Report, SoCal (#254)
Remember — Lobster season is now open. Follow all regulations and make sure you have a lobster card in possession.
San Diego County Piers
Imperial Beach Pier – Waiting for a report. How To Get There: From I-5 take the Palm Ave. (Hwy. 75) exit and follow it to where Palm Ave. and Hwy. 75 divide. Follow Palm Ave. to Seacoast Dr., turn left and it will take you right to the pier.
Ocean Beach Pier — Antonio at the Ocean Beach Pier Bait Shop & Café, on the pier said action is slow with mackerel providing most of the action with anchovies and sardines also available. Not much is showing on the bottom; it’s even slow on sharks and rays. Ditto the lobsters. How To Get There: From the north, take I-5 to the Sea World Dr. exit and follow it until it turns off to Sunset Cliffs Blvd. From the south, take I- 5 to the Nimitz Blvd. exit, then follow that road to Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Follow Sunset Cliffs Blvd. to Newport Ave., turn right and follow the road to the pier parking lot.
Crystal Pier – Hunter at the Crystal Pier Bay & Tackle said action has been slow. Most of the catch has been on mackerel and other top-water species with not much showing on the bottom (although quite a few bat rays have been seen swimming around). People are pulling up lobsters, mainly at night. How To get There: Take I-5 to Garnet Ave. then take Garnet west to the foot of the pier.
Pepper Park Pier — No report. We need a reporter! How To Get There: From I-5 take the 24th Street off-ramp west to Tidelands Avenue and go left (south) on Tidelands to the end.
Bayside Park Pier — No report. We need a reporter. How To Get There: From I-5 take the J Street off ramp and go west. Take J Street to Tidelands Ave., turn right. Take Tidelands to Sandpiper Way, turn right. Take Sandpiper to Bayside Parkway, turn left and follow the road to the park.
Embarcadero Marina Pier — No report although jacksmelt, mackerel and bass (kelp, sand and spotted) should be available. How To Get There: From the I-5 south, take the Front Street exit south to Market (just stay on Front Street, it runs into Market), take Market west to Harbor Dr. Turn left on Harbor Dr. and take it to 8th Ave., turn right onto Convention Way (formerly Harbor St.). Follow it a short block to 5th Ave. and the pier. It seems that with the new Convention Center the city is constantly working on these streets near the pier and renaming them; if you get confused remember that the park and pier are immediately to the southwest of the Convention Center. From I-5 North, approaching from the south, take the J Street exit, then go straight, three blocks up to Market, turn left and take it from there.
Ferry Landing Pier (Coronado) — Need a reporter although bass (a variety) always seem to be around as well as a mix of sharays (mostly round stingrays). How To Get There: From San Diego, take the Coronado Bay Bridge (Highway 75) to Coronado. Once over the bridge you are on Third Street. Simply follow it to B Avenue, turn right, and follow it to the front of The Old Ferry Landing — the intersection of First Street and B Avenue. The pier sits behind the shops in the complex.
Shelter Island Pier — Javier, at Angler’s Choice, 1910 Rosecrans St., said the only reports he’s heard is of mackerel at the pier. He said there should be some sharks available at night using the mackerel for bait but hasn’t heard any reports of them. How To Get There: Take I-5 or I-8 to Rosecrans (Hwy. 209) and go west, turn left at Shelter Island Dr. and follow the road until you see the pier and the entrance to the parking lot.
Oceanside Pier — Ed at the Oceanside Pier Bait and Tackle shop on the pier, said most of the action has been on sardines although a few mackerel (small) and jacksmelt are also available. Everything is small as in small sargo, small opaleye, small salema and even small perch. One thresher was hooked and it too was just a baby about five feet long. At least the weather has been decent. How To Get There: From I-5 take the Harbor Dr. exit off the freeway, follow it and it will wind down to the harbor; where the road splits stay to the right on North Harbor Dr., and follow it to the pier.
Oceanside Harbor Pier —Awaiting the report. How To Get There: From I-5 take the Harbor Dr. exit off the freeway, follow it and it will wind down to the harbor; where the road splits stay to the right on North Harbor Dr., and follow it to the pier.
Orange County Piers
San Clemente Pier — Josh at Hogan's Bait And Tackle (34320 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point) said the action still remains fairly decent if you want perch or croaker. Anglers fishing inshore are getting perch while inshore to mid-pier is yielding up some yellowfin croaker. Mix in a few bass in the mid-pier to the end of the pier. Best baits remain fresh mussels and lugworms. Pretty much everything else has slowed including the mackerel and sharays. He said surf anglers continue to pick up perch, croaker, a few small halibut, and an occasional corvina (not corbina). How to Get There: From I-5 take any of several exit streets west to El Camino Real, follow it to the center of town, and from there take Del Mar down to the pier.
Dana Harbor Pier — Josh at Hogan's Bait And Tackle (34320 Pacific Coast Hwy, said things have slowed in the harbor although anglers are still picking up some small spotted bay bass and sand bass. Anglers are using frozen anchovies for bait or drop shooting small plastics for the bass. How To Get There: The pier is located in the Dana Cove Park area of Dana Point Harbor. From the Pacific Coast Highway take Green Lantern Road south to the harbor, turn left on Cove Road, and follow it to the pier.
Balboa Pier — Our reporter Snookie said “this month hasn't been great, but at least we had lots of bait. I know of one nice halibut caught by a friend. It was about 27 inches, and he had to jump off of the pier into the sand and retrieve it. His net wasn't with them that day. We have also caught some small leopard sharks about 24 inches long. The jacksmelt are still going their thing, but they are on the small side. There are some mackerel. Should be seeing some whales soon. That will keep us entertained. How To Get There: From the Pacific Coast Highway take Newport Blvd. which will turn into Balboa Blvd., follow it west to Palm Street. Turn right and follow it to the pier and the adjacent parking lot.
Newport Pier — Generally the action mirrors, for the most part, that seen at Balboa. How To Get There: From the Pacific Coast Highway take the Newport Blvd. turnoff and proceed west watching for signs directing traffic to the pier. The pier sits at the foot of McFadden Place.
Huntington Beach Pier — Michael at Let's Go Fishing (on the pier) reports big numbers of white seabass are being caught, primarily on live bait (sardines) but also on cut bait. Many are illegal size although that isn’t keeping people from keeping them. He said he saw one family take home 12-15 under-sized bass. Some though are legal-size with several fish in the 38-39 inch range. Most of the fish are showing up mid-pier right around the bait store. Inshore, spotfin croakers are making an appearance. He says he can hardly keep lugworms in stock because so many people are buying them for the spotfin. Other than the white seabass and spotfin, most of the action has been on mackerel and HUGE jacksmelt. Not much on the bottom excepting a few bat rays and an occasional halibut. The bait shop is still fighting the city over a new lease. A PFIC report by EgoNonBaptizo did not mention any white seabass although he caught fish —“I started off fishing a Sabiki rig with a float with mackerel chunks, and caught a couple jacksmelt before and a little after the sun came up. I also got a baby bat ray and two large thornback guitarfish on the bottom hooks of the Sabiki. There was a lot of baitfish in the water, mostly small-medium sardines, and I enjoyed pretty constant action. I put one out on a sliding bait rig, but got no love. Later in the day, around 10-11 am, some mackerel began to show up, some on the Sabiki, and some more on the Coltsniper. I ended the day at 11 with 5 large jacksmelt, 15 mackerel, and ~50 sardines.” How To Get There: Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) to Huntington Beach and the pier.
Seal Beach Pier —Jimmy at “Big Fish Bait and Tackle in Seal Beach” reports both yellowfin and spotfin croaker in the inshore area with jacksmelt and mackerel mid-pier to the end. He’s says it’s slowed but a few halibut and bass are also showing up. How To Get There: From the Pacific Coast Highway simply take Main St. west and follow it to the pier.
Los Angeles County Piers
Belmont Pier — Jimmy at “Big Fish Bait and Tackle in Seal Beach” reports some mackerel mid-pier to the end along with some buttermouth perch (blackperch) showing around the pilings at the end. Mix in a few halibut and some jacksmelt and that’s about it. How To Get There: From the north take I-405 to the Lakewood Boulevard turnoff, and then go south to 7th Street, turn west (right) until you come to Ximeno Ave. and then turn left. Follow it to Livingston Dr. and go west. You will see signs by Ocean Ave. and Termino Ave. indicating the pier. From the south take the Pacific Coast Highway to 2nd. Street (Westminister becomes 2nd. Street when it crosses PCH), go west, follow to Livingston Dr. Follow it to signs by Ocean Ave. and Termino Ave. indicating the pier and parking lot.
Shoreline Aquatic Park Piers — No report this month but expect some perch, sargo and croaker while fishing the inshore shallower waters. Mackerel, white croaker, sharks and rays should be available with a cast out from the pier. How to Get There: From downtown Long Beach, take Pine Avenue south to Shoreline Drive. For the northernmost pier #1 follow Shoreline Avenue west and follow it around the lagoon to where the street ends. For the southernmost piers #2-#5 follow Shoreline Drive east to the markings for Shoreline Village, continue past the shopping complex, and follow the road out to near the end of the peninsula. You will see the piers.
Cabrillo Pier (San Pedro) — Alex at the Rusty Hook (245 N Gaffey St., San Pedro) said the halibut action has been somewhat amazing. He said the regulars who know what they are doing are getting a lot of fish. Some guys are getting 8-10 fish a day (of which 1-2 are legal size). The key with the regulars continues to be the use of a pearl white-colored Zoom Flukes (or white-colored Berkeley Gulp Jerk Shads) with a drop shot rig. Alex says anglers continue to pick up a few spotted bay bass and sand bass while the mackerel have been in and out. The sharay action has slowed down. How To Get There: Take the Harbor Freeway (I-110) south; it will turn into Gaffey St. Follow it to 22nd Street and turn left. Follow 22nd St. to Pacific Ave. and turn right. Follow Pacific Ave. to 36th Street and the entrance to Cabrillo Park.
Green Pleasure Pier (Avalon, Catalina Island) – The normal mix of fish—kelp bass, opaleye, halfmoon, rock wrasse, senorita, sheephead should be available while the number of ocean whitefish should be increasing. How To Get There: The trick here is to get to Catalina. Ships and helicopters make the journey several times a day from the Port of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Newport Beach. Information is available on all of these by calling the Avalon Chamber of Commerce on the Pleasure Pier (213) 510-1520 or the Visitor's Information & Service Center (213) 510-2500. Once in Avalon there should be no problem in finding the pier, which is located at the foot of Catalina Avenue.
Cabrillo Mole (Avalon, Catalina Island) — The Mole is closed for repair and it's unclear when it will be reopened. How To Get There: The trick is to get to Catalina. Ships and helicopters make the journey several times a day from the Port of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Newport Beach. Information is available on all of these by calling the Avalon Chamber of Commerce on the Pleasure Pier (213) 510-1520 or the Visitor's Information & Service Center (213) 510-2500. Once in Avalon there should be no problem in finding the mole that sits right where most boats disembark.
Redondo Beach Pier — Sunny, at the Redondo Pier Tackle (on the pier), said some mackerel are still around but not much else. How To Get There: From the Pacific Coast Highway, take Torrance Blvd. west to the foot of the pier and the parking lot.
Hermosa Beach Pier — No report this month although jacksmelt and mackerel should be found mid-pier to the end as well as a few small some croakers, sharks and rays. How To Get There: Take the Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) to Pier Avenue and follow Pier Avenue west to the pier.
Venice Pier — No report this month although jacksmelt and mackerel should be found mid-pier to the end as well as a few small some croakers, sharks and rays. How To Get There: Highway 1 to Washington St., turn west and follow Washington St. to the pier.
Santa Monica Pier — Waiting for a report. [Last month—John at the bait shop towards the end of the pier reports that things are much the same — a few leopard sharks at the end, some corbina and yellowfin in the surf area, and a few perch under the pier. Lobster season has started but for the poachers at the pier lobster season never ends. Unfortunately, the CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife chooses to ignore the problem.] How to Get There: From I-405 take Santa Monica Blvd. west to Ocean Ave. Turn left, go to Colorado Ave., and turn right onto the pier.
Malibu Pier — Ginny at Wylie’s Bait & Tackle (18757 Pacific Coast Hwy Malibu) said things are slow. People still report decent numbers of mackerel but not much else. But then again, not too many people are even fishing. She says customers have been few since before Christmas and the gale-like winds aren’t helping. She also reports continued anger at the management on the Malibu Pier that has not been able to reestablish the Sportfishing operations on the pier. The state seems far more interested in the high priced food and gifts at the places on the end of the pier. How To Get There: The pier fronts on the Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) so just drive until you see it.
Paradise Cove Pier — No report. How To Get There: Take Highway 1 to Paradise Cove Dr., turn west, and follow the road back into the parking lot.
Ventura & Santa Barbara County Piers
Port Hueneme Pier — No report. How To Get There: From Highway 1 take Hueneme Rd. west until it turns into Port. At Ventura Rd turn left and follow it to Surfside Dr. Turn left again and follow it to the park.
Ventura Pier —The last report from Boyd Larson at Hyuns Tackle (3695 E harbor Blvd.) said most of the action right now is surf oriented. He says it’s a combination of yellowfin croaker, spotfin croaker, corbina and even shovelnose sharks (guitarfish) and leopard sharks. All are hitting at the shallow end section of the pier. Top-water action is slow with mackerel occasionally making a showing but nothing steady. And, even the normal shark and rays action is slower than normal — although a couple of threshers have been taken. He said there are still some fish out toward the reef at the far right corner of the pier (last three light poles); included might be some brown and grass rockfish. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Seaward Drive exit west to Harbor Drive, turn right and follow it to the pier.
Stearns Wharf — Mike at the Stearns Wharf Bait Shop on the wharf says the water has cooled and most of the action is on bottom species. Action remains fair to good on sharays — shovelnose shark (guitarfish), leopard shark, brown smoothhound, 7-gill and horn shark — especially at night. During the day most anglers are concentrating on large jacksmelt (on the top) or small croaker on the bottom. Bait has been squid and anchovies. The mackerel are largely missing in action although there’s an occasional “sundown” bite (but most days they do not show up). Sounds like wintertime action. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take Castillo St. or State St. west to the beach and follow signs to the pier.
Goleta Pier — Awaiting the new report. Last month Tiffany, at Hook, Line and Sinker, 4010-5 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, said quite a few shallow-water rockfish (mainly small brown rockfish) continue to be taken from the pipe reef on the right side of the pier. A few cabezon and calico (kelp) bass also enter into the mix. Mackerel continue to hit off and on out by the end while the halibut that usually hit from inshore to mid-pier have gone a missing. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Hwy. 217/Airport exit. Follow it to Sandspit Rd. and the Goleta Beach Park turnoff. Follow this to the park and the pier.
Gaviota Pier — The pier continues to be closed while the state moves with its typical glacial speed and bureaucratic response in efforts to actually get it open; it’s now been closed for over five and a half years. How To Get There: From Highway 101 simply take the Gaviota State Park turnoff down to the beach and pier.
Remember — Lobster season is now open. Follow all regulations and make sure you have a lobster card in possession.
San Diego County Piers
Imperial Beach Pier – Waiting for a report. How To Get There: From I-5 take the Palm Ave. (Hwy. 75) exit and follow it to where Palm Ave. and Hwy. 75 divide. Follow Palm Ave. to Seacoast Dr., turn left and it will take you right to the pier.
Ocean Beach Pier — Antonio at the Ocean Beach Pier Bait Shop & Café, on the pier said action is slow with mackerel providing most of the action with anchovies and sardines also available. Not much is showing on the bottom; it’s even slow on sharks and rays. Ditto the lobsters. How To Get There: From the north, take I-5 to the Sea World Dr. exit and follow it until it turns off to Sunset Cliffs Blvd. From the south, take I- 5 to the Nimitz Blvd. exit, then follow that road to Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Follow Sunset Cliffs Blvd. to Newport Ave., turn right and follow the road to the pier parking lot.
Crystal Pier – Hunter at the Crystal Pier Bay & Tackle said action has been slow. Most of the catch has been on mackerel and other top-water species with not much showing on the bottom (although quite a few bat rays have been seen swimming around). People are pulling up lobsters, mainly at night. How To get There: Take I-5 to Garnet Ave. then take Garnet west to the foot of the pier.
Pepper Park Pier — No report. We need a reporter! How To Get There: From I-5 take the 24th Street off-ramp west to Tidelands Avenue and go left (south) on Tidelands to the end.
Bayside Park Pier — No report. We need a reporter. How To Get There: From I-5 take the J Street off ramp and go west. Take J Street to Tidelands Ave., turn right. Take Tidelands to Sandpiper Way, turn right. Take Sandpiper to Bayside Parkway, turn left and follow the road to the park.
Embarcadero Marina Pier — No report although jacksmelt, mackerel and bass (kelp, sand and spotted) should be available. How To Get There: From the I-5 south, take the Front Street exit south to Market (just stay on Front Street, it runs into Market), take Market west to Harbor Dr. Turn left on Harbor Dr. and take it to 8th Ave., turn right onto Convention Way (formerly Harbor St.). Follow it a short block to 5th Ave. and the pier. It seems that with the new Convention Center the city is constantly working on these streets near the pier and renaming them; if you get confused remember that the park and pier are immediately to the southwest of the Convention Center. From I-5 North, approaching from the south, take the J Street exit, then go straight, three blocks up to Market, turn left and take it from there.
Ferry Landing Pier (Coronado) — Need a reporter although bass (a variety) always seem to be around as well as a mix of sharays (mostly round stingrays). How To Get There: From San Diego, take the Coronado Bay Bridge (Highway 75) to Coronado. Once over the bridge you are on Third Street. Simply follow it to B Avenue, turn right, and follow it to the front of The Old Ferry Landing — the intersection of First Street and B Avenue. The pier sits behind the shops in the complex.
Shelter Island Pier — Javier, at Angler’s Choice, 1910 Rosecrans St., said the only reports he’s heard is of mackerel at the pier. He said there should be some sharks available at night using the mackerel for bait but hasn’t heard any reports of them. How To Get There: Take I-5 or I-8 to Rosecrans (Hwy. 209) and go west, turn left at Shelter Island Dr. and follow the road until you see the pier and the entrance to the parking lot.
Oceanside Pier — Ed at the Oceanside Pier Bait and Tackle shop on the pier, said most of the action has been on sardines although a few mackerel (small) and jacksmelt are also available. Everything is small as in small sargo, small opaleye, small salema and even small perch. One thresher was hooked and it too was just a baby about five feet long. At least the weather has been decent. How To Get There: From I-5 take the Harbor Dr. exit off the freeway, follow it and it will wind down to the harbor; where the road splits stay to the right on North Harbor Dr., and follow it to the pier.
Oceanside Harbor Pier —Awaiting the report. How To Get There: From I-5 take the Harbor Dr. exit off the freeway, follow it and it will wind down to the harbor; where the road splits stay to the right on North Harbor Dr., and follow it to the pier.
Orange County Piers
San Clemente Pier — Josh at Hogan's Bait And Tackle (34320 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point) said the action still remains fairly decent if you want perch or croaker. Anglers fishing inshore are getting perch while inshore to mid-pier is yielding up some yellowfin croaker. Mix in a few bass in the mid-pier to the end of the pier. Best baits remain fresh mussels and lugworms. Pretty much everything else has slowed including the mackerel and sharays. He said surf anglers continue to pick up perch, croaker, a few small halibut, and an occasional corvina (not corbina). How to Get There: From I-5 take any of several exit streets west to El Camino Real, follow it to the center of town, and from there take Del Mar down to the pier.
Dana Harbor Pier — Josh at Hogan's Bait And Tackle (34320 Pacific Coast Hwy, said things have slowed in the harbor although anglers are still picking up some small spotted bay bass and sand bass. Anglers are using frozen anchovies for bait or drop shooting small plastics for the bass. How To Get There: The pier is located in the Dana Cove Park area of Dana Point Harbor. From the Pacific Coast Highway take Green Lantern Road south to the harbor, turn left on Cove Road, and follow it to the pier.
Balboa Pier — Our reporter Snookie said “this month hasn't been great, but at least we had lots of bait. I know of one nice halibut caught by a friend. It was about 27 inches, and he had to jump off of the pier into the sand and retrieve it. His net wasn't with them that day. We have also caught some small leopard sharks about 24 inches long. The jacksmelt are still going their thing, but they are on the small side. There are some mackerel. Should be seeing some whales soon. That will keep us entertained. How To Get There: From the Pacific Coast Highway take Newport Blvd. which will turn into Balboa Blvd., follow it west to Palm Street. Turn right and follow it to the pier and the adjacent parking lot.
Newport Pier — Generally the action mirrors, for the most part, that seen at Balboa. How To Get There: From the Pacific Coast Highway take the Newport Blvd. turnoff and proceed west watching for signs directing traffic to the pier. The pier sits at the foot of McFadden Place.
Huntington Beach Pier — Michael at Let's Go Fishing (on the pier) reports big numbers of white seabass are being caught, primarily on live bait (sardines) but also on cut bait. Many are illegal size although that isn’t keeping people from keeping them. He said he saw one family take home 12-15 under-sized bass. Some though are legal-size with several fish in the 38-39 inch range. Most of the fish are showing up mid-pier right around the bait store. Inshore, spotfin croakers are making an appearance. He says he can hardly keep lugworms in stock because so many people are buying them for the spotfin. Other than the white seabass and spotfin, most of the action has been on mackerel and HUGE jacksmelt. Not much on the bottom excepting a few bat rays and an occasional halibut. The bait shop is still fighting the city over a new lease. A PFIC report by EgoNonBaptizo did not mention any white seabass although he caught fish —“I started off fishing a Sabiki rig with a float with mackerel chunks, and caught a couple jacksmelt before and a little after the sun came up. I also got a baby bat ray and two large thornback guitarfish on the bottom hooks of the Sabiki. There was a lot of baitfish in the water, mostly small-medium sardines, and I enjoyed pretty constant action. I put one out on a sliding bait rig, but got no love. Later in the day, around 10-11 am, some mackerel began to show up, some on the Sabiki, and some more on the Coltsniper. I ended the day at 11 with 5 large jacksmelt, 15 mackerel, and ~50 sardines.” How To Get There: Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) to Huntington Beach and the pier.
Seal Beach Pier —Jimmy at “Big Fish Bait and Tackle in Seal Beach” reports both yellowfin and spotfin croaker in the inshore area with jacksmelt and mackerel mid-pier to the end. He’s says it’s slowed but a few halibut and bass are also showing up. How To Get There: From the Pacific Coast Highway simply take Main St. west and follow it to the pier.
Los Angeles County Piers
Belmont Pier — Jimmy at “Big Fish Bait and Tackle in Seal Beach” reports some mackerel mid-pier to the end along with some buttermouth perch (blackperch) showing around the pilings at the end. Mix in a few halibut and some jacksmelt and that’s about it. How To Get There: From the north take I-405 to the Lakewood Boulevard turnoff, and then go south to 7th Street, turn west (right) until you come to Ximeno Ave. and then turn left. Follow it to Livingston Dr. and go west. You will see signs by Ocean Ave. and Termino Ave. indicating the pier. From the south take the Pacific Coast Highway to 2nd. Street (Westminister becomes 2nd. Street when it crosses PCH), go west, follow to Livingston Dr. Follow it to signs by Ocean Ave. and Termino Ave. indicating the pier and parking lot.
Shoreline Aquatic Park Piers — No report this month but expect some perch, sargo and croaker while fishing the inshore shallower waters. Mackerel, white croaker, sharks and rays should be available with a cast out from the pier. How to Get There: From downtown Long Beach, take Pine Avenue south to Shoreline Drive. For the northernmost pier #1 follow Shoreline Avenue west and follow it around the lagoon to where the street ends. For the southernmost piers #2-#5 follow Shoreline Drive east to the markings for Shoreline Village, continue past the shopping complex, and follow the road out to near the end of the peninsula. You will see the piers.
Cabrillo Pier (San Pedro) — Alex at the Rusty Hook (245 N Gaffey St., San Pedro) said the halibut action has been somewhat amazing. He said the regulars who know what they are doing are getting a lot of fish. Some guys are getting 8-10 fish a day (of which 1-2 are legal size). The key with the regulars continues to be the use of a pearl white-colored Zoom Flukes (or white-colored Berkeley Gulp Jerk Shads) with a drop shot rig. Alex says anglers continue to pick up a few spotted bay bass and sand bass while the mackerel have been in and out. The sharay action has slowed down. How To Get There: Take the Harbor Freeway (I-110) south; it will turn into Gaffey St. Follow it to 22nd Street and turn left. Follow 22nd St. to Pacific Ave. and turn right. Follow Pacific Ave. to 36th Street and the entrance to Cabrillo Park.
Green Pleasure Pier (Avalon, Catalina Island) – The normal mix of fish—kelp bass, opaleye, halfmoon, rock wrasse, senorita, sheephead should be available while the number of ocean whitefish should be increasing. How To Get There: The trick here is to get to Catalina. Ships and helicopters make the journey several times a day from the Port of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Newport Beach. Information is available on all of these by calling the Avalon Chamber of Commerce on the Pleasure Pier (213) 510-1520 or the Visitor's Information & Service Center (213) 510-2500. Once in Avalon there should be no problem in finding the pier, which is located at the foot of Catalina Avenue.
Cabrillo Mole (Avalon, Catalina Island) — The Mole is closed for repair and it's unclear when it will be reopened. How To Get There: The trick is to get to Catalina. Ships and helicopters make the journey several times a day from the Port of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Newport Beach. Information is available on all of these by calling the Avalon Chamber of Commerce on the Pleasure Pier (213) 510-1520 or the Visitor's Information & Service Center (213) 510-2500. Once in Avalon there should be no problem in finding the mole that sits right where most boats disembark.
Redondo Beach Pier — Sunny, at the Redondo Pier Tackle (on the pier), said some mackerel are still around but not much else. How To Get There: From the Pacific Coast Highway, take Torrance Blvd. west to the foot of the pier and the parking lot.
Hermosa Beach Pier — No report this month although jacksmelt and mackerel should be found mid-pier to the end as well as a few small some croakers, sharks and rays. How To Get There: Take the Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) to Pier Avenue and follow Pier Avenue west to the pier.
Venice Pier — No report this month although jacksmelt and mackerel should be found mid-pier to the end as well as a few small some croakers, sharks and rays. How To Get There: Highway 1 to Washington St., turn west and follow Washington St. to the pier.
Santa Monica Pier — Waiting for a report. [Last month—John at the bait shop towards the end of the pier reports that things are much the same — a few leopard sharks at the end, some corbina and yellowfin in the surf area, and a few perch under the pier. Lobster season has started but for the poachers at the pier lobster season never ends. Unfortunately, the CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife chooses to ignore the problem.] How to Get There: From I-405 take Santa Monica Blvd. west to Ocean Ave. Turn left, go to Colorado Ave., and turn right onto the pier.
Malibu Pier — Ginny at Wylie’s Bait & Tackle (18757 Pacific Coast Hwy Malibu) said things are slow. People still report decent numbers of mackerel but not much else. But then again, not too many people are even fishing. She says customers have been few since before Christmas and the gale-like winds aren’t helping. She also reports continued anger at the management on the Malibu Pier that has not been able to reestablish the Sportfishing operations on the pier. The state seems far more interested in the high priced food and gifts at the places on the end of the pier. How To Get There: The pier fronts on the Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) so just drive until you see it.
Paradise Cove Pier — No report. How To Get There: Take Highway 1 to Paradise Cove Dr., turn west, and follow the road back into the parking lot.
Ventura & Santa Barbara County Piers
Port Hueneme Pier — No report. How To Get There: From Highway 1 take Hueneme Rd. west until it turns into Port. At Ventura Rd turn left and follow it to Surfside Dr. Turn left again and follow it to the park.
Ventura Pier —The last report from Boyd Larson at Hyuns Tackle (3695 E harbor Blvd.) said most of the action right now is surf oriented. He says it’s a combination of yellowfin croaker, spotfin croaker, corbina and even shovelnose sharks (guitarfish) and leopard sharks. All are hitting at the shallow end section of the pier. Top-water action is slow with mackerel occasionally making a showing but nothing steady. And, even the normal shark and rays action is slower than normal — although a couple of threshers have been taken. He said there are still some fish out toward the reef at the far right corner of the pier (last three light poles); included might be some brown and grass rockfish. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Seaward Drive exit west to Harbor Drive, turn right and follow it to the pier.
Stearns Wharf — Mike at the Stearns Wharf Bait Shop on the wharf says the water has cooled and most of the action is on bottom species. Action remains fair to good on sharays — shovelnose shark (guitarfish), leopard shark, brown smoothhound, 7-gill and horn shark — especially at night. During the day most anglers are concentrating on large jacksmelt (on the top) or small croaker on the bottom. Bait has been squid and anchovies. The mackerel are largely missing in action although there’s an occasional “sundown” bite (but most days they do not show up). Sounds like wintertime action. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take Castillo St. or State St. west to the beach and follow signs to the pier.
Goleta Pier — Awaiting the new report. Last month Tiffany, at Hook, Line and Sinker, 4010-5 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, said quite a few shallow-water rockfish (mainly small brown rockfish) continue to be taken from the pipe reef on the right side of the pier. A few cabezon and calico (kelp) bass also enter into the mix. Mackerel continue to hit off and on out by the end while the halibut that usually hit from inshore to mid-pier have gone a missing. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Hwy. 217/Airport exit. Follow it to Sandspit Rd. and the Goleta Beach Park turnoff. Follow this to the park and the pier.
Gaviota Pier — The pier continues to be closed while the state moves with its typical glacial speed and bureaucratic response in efforts to actually get it open; it’s now been closed for over five and a half years. How To Get There: From Highway 101 simply take the Gaviota State Park turnoff down to the beach and pier.