Black Seaperch Archives - Pier Fishing in California

Nick’s Cove Pier — Marshall, Tomales Bay

Public Access Area — Private Pier — Fishing License Required Although many small piers dot the shoreline of Tomales Bay, few allow access to the public. One that did was the private pier at Lawson’s Landing, just south of Sand Point and the mouth of …

Judge John Sutter Pier — Oakland

Public Pier — No License Required The Judge John Sutter Pier, part of the larger Judge John Sutter Regional Shoreline Park and Pier, is one of the newest piers in the state opening in October 2020. I’ve only fished it once so these are preliminary…

Pier J Fishing Pier(s) — Long Beach

Public Piers — No Fishing License Required I first heard about the Pier J piers at the end of 2020. Given that I’ve been to the opening of a couple of piers, I was hoping to be one of the first anglers to fish on…

Fortman Marina Pier— Alameda

Public Access Area — Status Unclear — Fishing License May Be Required It’s unclear the purpose of this pier. Probably it was built simply as a place for rest and as a place to watch the life on the estuary. A constant navy of ships…

Greenwood Cove Pier — Tiburon

Public Access Area — Fishing License Required Even as a writer there are some places you hesitate to write about, and this is one of those spots. The pier is small and more of a viewing structure to relax and watch the birds than a…

Alice Street Pier — Oakland

Private Pier — Fishing License Required My first fishing trip to this small pier was on a fairly balmy, shirtsleeve weather kind of day in early January. Boat traffic was minimal, most of the nearby trees were void of leaves, and I pretty much had…

Oceanside Small Craft Harbor Fishing Pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required Talk about a contrast. The Oceanside Pier is huge and can handle several hundred anglers at a time; this small pier can maybe handle a dozen or so anglers but it would feel crowded. The bigger Oceanside Pier…

Morro Bay North T-Pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required Named for their shape, two mid-sized piers sit at the north end of the Embarcadero in Morro Bay. They are only a short distance apart and the environments and fishing are nearly identical. Regardless of size, they are…

Morro Bay South T-Pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required Sitting just a few hundred yards south of the North T-Pier, the South T-Pier is slightly larger and seems to be seeing an increasing proportion of the local pier anglers choose it as home. Perhaps this is due…

Stillwater Cove Pier aka Matthew & Mimi Jenkins Pier — Pebble Beach

Private Pier — Fishing License Required The Stillwater Cove Pier sits, in my opinion, in one of the most beautiful settings of any California pier. The water is that of Carmel Bay, the shoreline is that of scenic Pebble Beach. It’s a beautiful small pier…