November 2019 Fishing Report, SoCal (#253)
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 during the day and lobsters being available after dark. 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. Some corbina are available inshore while a few small bonito and mackerel are available mid-pier to the end in the top-water areas. He says there are also still a lot of bat rays and leopard sharks. 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 although there should be a few mackerel and bass. 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 although some croakers and sharays should be available. 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 — Larry at Angler’s Choice (1910 Rosecrans St.), says he’s not getting many reports from the pier but there have been a lot of shortfin corvina and spotted bay bass showing along the rocks at Shelter Island (so some should be available at the pier). 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 — Bill at the Oceanside Pier Bait and Tackle shop on the pier, said there’s been a slow down in action. However, fish are still being caught on the big pier. Inshore, a few spotfin croakers show up most days. Mid-pier yields a lot of short calico (kelp) bass and quite a few opaleye to the regulars that know how to catch them. Mackerel are in and out while the bonito are gone; anglers using Sabikis in the top-water areas continue to pull in sardines. Out at the end quite a few sculpin (scorpionfish) are being taken along with an occasional sheephead. The deep-water areas at the end are also yielding up some big leopard sharks, bat rays and a few thresher sharks. He says the water is crystal clear and a lot of fish are being seen but they aren’t biting (perhaps due to the heavy influx of the sardines). Bill says anglers have seen quite a few striped bass and shortfin corvina in the shallow-water areas. They’ve also seen and caught several white seabass but all were illegal shorts, in the 22-24 inch range. He says the water temperature is down to 63 degrees and that may account for the slow down. 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 —Wally at Pacific Coast Bait & Tackle (2110 S. Coast Highway), said things are still slow in the harbor. Mainly it’s croaker, bass (kelp bass and spotted), and a very few halibut. 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 remains good on croakers and barred surfperch in the shallow-water areas while some mackerel are showing mid-pier to the end. Both halibut and bonito are missing in action. However, quite a few leopard sharks and bat rays are being taken. 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 action has been a little slow but croakers, mainly yellowfins, and spotted bay bass are still showing at the pier. 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 she was in Virginia most of the month but upon her return she went fishing at the pier: “I went fishing at the pier the day after I returned. At least we got bait. Nothing else was interested. Saw some mullet caught by the snaggers. The little bonito were around on the end of the pier along with the small mackerel. A whale went through going the wrong way. Looked like a small male. Lots of bait balls being eaten by the sea lions and pelicans. Those were sardines in those bait balls. We got some of them, but it didn't do any good. I hope it improves shortly.” A few days later (11/3) she reported the sighting of a bluefin tuna at the pier: “Yesterday at noon in the surf area was a beautiful bluefin tuna just swimming around quickly. Am sure he is wondering where he was. That is the second time in the past years we have seen a tuna come into the surf area, swim around and then leave. Makes you wonder. He was beautiful with the blue colors showing up because of the clear water and bright sun. No it was not an albacore or a skipjack.” 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 — No report — can anyone verify if the shop still open? 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 surf area while some short halibut are showing on the bottom in the mid-pier area; expect some mackerel and sardines on top. Sharay seekers continue to pull in some sharks and bat rays, mostly at night. 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 corbina and spotfin croakers in the surf area with halibut showing both in the surf area out to the mid-pier area. Mid-pier to the end sees mackerel and sardines in the top-water areas while sharkers see some sharks and rays on the bottom at night, mostly toward the end of the pier. A report from Brock Norris on the 23rd said action was slow and nothing was being caught excepting big jacksmelt. 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) — Waiting for a report. (Last month—Alex at the Rusty Hook (245 N Gaffey St., San Pedro) said the main news lately has been mackerel that have showed up in pretty good numbers (and he’s selling a lot of Sabiki rigs). A nice addition! Halibut are also still around although it’s pretty much the locals with know how who are getting them. The key with the regulars continues to be the use of a pearl white-colored Zoom Flukes (or white-colored Berkely Gulp Jerk Shads) with a drop shot rig. Alex says a few sharks and rays have also shown up. 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 and possibly ocean whitefish should be available. 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 although no one knows exactly for how long. 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. 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 the jacksmelt should be around as well as some croakers inshore, small sharks and rays, and some flatfish in the mid-pier area. 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 should be found mid-pier to the end as well as some croakers and small 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 slowing (kids are back in school) but she’s still getting reports of good fishing for mackerel, good numbers of perch, lots of yellowfin croaker, a few bass, a couple of corbina and quite a few sharks, shovelnose sharks (guitarfish) and leopard sharks. Surprisingly they’re also getting quite a few lobster. 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 — A PFIC report by Henrie on 10/19 showed the catch of a cabezon at the pier. This time of the year should see an increase in the catch of big jacksmelt and barred surfperch (inshore). 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 — Boyd Larson at Hyuns Tackle (3695 E harbor Blvd.) who’s a regular at the pier 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 reports the water temp has dropped and fishing has slowed down a bit. He says the mackerel are in and out during the day although the “sundown” bite is pretty consistent. Some halibut are being taken but not many and mostly by the regulars. What has been good is the sharay action on the bottom, a combination of leopard sharks, angel sharks, 7-gill sharks (4-5 feet in length), shovelnose sharks (guitarfish), and bat rays. Lastly, Mike reports good crabbin’ is starting to take place for both rock crabs and spider crabs. 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 — 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 during the day and lobsters being available after dark. 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. Some corbina are available inshore while a few small bonito and mackerel are available mid-pier to the end in the top-water areas. He says there are also still a lot of bat rays and leopard sharks. 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 although there should be a few mackerel and bass. 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 although some croakers and sharays should be available. 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 — Larry at Angler’s Choice (1910 Rosecrans St.), says he’s not getting many reports from the pier but there have been a lot of shortfin corvina and spotted bay bass showing along the rocks at Shelter Island (so some should be available at the pier). 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 — Bill at the Oceanside Pier Bait and Tackle shop on the pier, said there’s been a slow down in action. However, fish are still being caught on the big pier. Inshore, a few spotfin croakers show up most days. Mid-pier yields a lot of short calico (kelp) bass and quite a few opaleye to the regulars that know how to catch them. Mackerel are in and out while the bonito are gone; anglers using Sabikis in the top-water areas continue to pull in sardines. Out at the end quite a few sculpin (scorpionfish) are being taken along with an occasional sheephead. The deep-water areas at the end are also yielding up some big leopard sharks, bat rays and a few thresher sharks. He says the water is crystal clear and a lot of fish are being seen but they aren’t biting (perhaps due to the heavy influx of the sardines). Bill says anglers have seen quite a few striped bass and shortfin corvina in the shallow-water areas. They’ve also seen and caught several white seabass but all were illegal shorts, in the 22-24 inch range. He says the water temperature is down to 63 degrees and that may account for the slow down. 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 —Wally at Pacific Coast Bait & Tackle (2110 S. Coast Highway), said things are still slow in the harbor. Mainly it’s croaker, bass (kelp bass and spotted), and a very few halibut. 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 remains good on croakers and barred surfperch in the shallow-water areas while some mackerel are showing mid-pier to the end. Both halibut and bonito are missing in action. However, quite a few leopard sharks and bat rays are being taken. 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 action has been a little slow but croakers, mainly yellowfins, and spotted bay bass are still showing at the pier. 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 she was in Virginia most of the month but upon her return she went fishing at the pier: “I went fishing at the pier the day after I returned. At least we got bait. Nothing else was interested. Saw some mullet caught by the snaggers. The little bonito were around on the end of the pier along with the small mackerel. A whale went through going the wrong way. Looked like a small male. Lots of bait balls being eaten by the sea lions and pelicans. Those were sardines in those bait balls. We got some of them, but it didn't do any good. I hope it improves shortly.” A few days later (11/3) she reported the sighting of a bluefin tuna at the pier: “Yesterday at noon in the surf area was a beautiful bluefin tuna just swimming around quickly. Am sure he is wondering where he was. That is the second time in the past years we have seen a tuna come into the surf area, swim around and then leave. Makes you wonder. He was beautiful with the blue colors showing up because of the clear water and bright sun. No it was not an albacore or a skipjack.” 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 — No report — can anyone verify if the shop still open? 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 surf area while some short halibut are showing on the bottom in the mid-pier area; expect some mackerel and sardines on top. Sharay seekers continue to pull in some sharks and bat rays, mostly at night. 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 corbina and spotfin croakers in the surf area with halibut showing both in the surf area out to the mid-pier area. Mid-pier to the end sees mackerel and sardines in the top-water areas while sharkers see some sharks and rays on the bottom at night, mostly toward the end of the pier. A report from Brock Norris on the 23rd said action was slow and nothing was being caught excepting big jacksmelt. 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) — Waiting for a report. (Last month—Alex at the Rusty Hook (245 N Gaffey St., San Pedro) said the main news lately has been mackerel that have showed up in pretty good numbers (and he’s selling a lot of Sabiki rigs). A nice addition! Halibut are also still around although it’s pretty much the locals with know how who are getting them. The key with the regulars continues to be the use of a pearl white-colored Zoom Flukes (or white-colored Berkely Gulp Jerk Shads) with a drop shot rig. Alex says a few sharks and rays have also shown up. 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 and possibly ocean whitefish should be available. 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 although no one knows exactly for how long. 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. 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 the jacksmelt should be around as well as some croakers inshore, small sharks and rays, and some flatfish in the mid-pier area. 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 should be found mid-pier to the end as well as some croakers and small 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 slowing (kids are back in school) but she’s still getting reports of good fishing for mackerel, good numbers of perch, lots of yellowfin croaker, a few bass, a couple of corbina and quite a few sharks, shovelnose sharks (guitarfish) and leopard sharks. Surprisingly they’re also getting quite a few lobster. 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 — A PFIC report by Henrie on 10/19 showed the catch of a cabezon at the pier. This time of the year should see an increase in the catch of big jacksmelt and barred surfperch (inshore). 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 — Boyd Larson at Hyuns Tackle (3695 E harbor Blvd.) who’s a regular at the pier 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 reports the water temp has dropped and fishing has slowed down a bit. He says the mackerel are in and out during the day although the “sundown” bite is pretty consistent. Some halibut are being taken but not many and mostly by the regulars. What has been good is the sharay action on the bottom, a combination of leopard sharks, angel sharks, 7-gill sharks (4-5 feet in length), shovelnose sharks (guitarfish), and bat rays. Lastly, Mike reports good crabbin’ is starting to take place for both rock crabs and spider crabs. 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 — 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.