California Beach Fishing

• Imperial Beach Pier
• J Street Marina, Chula Vista, Pier
• Pepper Park, National City, Pier
• Coronado Fishing Pier
• Embarcadero Pier
• Shelter Island Pier
• Ocean Beach Pier *Note: Temporarily closed
• Mission Bay Jetty North *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required
• Crystal Pier (Pacific Beach)
• Oceanside Pier
• Oceanside Harbor Pier
• Oceanside Jetty East *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required

• San Clemente Pier
• Dana Point Jetty South *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required
• Dana Point Jetty
• Dana Point Harbor Pier
• Newport Harbor South Jetty *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required
• Newport Harbor North Jetty *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required
• Balboa Pier, Newport
• Newport Beach Pier
• Huntington Beach Pier
• Seal Beach Pier *Note: Temporarily closed

• Avalon Pier, Catalina Island
• Cabrillo Mole, Catalina Island
• Alamitos Bay (72nd Street) Jetty West *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required
• Alamitos Bay Jetty East *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required
• Belmont Pier, Long Beach
• Shoreline Village Pier 3
• Shoreline Village Pier 2
• Shoreline Village Pier 1
• Shoreline Aquatic Park Pier 1
• Shoreline Aquatic Park Pier 2
• Pier J Fishing Pier South
• Pier J Fishing Pier North
• Warehouse One Pier
• Cabrillo Beach Fishing Pier *Note, on the adjacent breakwater a fishing license is required
• Redondo Beach Pier
• Redondo Beach/King Harbor Breakwater
• Hermosa Beach Pier
• Manhattan Beach Pier
• Marina Del Rey South Jetty
• Marina Del Rey North Jetty *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required
• Venice Pier
• Santa Monica Pier
• Malibu Pier

• Port Hueneme Pier
• Ventura Pier *Note: Temporarily closed

• Santa Barbara Breakwater
• Stearn's Wharf
• Goleta Pier

• Pismo Beach Pier
• Avila Pier *Note: Temporarily closed
• Harford Pier, Port San Luis
• Port San Luis Breakwater
• Morro Bay South Jetty
• Anchor Memorial Park Pier
• Morro Bay South T-Pier
• Morro Bay North T-Pier
• Morro Bay North Jetty
• Cayucos Pier
• San Simeon Pier

• Monterey Municipal Wharf 2
• Monterey Coast Guard Breakwater
• Moss Landing Breakwater South *Note: Adjacent rock wall touching land and jetty inside the harbor license is required
• Moss Landing Breakwater North *Note: Adjacent rock wall touching land and jetty inside the harbor license is required

• Seacliff State Beach Pier (Seacliff Wharf) *Note: Temporarily closed
• Capitola Wharf *Note: Temporarily closed
• Santa Cruz Harbor Breakwater West *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required
• Santa Cruz Harbor Breakwater East *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required
• Santa Cruz Wharf

• Halfmoon Bay Jetty East
• Halfmoon Bay Jetty West
• Pillar Point Harbor Fishing Pier
• Pacifica Pier
• Redwood City Pier
• Coyote Point Pier
• Oyster Point Pier
• Sierra Point Pier

• Candlestick Fishing Pier (Eastern of two)
• Islais Creek Pier
• Agua Vista Pier
• South Beach Harbor Pier
• Pier 14
• Pier 7
• Pier 45
• San Francisco Municipal Wharf “Muni” Pier - Currently Closed
• Fort Mason Pier 3
• Fort Mason Pier 2
• Saint Francis Jetty
• Torpedo Wharf (Fort Point) Pier

• Dumbarton Pier
• San Leandro Marina Pier
• Doolittle Drive Pier
• Arrowhead Marsh/MLK Pier
• Veteran’s Pier *Note: On the adjacent walking bridge a fishing license is required
• Alameda Rock Wall
• Union Point Park Pier
• San Antonio Pier
• San Antonio North (Best Western) Pier
• Estuary Park Pier
• Webster St. (Jack London) Pier
• Port View Park Pier
• Emeryville Marina Pier

• Barbara and Jay Vincent Park Jetty
• Barbara and Jay Vincent Park Pier
• John J Sheridan Pier
• Ferry Point Pier
• Pt. Pinole Pier
• Eckley Pier
• Martinez Marina Pier

• Benicia Point Fishing Pier
• 9th Street Pier, Benicia
• Vallejo Launch Ramp Fishing Pier
• Vallejo Waterfront (Independence Park)
• Cullinan Ranch Fishing Pier

• Cuttings Wharf

• Acqua Hotel Pier
• Fort Baker Pier
• Fort Baker Jetty
• Elephant Rock Pier
• Paradise Beach County Park Pier
• McNears Beach County Park Pier

• Shollenberger Pier
• Bodega Bay South Jetty
• Bodega Bay North Jetty *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required
• Spud Point Public Pier

• Point Arena Pier
• Noyo River Jetty *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required

• Humboldt Bay South Jetty *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required
• Humboldt Bay North Jetty *Note: On the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required
• Del Norte Street Pier
• Adorni Center Pier

• B St. Pier
• Crescent City Harbor Lighthouse Jetty

When recreationally fishing from a "public pier" in ocean or bay waters, a fishing license is not required. Public piers have a specific definition in Section 1.88 of Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR)(opens in new tab). Public piers must be connected to the shoreline, allow for free, unrestricted public access, and have been built or currently function for the primary purpose of fishing.

Publicly owned jetties and breakwaters may also be "public piers" but, in addition, must form the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor. Jetties and other structures that are not the most seaward boundary are not public piers.

Even though a fishing license is not required on a public pier, all other regulations (including minimum size, bag limits, report cards, and seasons) apply while fishing from a public pier. Additionally, only two rods and lines, handlines, or nets, traps, or other appliances used to take crabs may be used per person on a public pier (CCR Title 14, Section 28.65(b)).

View a list and zoomable map of California public piers, jetties, and breakwaters as defined by Section 1.88 of Title 14, CCR. Note that CDFW cannot guarantee that individual piers, jetties, or breakwaters will be open to the public. The landowner may close these areas for safety, maintenance, or other reasons at any time.

No. An ocean enhancement stamp is required when fishing anywhere in the ocean south of Point Arguello (Santa Barbara county) where a fishing license is required. This stamp is not required to fish from a public pier.

No. A fishing license is required when fishing everywhere except for a public pier. Even if you hooked the fish on the pier and only came down onto the beach to land the fish, you would need a valid license to avoid a potential citation. Purchasing an annual fishing license will make this a non-issue; or you may want to buy a pier net to help you land bigger fish from the pier.

You may use no more than two rods and lines, two hand lines, or two nets, traps or other appliances used to take crabs. Species-specific gear restrictions (such as for rockfish, lingcod and salmon) do apply when fishing from a pier.

On public piers in San Francisco and San Pablo bays between the Golden Gate Bridge and the west Carquinez Bridge, you may only use two lines, two hand lines, or two nets, traps or other appliances used to take crabs. Species-specific gear restrictions (such as for rockfish, lingcod and salmon) do apply when fishing from a pier.

There may be certain fishing gear restrictions in certain areas, and/or for certain species. In San Francisco and San Pablo bays between the Golden Gate Bridge and the west Carquinez Bridge, you may only use one line with no more than three hooks. There are also gear restrictions for certain species (for example, those listed in California Code of Regulations Title 14, sections 28.65(c)(opens in new tab) and 28.20(d)(opens in new tab)). Unless otherwise restricted, any number of hooks and lines may be used to take finfish in all ocean waters and bays. Note that fishing gear restrictions do apply when fishing from the shore. It’s a good idea to review the current sport fishing regulations for whatever species you’re targeting to ensure you’re using legal fishing gear. When in doubt, contact CDFW by email or phone (831) 649-2870.

While fishing from the shore in San Francisco and San Pablo bays between the Golden Gate Bridge and the west Carquinez Bridge, you may only use one line with no more than three hooks; you may also use up to 10 crab traps. Species-specific gear restrictions (such as for rockfish, lingcod and salmon) do apply when fishing from the shore.

No, you may use no more than two rods and lines, two hand lines, or two nets, traps or other appliances used to take crabs.

Yes, as long as you are actively using no more than two rods at any one time.

No, hook and line is not a legal method of take for crustaceans. Any lobster or crab taken on hook and line shall be returned to the water immediately.

Yes and no. Hooks attached to lures must be barbless, but they do not have to be circle hooks. You must use barbless circle hooks when fishing with bait in the ocean from a public pier for salmon.

No. Salmon may be taken by angling with no more than one rod in ocean waters.

No. The term "rockfish" in the sport fishing regulations refers to members of the genus Sebastes. While the monkeyface prickleback is considered a "nearshore fish stock" under Section 1.90 of the regulations, it is not a nearshore rockfish, or any other kind of rockfish.