October 2018 Fishing Report, CenCal (#241)
San Luis Obispo County Piers
Pismo Beach Pier — The pier is closed for renovation but scheduled to reopen October 12. 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 – The pier is currently closed and will be for at least the next few years. 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 — A few surfperch (barred and calico) are showing up inshore, a few seaperch, mainly blacks, out toward the end, and a few jacksmelt. 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 – A variety of perch should be available—blackperch, pileperch, and striped perch along with a few mid-sized rockfish. 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 — Things have been slow but a few perch, mainly barred and calico, do make an appearance. 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 — Surfperch are showing, mainly barred and calico, but the majority are small-sized. Action on the top is dead. How To Get There: Highway 1 to the entrance to the park.
Monterey-Santa Cruz-San Mateo County Piers
Monterey Coast Guard Pier — I fished the pier mid-month, a trip that produced several different species of rockfish (gopher, kelp, black & yellow), cabezon, striped seaperch, giant and crevice kelpfish and a blunthead sculpin. Given the time of the year lingcod should also be moving into the waters of the pier. 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 — I fished the pier mid-month, a trip that produced few fish but locals said the mackerel had been in and out. You’ve just got to be there when they are in. 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 — A few perch and sharays continue to be caught but the pier really needs a good rain to get rid of the bird poo and the associated and bothersome kelp flies. Given the closing of the final third of the pier it’s not a pier I can recommend. How To Get There: How To Get There: From Highway 1 take the State Park Drive exit; follow the road west to the park entrance.
Capitola Wharf — Elise at the Capitola Boat & Bait, on the pier, said action has been slow, mainly it’s just been a few kingfish (white croaker), small perch (shiner, walleye and white), and an occasional halibut (if you use live bait). 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 — Ashley from the Santa Cruz Boat Rental (on the pier) said things are a little slow. Some perch are showing up mid-pier (where the pier widens) along with some jacksmelt and an occasional flatfish—sanddabs, starry flounder and halibut. Small rockfish are available in the wells at the end and a cast out from the pier can continue to yield kingfish (white croaker). 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.
Pillar Point Pier — No report, need a reporter. 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 — Marque at Coastside #2 Bait and Tackle, 1604 Francisco Blvd, says things are slow at the pier — mainly just a few perch. Everyone’s getting ready for the Dungeness crab season — and hoping for the best. 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 a short way until you see markers indicating the way to Fort Point, turn left on Long Avenue and it will take you down to the pier.
San Luis Obispo County Piers
Pismo Beach Pier — The pier is closed for renovation but scheduled to reopen October 12. 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 – The pier is currently closed and will be for at least the next few years. 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 — A few surfperch (barred and calico) are showing up inshore, a few seaperch, mainly blacks, out toward the end, and a few jacksmelt. 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 – A variety of perch should be available—blackperch, pileperch, and striped perch along with a few mid-sized rockfish. 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 — Things have been slow but a few perch, mainly barred and calico, do make an appearance. 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 — Surfperch are showing, mainly barred and calico, but the majority are small-sized. Action on the top is dead. How To Get There: Highway 1 to the entrance to the park.
Monterey-Santa Cruz-San Mateo County Piers
Monterey Coast Guard Pier — I fished the pier mid-month, a trip that produced several different species of rockfish (gopher, kelp, black & yellow), cabezon, striped seaperch, giant and crevice kelpfish and a blunthead sculpin. Given the time of the year lingcod should also be moving into the waters of the pier. 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 — I fished the pier mid-month, a trip that produced few fish but locals said the mackerel had been in and out. You’ve just got to be there when they are in. 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 — A few perch and sharays continue to be caught but the pier really needs a good rain to get rid of the bird poo and the associated and bothersome kelp flies. Given the closing of the final third of the pier it’s not a pier I can recommend. How To Get There: How To Get There: From Highway 1 take the State Park Drive exit; follow the road west to the park entrance.
Capitola Wharf — Elise at the Capitola Boat & Bait, on the pier, said action has been slow, mainly it’s just been a few kingfish (white croaker), small perch (shiner, walleye and white), and an occasional halibut (if you use live bait). 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 — Ashley from the Santa Cruz Boat Rental (on the pier) said things are a little slow. Some perch are showing up mid-pier (where the pier widens) along with some jacksmelt and an occasional flatfish—sanddabs, starry flounder and halibut. Small rockfish are available in the wells at the end and a cast out from the pier can continue to yield kingfish (white croaker). 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.
Pillar Point Pier — No report, need a reporter. 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 — Marque at Coastside #2 Bait and Tackle, 1604 Francisco Blvd, says things are slow at the pier — mainly just a few perch. Everyone’s getting ready for the Dungeness crab season — and hoping for the best. 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 a short way until you see markers indicating the way to Fort Point, turn left on Long Avenue and it will take you down to the pier.