Based upon some of the reports, I decided to check out MY RECORDS of southern California piers over the years in regard to the No.1 catch at each pier.
Mackerel were my main catch at 16 piers—Imperial Beach, Coronado Ferry Landing, Ocean Beach, Oceanside, Aliso Beach (now history), Newport Beach, Balboa, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Cabrillo Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Venice Beach, Malibu, Stearns Wharf (Santa Barbara) and Gaviota (now closed). The piers with the highest percentage of mackerel in the overall catch were Manhattan Beach (70.8%), Aliso Beach (62.5%), Redondo Beach (60.5%), Balboa (43.4%), and Cabrillo Beach (39.0%). I expected Newport Beach to be second but in reviewing my records I did not catch a mackerel at that pier until my 23rd trip to the pier. My early time at Newport Beach was primarily spent fishing for halibut AND at the time (1962) the bonito seemed more plentiful than the mackerel. Newport did show a 36.9% catch of mackerel.
Kelp (Calico) Bass were No. 1 at the Shelter Island Pier (38.5%), Walleye Surfperch were No. 1 at the Crystal Pier (23.5%), Salema were No. 1 at the San Clemente Pier (30.4%), Sardines were No. 1 at the Belmont Pier (24.2%), Queenfish were No. 1 at the Santa Monica Pier (38.1%), Walleye Surfperch were No. 1 at the Paradise Cove Pier (71.4%), Jacksmelt were No. 1 at the Port Hueneme Pier (32.3%), Queenfish were No. 1 at the Ventura Pier (27.3%), and Brown Rockfish were No. 1 at the Goleta Pier (12.8%), Kelp (Calico) Bass were No. 1 at the Green Pleasure Pier (37.8%) as well as the Cabrillo Mole (22.5%), both in Avalon.
Pacific (Chub) Mackerel
Mackerel were my main catch at 16 piers—Imperial Beach, Coronado Ferry Landing, Ocean Beach, Oceanside, Aliso Beach (now history), Newport Beach, Balboa, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Cabrillo Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Venice Beach, Malibu, Stearns Wharf (Santa Barbara) and Gaviota (now closed). The piers with the highest percentage of mackerel in the overall catch were Manhattan Beach (70.8%), Aliso Beach (62.5%), Redondo Beach (60.5%), Balboa (43.4%), and Cabrillo Beach (39.0%). I expected Newport Beach to be second but in reviewing my records I did not catch a mackerel at that pier until my 23rd trip to the pier. My early time at Newport Beach was primarily spent fishing for halibut AND at the time (1962) the bonito seemed more plentiful than the mackerel. Newport did show a 36.9% catch of mackerel.
Kelp Bass
Kelp (Calico) Bass were No. 1 at the Shelter Island Pier (38.5%), Walleye Surfperch were No. 1 at the Crystal Pier (23.5%), Salema were No. 1 at the San Clemente Pier (30.4%), Sardines were No. 1 at the Belmont Pier (24.2%), Queenfish were No. 1 at the Santa Monica Pier (38.1%), Walleye Surfperch were No. 1 at the Paradise Cove Pier (71.4%), Jacksmelt were No. 1 at the Port Hueneme Pier (32.3%), Queenfish were No. 1 at the Ventura Pier (27.3%), and Brown Rockfish were No. 1 at the Goleta Pier (12.8%), Kelp (Calico) Bass were No. 1 at the Green Pleasure Pier (37.8%) as well as the Cabrillo Mole (22.5%), both in Avalon.
Walleye Surfperch
Brown Rockfish
Salema
Jacksmelt
Pacific Sardine
Brown Rockfish
Salema
Jacksmelt
Pacific Sardine