Sand Sole Archives - Pier Fishing in California

Nick’s Cove Pier — Marshall, Tomales Bay

Public Pier? — Status unclear, a fishing License may be required Although many small piers dot the shoreline of Tomales Bay, only two allow the public to fish from them. One is the private pier at Lawson’s Landing, just south of Sand Point and the…

Chevys Pier — Emeryville

Public Access Area — Status Unclear — Fishing License May Be Required There are many small piers scattered along the shoreline of the East Bay, many not technically built for fishing but offering platforms for those who chose the piscatorial arts. This is one such…

Pacifica Pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required The question of what is the best pier in the state is one that I have been asked fairly frequently over the years. Given that the answer depends on a number of factors (including the personal affection which…

Cayucos Pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required Don’t believe everything you read. On a visit to Hearst Castle I had read that the fishing at Cayucos was generally poor—and so, I avoided it for years. I would drive right by the town as I headed…

Sand Sole

Righteye Flounders: Family Pleuronectidae Species: Psettichthys melanostictus (Girard, 1854); from the Greek words psetta (flounder), ichthys (fish), melas (black) and stictos (specks). Alternate Names: Halibut, sand flounder, spotted flounder, fringe sole or fringe flounder. Identification: Sand sole are in the right-eye flounder family. Most easily…

San Francisco Municipal Pier aka “The Muni”

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required There are times when I don’t particularly like people to know that I am “The Pier Fisherman.” That’s generally true when I’m out on a pier and my fishing skills are stinking up the joint (in other words,…

San Simeon Pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required In 1542 Rodriguez Cabrillo, the Portuguese navigator sailed northward from Mexico to explore the coast of California. After visiting the bay of San Luis Obispo (that he called the Bay of Todos Santos, or All-Saints Bay) he visited…

Trinidad Pier aka Seascape Pier — Trinidad

Private Pier — Fishing License Required My first visit to the Trinidad Pier was in August of 1976 and I was immediately struck by two thoughts. The first concerned the beautiful surroundings, both the harbor area itself and the view looking down the coast. The…

Pismo Beach Pier

Public Pier — No Fishing License Required This pier, together with the other piers along this stretch of coast, provides both recreational fishing and a relief from the summer heat for those who come over from the hot Central Valley (and the summertime influx of…