New to the forum!

[WillyB930]

Just want to say hi and ask everyone a few questions!

Planning to visit Redondo Beach in a few days, I will be stay in the general Redondo/Long Beach area for about two weeks, so my question is

without a license, I understand that I'll be restricted to pier fishing, so I'd like to know

1. What are some good spots along the beach I can check out?
2. Does rock shore foraging (like monkey face eel, urchins, crabs, etc) count as fishing (I kinda assume yes)?
3. If rock shore foraging is OK, then by association, can I fish there?
4. When pier fishing, is it ok to use a crab snare in place of a sinker in like a up-down rig? (not the practicality of it but the legality)
5. Where can i find information on legal limits for fishing without license? (cant seem to find any on official websites, or i'm retarded)

I plan on probably mostly catching bait with sabiki rigs, then cut pieces for up-down rigs, maybe throw some softies, topwaters, jigs, and bucktails if conditions permit!

Anyway, if anyone can help me, that'd be most appreciated!

Happy Fishing!

 

[EgoNonBaptizo]

Welcome!

1. Redondo and Belmont should be decent, but I suggest checking the forums. However, due to fishing pressure/crowds, I suggest going down to some OC piers or some more southern LA county piers.
2. Those do count as harvest and thus require a fishing license when done from shore (excluding public jetties and piers).
3. See above.
4. No idea, but there aren't many crabs of decent size (other than the huge spider crabs and the occasional yellow crab) worth snaring.
5. Fish limits apply to both licensed and unlicensed anglers. If you are talking geographic limits, I'm fairly certain its all piers and jetties unless otherwise specified at the location.

 

[Ken Jones]

Good answers from EgoNonBaptizo but to repeat:

1. Redondo usually has some mackerel to offer up, especially early morning and in the evening. The Cabrillo Pier has been offering up some halibut on plastics. Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport and Balboa can all be good or bad depending upon the day. And, there is nothing like asking (politely) the regulars for advice; most people are willing to offer advice to newbies to the area.
2. All of those creatures require a fishing license and may be legal or illegal depending upon where you are at.
3. Rock foraging down there is somewhat minimal although if you are in Redondo it's not too far to spots on Palos Verde Penninsula.
4. I do not believe a crab snare is legal in SoCal.
5. Basically all size and take regulations on a pier are the same as those on a boat or the shore. The difference is on equipment. You are limited to two appliances on a pier—two rods/reels, one rod/reel and one hoop net (for crabbing), or two nets. On the shore you can use as many rods/reels as you want although some cities have additional limits.

A couple of bait and tackle shops you might want to check out:

(1) Big Fish Bait & Tackle. 1780-C. Pacific Coast Hwy, Seal Beach — (562) 431-0723
(2) Rusty Hook. 245 N Gaffey St., San Pedro — (310) 832-2429

Also, make sure you pick up a REGULATION BOOKLET from a store. It's long but find the section on basic limits and sizes. It's something you can read in your motel room at night.

 

[WillyB930]

Good answers from EgoNonBaptizo but to repeat:

5. Basically all size and take regulations on a pier are the same as those on a boat or the shore. The difference is on equipment. You are limited to two appliances on a pier—two rods/reels, one rod/reel and one hoop net (for crabbing), or two nets. On the shore you can use as many rods/reels as you want although some cities have additional limits.


Also, make sure you pick up a REGULATION BOOKLET from a store. It's long but find the section on basic limits and sizes. It's something you can read in your motel room at night.

Sorry for the edit!

But ya thats exactly what i was looking for cause i dont know the keeping size for each fish! really appreciate it, and i'll definitely take a look at the shops you mentioned!

 

[WillyB930]

Welcome!

1. Redondo and Belmont should be decent, but I suggest checking the forums. However, due to fishing pressure/crowds, I suggest going down to some OC piers or some more southern LA county piers.
2. Those do count as harvest and thus require a fishing license when done from shore (excluding public jetties and piers).
3. See above.
4. No idea, but there aren't many crabs of decent size (other than the huge spider crabs and the occasional yellow crab) worth snaring.
5. Fish limits apply to both licensed and unlicensed anglers. If you are talking geographic limits, I'm fairly certain its all piers and jetties unless otherwise specified at the location.

Thank you so much, i'm gonna hit as many piers and jetties as i can without pissing off my sister (who is driving me around)

might i also ask, is there a website or app that y'all use to track tides?

 

[EgoNonBaptizo]

I use https://www.surfline.com. It has tide forecasts for many beaches up and down the coast, and also has swell forecasts and water temp reports.