Pier Fishing in California - Page 3 of 29 - The Complete Coast and Bay Guide to Shore-Based Fishing

Hotel del Coronado Pier — Gone But Not Forgotten

Although piers and wharves have lined Coronado’s bayside shoreline over the years, the most famous pier at Coronado was the oceanfront pier that sat adjacent to the iconic Hotel del Coronado for over a third of a century. Hotel guests and people who stayed at…

Redondo Wharf No. 1 (Santa Fe Wharf), 1888-1915 — Gone But Not Forgotten

An Angler’s history of Redondo’s Wharf #1 The story of Redondo and its early wharves is one that is far more complex than that seen at the typical California seaside towns that sprang up in the late 1800s. The plan by the Redondo Beach Company…

Del Mar Pier — Gone But Not Forgotten

Although today’s Oceanside Pier is the first pier to be encountered north of San Diego, that hasn’t always been the case. The north county area saw several wharves and “pleasure piers” come and go over the years, piers at Del Mar, Carlsbad and Cardiff by…

Point Mugu Pier — Gone But Not Forgotten

Although the history of California’s coastline includes many piers that are today just traces of history, few lasted as long, or saw as many challenges and changes, as the pier at Point Mugu. It is also less known than some piers even though it was…

Sycamore Cove Pier aka Big Sycamore Canyon Pier — Gone But Not Forgotten

Sycamore Cove Beach (9000 Pacific Coast Highway) is located three miles east of Point Mugu and four miles up the coast northwest from the south corner of Ventura County. It sits at the mouth of the Big Sycamore Canyon and today is the site of…

Pelagic Red Crabs

Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Family Munididae (squat lobster) — Genus Pleuroncodes Species: Pleuroncodes planipes (Stimson, 1860) Species: Pelagic red crab Alternate Name: Tuna crab, red crab, lobster krill, langostilla. Identification: Generally bright red and in appearance resembles a lobster although…

California Spiny Lobster

Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Family Palinuridae (Spiny Lobster) Species: Panulirus interruptus (Randall, 1840); interruptus refers to the grooves on the abdomen which are interrupted in this species. Alternate Name: Bugs, crayfish, marine crayfish, rock lobster and red lobster. In…

Kelp Crab aka Northern Kelp Crab

Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Superfamily Majoidea (Spider Crabs) — Family Epialtidae — Genus Pugettia Species: Pugettia producta, (Stimpson, 1857); Pugettia (Puget Sound) producta (product of). Alternate Name: Shield-back crab, northern kelp crab, northern lame crab, and spider crab. Called…

Sheep Crab aka Spider Crab

Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Superfamily Majoidea (Spider Crabs) — Family Epialtidae — Genus Loxorhynchus Species: Loxorhynchus grandis, (Stimpson, 1857): Loxorhynchus (bent nose) grandis (large). Alternate Name: Spider crab and California king crab. Identification: Sheep crabs have a large, hard…

Rock Crab aka Brown Rock Crab and Pacific Rock Crab

Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda (Crabs, Lobster, Shrimp) — Family Cancridae (Cancer Crabs) — Genus Cancer Species: Cancer antennarium (Stimpson, 1856). (Alternate proposed scientific name Romaleon antennarium). Antennarium — Latin for “antennae” in reference to the large antennae, larger than those of other species in…