May 2024 Fishing Report, Central California (#294)
San Luis Obispo County Piers
Pismo Beach Pier — No report but some surfperch should be available on the bottom and some jacksmelt or sardines on top. This is also the time of the year when some sharks begin to lshow up at night. 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 – Still closed amidst occasional rumors of being repaired. When? 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 —The folks at the Patriot Sportfishing says it’s been real slow. Mainly a few jacksmelt and perch. 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 and small rockfish should still be available—blackperch, pileperch, and striped perch along with grass, brown, copper, blue and black 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 — Although I think the end of the pier may be closed, springtime should see some decent fishing for surfperch (barred and calico) when the winds cooperate. Walleye surfperch should be caught under the pier, mid-pier to the end, using small hooks or a Sabiki baited with pieces of worms or other bait. White croaker should be on the bottom (cast out from the pier using pieces of worm, anchovy or strips of squid). Jacksmelt should be in the top-waters all along the pier and most people use Sabikis for the pelagics. Shark action should be picking up. 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 — Closed due to structural damage. How To Get There: Highway 1 to the entrance to the park.
Monterey-Santa Cruz-San Mateo County Piers
Monterey Coast Guard Pier — Generally a mix of perch and rockfish should be available. We did get a report from MacAttack57 on April 18 said: “Got to the pier at 5:14 p.m. The pier is closed for repairs, apparently part of the back wall feel apart and repairs are needed. On a positive note, I still caught some nice rockfish for dinner, despite the shortage of spots. I caught a Cabezon that was stuck for a while on a snag of broken braided line. Got the snag and the cab, and released him after throwing away the line in one of those PVC tubes. Lost my water bucket after a friend tried to get some water for the rockfish in my bucket. He wanted to go on the rocks to get it, but I know he’d slip, so I just cut the rope as close as possible. I hate leaving trash in the ocean, so some how, I’m getting that bucket back. Kept the rockfish for dinner today, always a great day out fishing. The catch: 1 B&Y rockfish, 1 Grass rockfish and1 Cabezon. 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 — We need a reporter. The pier is usually very good or very bad. We did get a report from MacAttack57 on April 18 said: “Got a report for Wharf 2. I arrived at Wharf 2 at 1:04 PM, after finishing some errands in Marina and left at 4:13. Pretty much dead, not even a perch or smelt. Word on the pier was that stripers came early in the morning, and the regulars were throwing swim baits and jerk baits (some overhead so watch out). 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 — Gone, removed, demolished, destroyed and no longer there. How To Get There: From Highway 1 take the State Park Drive exit; follow the road west to the park entrance.
Capitola Wharf — The pier is closed and will need to be largely rebuilt. 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 — A report from Once You're Hook on 5/6 indicated sardines are in abundance along with a few mackerel. 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.
Johnson Pier (Pillar Point Harbor) — 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.
Pillar Point Pier (Pillar Point Harbor) — 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 — Unable to get a report. 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 — No report but some surfperch should be available on the bottom and some jacksmelt or sardines on top. This is also the time of the year when some sharks begin to lshow up at night. 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 – Still closed amidst occasional rumors of being repaired. When? 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 —The folks at the Patriot Sportfishing says it’s been real slow. Mainly a few jacksmelt and perch. 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 and small rockfish should still be available—blackperch, pileperch, and striped perch along with grass, brown, copper, blue and black 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 — Although I think the end of the pier may be closed, springtime should see some decent fishing for surfperch (barred and calico) when the winds cooperate. Walleye surfperch should be caught under the pier, mid-pier to the end, using small hooks or a Sabiki baited with pieces of worms or other bait. White croaker should be on the bottom (cast out from the pier using pieces of worm, anchovy or strips of squid). Jacksmelt should be in the top-waters all along the pier and most people use Sabikis for the pelagics. Shark action should be picking up. 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 — Closed due to structural damage. How To Get There: Highway 1 to the entrance to the park.
Monterey-Santa Cruz-San Mateo County Piers
Monterey Coast Guard Pier — Generally a mix of perch and rockfish should be available. We did get a report from MacAttack57 on April 18 said: “Got to the pier at 5:14 p.m. The pier is closed for repairs, apparently part of the back wall feel apart and repairs are needed. On a positive note, I still caught some nice rockfish for dinner, despite the shortage of spots. I caught a Cabezon that was stuck for a while on a snag of broken braided line. Got the snag and the cab, and released him after throwing away the line in one of those PVC tubes. Lost my water bucket after a friend tried to get some water for the rockfish in my bucket. He wanted to go on the rocks to get it, but I know he’d slip, so I just cut the rope as close as possible. I hate leaving trash in the ocean, so some how, I’m getting that bucket back. Kept the rockfish for dinner today, always a great day out fishing. The catch: 1 B&Y rockfish, 1 Grass rockfish and1 Cabezon. 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 — We need a reporter. The pier is usually very good or very bad. We did get a report from MacAttack57 on April 18 said: “Got a report for Wharf 2. I arrived at Wharf 2 at 1:04 PM, after finishing some errands in Marina and left at 4:13. Pretty much dead, not even a perch or smelt. Word on the pier was that stripers came early in the morning, and the regulars were throwing swim baits and jerk baits (some overhead so watch out). 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 — Gone, removed, demolished, destroyed and no longer there. How To Get There: From Highway 1 take the State Park Drive exit; follow the road west to the park entrance.
Capitola Wharf — The pier is closed and will need to be largely rebuilt. 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 — A report from Once You're Hook on 5/6 indicated sardines are in abundance along with a few mackerel. 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.
Johnson Pier (Pillar Point Harbor) — 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.
Pillar Point Pier (Pillar Point Harbor) — 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 — Unable to get a report. 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.
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