Sometimes the piers can get crowded.

[Ken Jones]

Sometimes the piers can get crowded. Two pictures at the Santa Monica Pier and an old picture at the Pacifica Pier by friend and former Fish and Game Department member Paul Gregory. Why so crowded at Pacifica? Because it was an unbelievable year, one that saw as many as a thousand salmon caught from the pier in one weekend. Of course you had better know what you were doing if you joined the crowd, there was little sympathy for newbies who would hook a fish and tangle up the other lines (although some tangles were inevitable).

One more salmon coming over the rail at Pacifica.



At the end of the Santa Monica Pier



Near the end of the Santa Monica Pier​

 

[TheFrood]

I see piers like that... I just turn around and go home or go fish from the beach...

I've never been a fan of combat fishing and prefer my personal space. Not knocking it
for people who like it and with that many lines in the water, who needs chum?

Not a huge fan of party boats for very much the same reason.

 

[Ken Jones]

Pretty similar to my feelings and like you it's one reason I've pretty much given up on fishing the partyboats.

 

[CatchinKelp]

I gave Pacifica a try back in summer 2011. Though it was nowhere near the insanity of that first photograph, I definitely don't need to do it again! As for party boats, I have been lucky on the Stardust to never have had it be over 40 rods and that wasn't too bad. A secluded rockfishing hole beats all that any day!

 

[TheFrood]

Pacifica pier is one of the most crowded piers I've ever seen. Never fished on it because of that. Been TO it to fish and wound up going somewhere else. Fort Point torpedo wharf is another heavy-use pier. I learned to use a hoop net there but I've only ever fished or hooped that pier twice because of how many people.

So Cal piers all seem to usually be pretty crowded, at least the LA and OC piers I've fished, but I think that's primarily due to way higher population
density and much smaller pier square footage per capita...

 

[MisterT]

Pacifica pier is one of the most crowded piers I've ever seen. Never fished on it because of that. Been TO it to fish and wound up going somewhere else. Fort Point torpedo wharf is another heavy-use pier. I learned to use a hoop net there but I've only ever fished or hooped that pier twice because of how many people.

So Cal piers all seem to usually be pretty crowded, at least the LA and OC piers I've fished, but I think that's primarily due to way higher population
density and much smaller pier square footage per capita...

That's why shore / surf fishing is more appealing although I find it challenging. I do like pier fishing for that fact that the pier itself is structure.

 

[K1n]

Pacifica will always have a special place in my heart. That's where my dad took me to fish for the first time and also where I caught my first fish (small speckled sanddab on shrimp). The crowds there are crazy because it's close by huge population centers, typically easy free parking and lastly, it also produced a lot of fish. Combat fishing yes, but a lot of them are very friendly and are more than willing to help out if you ask (although there are some of "those" anglers that belittle people who aren't in the know, but they are everywhere). If you don't know what you are doing, stay away from the crowds as best you can and learn what's going on. It IS intimidating to fish in those situations, be as cordial as possible, learn as much as you can from the regulars and have fun.
I've had a lot of friendly sessions with random people out there and at the end of the day, you make new friends and new memories. Just because a pier is crowded doesn't necessarily mean a bad time, but it's an experience for sure.

 

[Ken Jones]

Some old pictures — the piers have always been crowded.

Pine Ave. Pier in Long Beach in the '60s



Redondo Beach Pier 1923



Huntington Beach Pier in the 1930s


The Newport Pier when I fished it in the '60s — notice no railing​

 

[TheFrood]

Pacifica will always have a special place in my heart. That's where my dad took me to fish for the first time and also where I caught my first fish (small speckled sanddab on shrimp). The crowds there are crazy because it's close by huge population centers, typically easy free parking and lastly, it also produced a lot of fish. Combat fishing yes, but a lot of them are very friendly and are more than willing to help out if you ask (although there are some of "those" anglers that belittle people who aren't in the know, but they are everywhere). If you don't know what you are doing, stay away from the crowds as best you can and learn what's going on. It IS intimidating to fish in those situations, be as cordial as possible, learn as much as you can from the regulars and have fun.
I've had a lot of friendly sessions with random people out there and at the end of the day, you make new friends and new memories. Just because a pier is crowded doesn't necessarily mean a bad time, but it's an experience for sure.

That's how I feel about Jenks Lake up near Big Bear in So Cal, for almost the exact same reason actually.

 

[moonshine]

That's how I feel about Jenks Lake up near Big Bear in So Cal, for almost the exact same reason actually.

Jenks Lake was a favorite of mine when I lived down there. Very pristine place to take my son, but the lot could fill quickly when the fishing was good.

 

[TheFrood]

Jenks Lake was a favorite of mine when I lived down there. Very pristine place to take my son, but the lot could fill quickly when the fishing was good.

I haven't been in years. The last time I went there were paths and campgrounds everywhere with lots of rules.
I remember as a child we would go there and when not fishing all the kids would be out in the middle of
the lake playing on the giant tree-stumps that were floating there like made to order float toys. King of the
hill in the middle of a lake on a giant slimy tree-stump... what fun.