June 2026 Fishing Report, Central California (#308)
San Luis Obispo County Piers
Pismo Beach Pier — After an extremely busy holiday, and crowding from thousands visiting a car show, things should be returning back to normal. As usual perch should be the main game, barred surfperch inshore, walleye surfperch inshore to almost the end (mid-water) and, unless it’s changed, too many lizardfish. I haven’t heard reports of them yet but mackerel should be making an appearance. Expect a few flatfish (halibut and sole) on the bottom. 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 – Another pier that 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 —No one answered the phone at the Patriot Sportfishing office on the pier so hard to say what’s available. My last visit yielded some perch out at the end (rainbow seaperch and white seaperch) a brown rockfish, two jacksmelt and way too many lizardfish. I imagine those fish are still around. Like many areas along the central coast I imagine locals are waiting for the mackerel and sardines to show up. 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 – The fish should be there you just have to hope the tides and currents in the bay cooperate. 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. Sometime in the summer, jacksmelt, sardines, Pacific mackerel, and jack mackerel may show up, individually or all at the same time. When they arrive fishing can be hot and furious. 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 all of which will be found inshore to mid-pier. 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 (called kingfish) 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. Traditionally the pier has also been an excellent pier at night in the summer for a variety of sharks. 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. The pier is a hit or miss pier but since surfperch are the number one fish at the pier there should be some action with a variety of perch—barred, calico, walleye, silver, white, rainbow, black, and even pileperch can be caught at the pier. Bring lug worms, pile worms (if you can find them), market shrimp and anchovies). At times jacksmelt can be thick and if they arrive, sardines and mackerel may also show up. How To Get There: Highway 1 to the entrance to the park.
Monterey-Santa Cruz-San Mateo County Piers
Monterey Coast Guard Pier — We need a reporter for the pier but reports have shown some nice opaleye and halfmoon from the pier. The pier is almost the only place north of Morro Bay where you will see such species. More typical are small to medium-size rockfish, cabezon, perch (mainly striped seaperch) and once in a great while a lingcod or monkeyface eel. 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 report, need a reporter. This pier is usually hit or miss, very good or very bad. When good the pier is crowded with anglers, when bad it’s largely deserted. Most common fish are perch, sardines, an occasional flatfish—mainly sole but also a few halibut, and a few sharks and rays. Biggest news lately was the capture of a small, firecracker-size yellowtail that was far from home. People are hoping El Nino shows up and more southern species show up. 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 — The pier and Concrete Ship are gone—demolished and destroyed. How To Get There: From Highway 1 take the State Park Drive exit; follow the road west to the park entrance.
Capitola Wharf — Isahias at the Capitola Boat & Bait. (on the wharf.) 1400 Wharf Road. Capitola, said fishing is fair from the wharf. He said a few blackperch have been taken from under the pier, some kingfish (white croaker) are available with a cast out from the pier, some jack mackerel, and one striped bass. Halibut are also starting to move into the pier area. 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 — Tori at the Santa Cruz Boat Rental (on the wharf) said she’s heard of halibut being caught where the pier widens out (most on live bait, i.e., anchovies or shinerperch). White croaker (kingfish) should be available toward the end while perch may show up almost anywhere under the pier. Sanddab and small octopus may also show up. 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.
The season for Dungeness crab is now open. The recreational fishery for Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) is open south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line through June 30, 2026 so you have one more month to catch the tasty crustaceans. The daily bag limit is 10 crabs, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches. Dungeness crab may not be taken from San Francisco or San Pablo bays.
Johnson Pier (Pillar Point Harbor) — No report. Need a reporter. This is a shallow water fishing areas inside the boats in the harbor. This time of the year it can be very slow. 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 — As of June 4 the pier is closed — and many wonder if this is the end of the pier. Before the closure fishing was good for perch, jacksmelt, AND some good-sized striped bass (to 29-inches). 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 — After an extremely busy holiday, and crowding from thousands visiting a car show, things should be returning back to normal. As usual perch should be the main game, barred surfperch inshore, walleye surfperch inshore to almost the end (mid-water) and, unless it’s changed, too many lizardfish. I haven’t heard reports of them yet but mackerel should be making an appearance. Expect a few flatfish (halibut and sole) on the bottom. 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 – Another pier that 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 —No one answered the phone at the Patriot Sportfishing office on the pier so hard to say what’s available. My last visit yielded some perch out at the end (rainbow seaperch and white seaperch) a brown rockfish, two jacksmelt and way too many lizardfish. I imagine those fish are still around. Like many areas along the central coast I imagine locals are waiting for the mackerel and sardines to show up. 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 – The fish should be there you just have to hope the tides and currents in the bay cooperate. 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. Sometime in the summer, jacksmelt, sardines, Pacific mackerel, and jack mackerel may show up, individually or all at the same time. When they arrive fishing can be hot and furious. 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 all of which will be found inshore to mid-pier. 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 (called kingfish) 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. Traditionally the pier has also been an excellent pier at night in the summer for a variety of sharks. 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. The pier is a hit or miss pier but since surfperch are the number one fish at the pier there should be some action with a variety of perch—barred, calico, walleye, silver, white, rainbow, black, and even pileperch can be caught at the pier. Bring lug worms, pile worms (if you can find them), market shrimp and anchovies). At times jacksmelt can be thick and if they arrive, sardines and mackerel may also show up. How To Get There: Highway 1 to the entrance to the park.
Monterey-Santa Cruz-San Mateo County Piers
Monterey Coast Guard Pier — We need a reporter for the pier but reports have shown some nice opaleye and halfmoon from the pier. The pier is almost the only place north of Morro Bay where you will see such species. More typical are small to medium-size rockfish, cabezon, perch (mainly striped seaperch) and once in a great while a lingcod or monkeyface eel. 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 report, need a reporter. This pier is usually hit or miss, very good or very bad. When good the pier is crowded with anglers, when bad it’s largely deserted. Most common fish are perch, sardines, an occasional flatfish—mainly sole but also a few halibut, and a few sharks and rays. Biggest news lately was the capture of a small, firecracker-size yellowtail that was far from home. People are hoping El Nino shows up and more southern species show up. 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 — The pier and Concrete Ship are gone—demolished and destroyed. How To Get There: From Highway 1 take the State Park Drive exit; follow the road west to the park entrance.
Capitola Wharf — Isahias at the Capitola Boat & Bait. (on the wharf.) 1400 Wharf Road. Capitola, said fishing is fair from the wharf. He said a few blackperch have been taken from under the pier, some kingfish (white croaker) are available with a cast out from the pier, some jack mackerel, and one striped bass. Halibut are also starting to move into the pier area. 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 — Tori at the Santa Cruz Boat Rental (on the wharf) said she’s heard of halibut being caught where the pier widens out (most on live bait, i.e., anchovies or shinerperch). White croaker (kingfish) should be available toward the end while perch may show up almost anywhere under the pier. Sanddab and small octopus may also show up. 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.
The season for Dungeness crab is now open. The recreational fishery for Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) is open south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line through June 30, 2026 so you have one more month to catch the tasty crustaceans. The daily bag limit is 10 crabs, and the minimum size limit is 5¾ inches. Dungeness crab may not be taken from San Francisco or San Pablo bays.
Johnson Pier (Pillar Point Harbor) — No report. Need a reporter. This is a shallow water fishing areas inside the boats in the harbor. This time of the year it can be very slow. 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 — As of June 4 the pier is closed — and many wonder if this is the end of the pier. Before the closure fishing was good for perch, jacksmelt, AND some good-sized striped bass (to 29-inches). 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.