Giant Kelpfish Archives - Pier Fishing in California

Cabrillo Mole — Avalon, Catalina Island

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required “But now farewell. I am going a long way With these thou seëst—if indeed I go (For all my mind is clouded with a doubt)— To the island-valley of Avilion; Where falls not hail, or rain, or any…

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…

Paradise Cove Pier — Malibu

Private Pier — Fishing License Required Paradise Cove’s pier is an icon of its history. Over decades of fishing boats, strolling lovers, angry storms, determined rebuilds and fat seagulls, it’s remained a landmark for this latitude of coastline. It used to be about twice as…

Hermosa Beach Pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required The first time I visited this pier was in 1982; the pier was crowded, live bait was available, and anglers were catching yellowtail. That fact may seem trivial or insignificant to the uninformed, but it seemed pretty amazing…

Goleta Pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required “Proceeding down the length of Goleta Pier is almost like walking along a rustic, folk version of a Parisian quay… The course along the pier is full of events and interest. There’s much that’s worth pausing over and…

Gaviota Pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required Closed since 2014 — Awaiting repair and/or reconstruction. A prime example (perhaps the perfect example) of government inefficency. For years there have been promises of repair and reopening but as the end of 2021 nothing has happened. Back…

Giant Kelpfish

Kelpfishes and Fringeheads: Family Clinidae Species: Heterostichus rostratus (Girard, 1854); from the Greek words heter (different) and ost (extra bone), and the Latin word rostratus (beaked or hooked). Alternate Names: Kelpfish, eel, iodine fish, butterfish, and kelp blenny. Called sargacero gigante in Mexico. Identification: The…