Pier Fishing In California

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Pier Fishing In California

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Ken Jones is the author of Pier Fishing in California, 1st & 2nd editions owner/operator of the Pier Fishing In California website (pierfishing.com).

He’s fished on 130 saltwater piers in California and caught 132 different species from those piers. Ken is an educator, writer, and former business owner. Born in Indiana (so an Indiana Jones), he’s lived most of his life in California where he has been a fisherman for more than 65 years. He’s been married for 57 years to his lovely wife Pat, he’s the father of Mike and Kim, and grandfather to Serena, Adam, Daphne and Katie. He also has six foreign exchange children— Marjaana (Finland), Martin (Denmark), Chris (Truk Island), Monika (Poland), Denisa (Slovakia) and Kimiko (Japan). Author of Pier Fishing in California, 1st and 2nd editions, and owner/ operator of the Pier Fishing In California website (pierfishing.com). If the Carquinez Strait/Suisun Bay/West Delta piers were included, it would be 137 piers and 143 different species. To his friends and followers he’s earned and is honored by the title of head “Pier Rat” and “Skipper.”

In addition to California, Ken has fished from Indiana and Ohio to North Carolina, Florida, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Foreign locations have included Mexico and Canada. However, given that the majority of his life has been in California, that is where the majority of his fishing has taken place, on piers, in the surf and from rocks, and on fishing barges, private boats and Sportfishing boats. As well as a book author, Ken’s written for many magazines including Western Saltwater Fisherman, California Angler, Pacific Coast Sportfishing, Western Outdoor News, Fish Rap Newspaper and Fish Taco Chronicles. He’s also the owner/operator of the fishing blog—kenjonesfishing.com

Ken has been involved with a number of fishery issues in California and has served on a number of committees including the California Bay-Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp Committee (BDSFES), California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) North Central Coast Stakeholders Group, California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Statewide Interests Group (SIG), California Ocean Uses Atlas project for Northern California, Southern California and Central California (NOAA), California Recreational Fish Implementation Team (NOAA), Recreational Fishing Regional Roundtable,(NOAA), and Recreational Fishing Alliance Advisory Board.

10/30/2026

Tilefishes — Family Malacanthidae —Ocean Whitefish

Species: Caulolatilus princeps (Jenyns, 1840); from the Greek words caulo (stem) and latilus (probably a similar fish) and the Latin word princeps (leader).

Alternate Names: Poor man’s yellowtail, bottom yellowtail, whities, blanquillo, blanka. In Mexico called pez blanco, blanquillo fino or pierna.

Identification: Elongate with a small mouth; distinguished by the very long single dorsal fin; long base of a**l fin originates about middle of body; caudal peduncle rounded and slender. Brown to yellowish back, paler below; yellow or yellowish green edging on fins; blue stripe near edge of dorsal and a**l fins. They also have very sharp serrated gill plates—so be careful in handling them.

Size: To 40-inches, although most caught by anglers are less than 8 pounds in weight and most caught from piers are only 12-15 inches long. The California angling record fish weighed 13 lb. 12 oz. and was taken at the Cortez Bank, San Diego Co. in 1988. The diving record fish weighed the same, 13 Lbs. 12 oz. and was taken at San Nicholas Island in 2010. The IGFA World Record fish weighed 17 Lbs 1 oz and was caught at the Hurricane Bank, California in 2011.

Range: Reported from Peru and Chile, the Galápagos Islands, and the Gulf of California north to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Uncommon north of Point Conception and rare north of Monterey.

Habitat: Mostly found in offshore rocky reefs and banks although common around some kelp beds; shallow water in summer, deeper in winter. Found from shallow waters to at least 620 feet deep with the largest concentrations at 90-200 feet. Typically feeds on crabs, shrimp, octopuses, squid and small fish.

Piers: Although occasionally seen at southern California piers near deep water or kelp, they are only really common at two piers, the Cabrillo Mole and Green Pleasure Pier, both in Avalon on Catalina Island. At the Green Pleasure Pier I have seen schools of ocean whitefish move into the waters around the pier and caught them on virtually every cast.

Shoreline: Rarely taken by shore anglers unless fishing at Catalina where they are common; Pebbly Beach near Avalon is a good spot late spring to summer.

Boats: A common species for boaters fishing the southern California islands, especially Santa Catalina, Santa Barbara and San Clemente Islands; also reported to be abundant at the Cortez and Tanner Banks.

Bait and Tackle: Usually caught on the bottom though reported to typically feed four to six feet off the bottom. Top bait seems to be fresh squid cut into strips about 4 inches long and half an inch wide. It’s reported that a reverse dropper loop—with the hook on the bottom and the sinker hanging from a dropper loop a couple of feet up the line—can be deadly. Other good baits include ghost shrimp, market shrimp, mussels, worms and small live bait. Light to medium tackle and a size 4 or 2 hook is all that is needed for most of the pier-caught fish. Deeper water fish require stronger tackle.

Food Value: A good eating fish but somewhat bland in flavor with small flakes and a soft texture. The flesh is white in color and low in fat content. It can be prepared with basically any cooking method. However, some reports say that at certain times of the year, in certain areas, it seems to develop an unpleasant taste. As example, some people report a bitter taste from fish caught in shallow-water kelp beds (although apparently there’s no problem with fish caught in deeper waters). J. Charles Davis in his book California Salt Water Fishing (1949, A. S. Barnes and Company) said “an excellent food fish but should be skinned before cooking. The skin has a strong smell of iodine and if the fish is cooked without skinning, the flavor is imparted to the meat and makes it unpleasant. If skinned it is delicious.” I’ve only eaten skinned fillets and they were indeed delicious.

Comments: Due to the excellent fighting nature of these fish they are sometimes called the “poor man’s yellowtail.” Another more recent name, one apparently used on some partyboats, is “razor gill bottom dorado’ due to their very sharp serrated gill plates and the fight they put up. In California Salt Water Fishing by J. Charles Davis (1949), the author says “Be careful in handling this fish, when removing it from the hook, and when cleaning it. It has the sharpest gill covering (operacle) I’ve ever seen. It is actually razor sharp, serrated and will cut to the bone if you so much as touch it. While not poisonous, like the sculpin, it is quite capable of inflicting a very painful cut.” Given that their small mouths make them hard to lip latch many simply use a wet towel to grab and cradle their body.

One of my favorite quotes (and a quote within a quote) concerns ocean whitefish and comes from Milton Love’s great book Probably More Than You Want To Know About The Fishes Of The Pacific Coast. “Here’s a florid, but fun quote from C. F. Holder’s The Game Fishes of the World (1913, Hodder and Stoughton) about fishing for whitefish at San Clemente Island. ‘Possibly the finest game fish of this region among the small fishes is the Blanquillo or whitefish … When fishing with Dr. Gifford Pinchot in 1910 we found a rock one day rising to within ten feet of the surface then dropping to a great depth … The zone of thirty or forty feet was evidently devoted to the blanquillo … some weighing ten or twelve pounds. I took so many whitefish that day on the side of that beautiful mountain of the sea, up whose sapphire sides Queen Gulnore might have appeared at any moment, that I never felt quite the same regarding blanquillo.’ So, what’s the deal with the Queen Gulnore and why does she like whitefish so much?”

The Rest of the Story — Queen Gulnore (usually spelled Gulnare is a character found in Fairy Tales from the Arabian Nights and the story “The King of Persia and the Princess of the Sea.” She was a most beautiful and charming slave who eventually was married to the King of Persia and became his Queen. Eventually he discovered that she was of royal blood from a kingdom under the sea and reunites her with her family including her mother and her brother King Saleh. They implore her to return to the sea but she loves the king and and chooses to stay with her husband and their child Prince Beder (who is able to breathe underwater and on land). As for whitefish—who knows?

10/25/2026

Sea Chubs — Family Kyphosidae — Opaleye

Species: Girella nigricans (Ayres, 1860); from the French word girelle (a derivative of julis, an old word used to denote a number of small wrasse in Europe), the Latin word nigr (dark) and the Greek word ikanos (becoming, in reference to its pleasing appearance).

Alternate Names: Blue-eye perch, green perch, bluefish, blue bass, greenfish, Jack Benny, Catalina perch, button-back, button-eye, button perch and button bass. Called chopa verde in Mexico.

Identification: Opaleye are perch-shaped but heavier bodied. Their coloring is usually dark olive green and commonly they have two light spots at the base of the dorsal fin. Some fish are pale green or bluish-green while a few almost all white fish have been observed. The eyes are distinctive: large and an opalescent, blue-green color.

Size: To 26 inches and over 13 pounds. The California angling record fish weighed 6 lbs. 4 oz. and was taken near Los Flores Creek in Malibu in 1956. Another 6 Lbs. 4 oz. fish was reportedly caught by David Douglas at the Santa Monica Pier in 1964 (Pasadena Independent, January 16, 1964). It was never officially recorded. The diving record fish weighed 13 Lbs. 7 oz. and was speared by David Williams at Aliso, south Laguna Beach, in 1964. The IGFA World Record fish is listed at 4 Lbs. 0 oz. for a fish caught at the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey on February 24, 2019. Unfortunately, most opaleye caught from piers are less than 14 inches in length.

Range: Gulf of California (isolated population), and Pacific Coast from Cabo San Lucas, southern Baja California, to Otter Rock, Oregon. Common from Bahia Magdalena, southern Baja California, to Point Conception. Less common north of Point Conception and rare north of Monterey. A resident population does appear to have made a home at the Monterey Coast Guard Pier in Monterey. The World Record Fish listed by the IGFA is from that isolated population.

Habitat: Generally found in intertidal, shallow-water, rocky areas and kelp beds. Recorded to a depth of 105 feet.

Piers: Can be caught from almost any pier in southern California located near rocks, reefs, or kelp. Less commonly taken north of Point Conception although occasionally seen at piers in Morro Bay and the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey. Best bets: Shelter Island Pier, Ocean Beach Pier (inshore) (closed), Oceanside Pier, Oceanside Harbor Pier, Dana Harbor Pier, Cabrillo Pier (jetty side), the Green Pleasure Pier and Cabrillo Mole in Avalon (the two best piers), Redondo Sportfishing Pier (closed/gone), and Paradise Cove Pier. Most of the fish caught at SoCal piers are fairly small to mid-size opaleye. The exceptions are the two piers in Avalon that almost always have good-sized fish available for the opaleye-seekers.

Shoreline: One of the main goals of rocky shore anglers in southern California.

Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters unless targeting them at places such as jetties and breakwaters.

Bait and Tackle: Some anglers specialize in opaleye and many of them swear on moss or frozen peas as the best baits. Both are fished on very small, size 8-12 hooks and, depending upon the pier and conditions, can be flylined out without a sinker. I've actually caught more on ghost shrimp but I must admit that I’ve sometimes watched, while fishing at the Cabrillo Mole on Avalon, while a group of opaleye “pros” from Los Angeles (I recognize them by now) caught opaleye after opaleye. They almost always use moss as their “bait du jour.” I think all three baits are excellent for opaleye (although the ghost shrimp are more expensive and sometimes hard to find). Fresh mussels, pile worms, bloodworm, lugworms and small rock crabs also make good bait. I also managed to hook a few opaleye using garden snails during an experiment testing different baits at Catalina in 2005.

Food Value: A good eating fish that is mild flavored, small flaked, firm textured, and low in fat content. It is suitable for many forms of cooking but most commonly fried or steamed whole.

Comments: Primarily herbivores (vegetarians), opaleye eat a variety of plants including feather boa kelp, giant kelp, sea lettuce and coralline algae. Evidently, they also grab organisms attached to seaweed as they’re making their rounds, tasty little items like tube worms and red crabs. Thus they are also somewhat omnivorous, feeding on both plant and animal matter. In reality they sometimes seem to feed on whatever is available. Opaleye are a favorite of many anglers; they're sometimes hard to hook but once hooked put up a very good fight for their size.

The crystal-clear waters at Avalon present quite a challenge for the sagacious, line-shy opaleye. Big schools of 2-3 pound fish hang around the Green Pleasure Pier and the Cabrillo Mole but they can be very hard to catch. They seem more cautious of line at the Green Pleasure Pier but if you use a light line, perhaps 2-4-pound fluorocarbon, you might get them. (Actually, to be fair, I catch them every year at the Pleasure Pier and I usually am using 8-10-pound fluorocarbon). Unfortunately the 1,794 ropes, tangled lines, pilings, floats, shore boats and yellow submarines that surround and hang under the GPP might also get your line.

At the Mole it’s the long fronds and blades of the giant kelp that sway (tidally) in or out near the railing. If a hooked opaleye is allowed to encircle the kelp it’s pretty much over. As soon as they are hooked apply pressure and try to keep them coming toward you while having a person ready with a net. You need to use light line but can also pay the consequences if you’re unwilling to apply enough pressure.

The opaleye “pros” who come over to Catalina from Los Angeles take the ferry over for one day, fish exclusively at the Cabrillo Mole for one species—opaleye, and are almost always successful (coolers are crammed with fish).

You learn from such experts and a few things should be mentioned. The first is that the opaleye are typically at a mid-water depth, five to ten feet under the surface of the water depending upon the depth of the water. They are rarely caught on top and infrequently caught on the bottom (although I’ve caught several fishing on the bottom at night and they are often caught on the bottom by anglers casting out from jetties). Second is that if you want to fish the correct depth a float is desirable and long slip-line floats are the preferred tackle for the opaleye hunters (although bobbers will also work). Third is when you see the float go down, strike and try to keep the fish out of the kelp. Fourth is that light line (preferably fluorocarbon) and small hooks (size 6 or smaller) are key.

Opaleye, especially the older, larger fish can be frustratingly difficult to catch. Chum with peas and a whole school may come up to check out the bait and fish after fish will approach the bait before turning away in seeming disapproval. But, the challenge of outsmarting the fish is part of the fun. Still, it’s kind of funny how often a fish with a brain the size of a pea can outsmart us.

10/23/2026

Well, sometimes things do not turn out as planned. I planned a trip to the southland this week which would include a couple of days at Catalina with Rita and her family, a return visit to Balboa to fish with Snookie, and then heading to Oceanside to see a couple of friends there. Lastly, if I could make it work, would be a day in San Diego.
I hoped more than anything to partake of some of the El Nino action and possibly see an exotic fish or two. I also wanted to see how the kelp at the Cabrillo Mole was holding up given kelp beds suffer so much during El Nino hot water conditions.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t come down earlier and knew it was getting late in the season. And, I hadn’t anticipated the weather conditions. As it tuned out I was able to fish in Avalon but calls to my friends on Tuesday said don’t waste my time coming down on Thursday and Friday. Heavy rain and coastal seas were expected.
What I experienced in the fishing was somewhat normal numbers but far fewer species including hardly any sheephead, opaleye, and ocean whitefish, and no kelpfish. However, it’s always a pleasure visiting Avalon. Unfortunately most of the kelp was missing at the Mole, the kelp, which always provides a good environment for a variety of species, something I always enjoy. In addition, there was a big flock of cormorants at the Mole and they constantly tried to grab hooked fish and fish you were trying to safely return to the water. They were a real pain! Our group did catch one special fish, a small yellowtail, caught by Hans Jones. He caught it on a Sabiki baited with strips of squid. It was the derby winner.

As for the statistics:
Cabrillo Mole: Monday, 10/19, 10:10-3:10 p.m. 5 Hours.
34 Kelp Bass
4 Halfmoon
4 Senorita
3 Garibaldi
2 Rock Wrasse
1 Blacksmith

Cabrillo Mole: Tuesday, 10/20, 9:10-2:55 p.m. 5.75 Hours.
29 Kelp Bass
12 Garibaldi
5 Senorita
3 Rock Wrasse
2 Halfmoon

Cabrillo Mole: Tuesday, 10/20, 8-10 p.m. 2 Hours.
5 Kelp Bass
3 Halfmoon
2 Jack Mackerel
1 CA Scorpionfish
1 Garibaldi

It seemed really slow but in checking my long-term records the numbers weren’t too different. The big difference was the lack of favorite species—sheephead, opaleye and ocean whitefish.

Fishing was even slower at the Green Pleasure Pier:
Green Pleasure Pier: Tuesday, 10/20, 7:25-8:25 a.m. 1 Hour.
1 Garibaldi
1 Sheephead
1 Opaleye
1 Sargo (first I had caught at the GPP)

Green Pleasure Pier: Wednesday, 10/21, 7-8:30 a.m. 1 ½ Hours.
1 Senorita.
This was an especially frustrating visit. Numerous opaleye were in evidence as well as halfmoon and garibaldi. I tried several different baits (ghost shrimp, lug worms, regular shrimp, and peas) but in every case the fish would come over, examine the bait, and turn away. I could have switched to a light line Sabiki with small hooks but I didn’t want to catch them on Sabikis. Surprisingly I didn’t see a single kelp bass on my two trips to the GPP, something I had never seen before. Usually the kelp bass are thick at the GPP and the problem is keeping them off your line when fishing for better fish.

The bottom line was some fish but less species and all relatively small. The biggest fish were two 13-inch kelp bass and a 14-inch sargo. All fish were returned to the water with the exception of the sargo.

I used two rods and reels rigged with high/low leaders. Bait included ghost shrimp, lug worms, market shrimp, mussels, fillets of salted mackerel and sardines (from previous trips), and even a small bit of unknown mystery bait given to me by an angler at the Long Beach mini piers last time down. He said he made it himself (and it worked on a few fish). A third rod and reel was rigged with bonito gear but was kept in my pier cart until the bonito showed up — and they didn’t show up.

Surprisingly I did not see much change to my overall statistics at both piers even though it seemed slow.

Green Pleasure Pier 1977-2025 (58 trips): 12.6 fish per hour; 26.5 points per hour

Green Pleasure Pier 1977-2026 (60 Trips): 12.5 fish per hour; 26.2 points per hour

Cabrillo Mole 2002-2025 (50 Trips): 7.27 fish per hour; 16.1 points per hour

Cabrillo Mole 2002-2026 (53 Trips): 7.33 fish per hour; 16.2 points per hour.

10/17/2026

We kept our barrels of salted sardines, anchovies and slab bonito out in back of the store. From the barrels we filled aluminum tubs kept in the front of the store from which handful sales were made. Sardines and anchovies were 15¢ a pound, mussels 5¢ a pound, razor clams 20¢ a pound, bonito 20¢ a pound and soft-shell sand crabs 15¢ a dozen. Running along the beach at low tide, we kids picked up the sand crabs, which we wholesaled to my Dad for 10¢ a dozen. We were paid 10¢ a pound for all the razor clams we could dig up on the mud flats. We could dig about 12 to 15 pounds a kid on a low tide. We had 50-pound sacks of salt, which we used to salt-down the fish boxes of sardines and anchovies, brought in by bait boat crews. Salting down the little fish in our several barrels was a weekly job as we really went through them.

My older half-brother, Tate, and I had the job of chopping mussels off the piling of the Newport Pier...About all we knew was to get in and start rowing like mad and you would get out through the surf...We would fill two or three potato sacks with mussels. I’d sit in the stern with the mussels. We’d have about six inches of freeboard at the stern and the waves were three or four feet or higher as a rule. I was half wet by the time we started in anyway, so, it didn’t matter much if we practically sank getting back in, as long as we saved the mussels...Going under the pier with the dory with a big surf running, was a thrill. One moment the mussels on the pilings would be above your head, dripping salt water. The next moment they would be under four or five feet of water as the dory went up over a ground swell. Trying to stand up in the pitching dory and taking swipes at the mussels with the shovel, as the dory shot up and then dropped down was an exciting situation. It was always nice to finish getting enough mussels and row from between the piling, out of the shadows into the warm sunlight. —Hugh R. McMillan, Beach Rat Days See less

10/15/2026

The first pier I really fished was the Newport Pier and I fished it from 1962 until 1963. It's where I learned to fish and where I became a "Pier Rat." I saw it crowded many times but never like this. BTW, no railings back then. The picture is from the Orange County Register, July 13, 1964.

10/15/2026

The first "fishing barge" that I fished from was the Barge Georgia out of the Newport Pier. The date was June 2, 1962 and since I was only 15, I think I only had to pay the children's rate of $2. I gave myself an early birthday gift. The newspaper ad is from the Orange County Register dated July 1, 1960. The green card I've saved all these years even though the fishing that day on the barge was worse than most of my days on the pier.

10/15/2026

Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans) — Order Decapoda — Spiny Lobster—Family Palinuridae — California 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 Mexico called langosta mexicana or langosta roja. Most anglers in California simply call them bugs and greedily await the start of the “bug” season each Fall.

Identification: Typical lobster shape, color that varies from brick-red to brown with greenish overtones, and a carapace (or back) that is very spiny with two extra large spines protruding over the eyes. Missing is the large claw that distinguishes the more famous Atlantic lobsters. At the lower edge of each of the tail segments is a large spine that can produce a painful pinch or puncture when the lobster flexes its tail.

Size: Reported to 26 pounds and 24 inches; most caught from pier are sub-legal size and even legal ones are rarely over 5 pounds in weight.

Range: Bahía Magdelena, Baja California, to Monterey Bay (but uncommon north of Point Conception).

Habitat: Prefers rocky shorelines and bottoms along the coast and around the Channel Islands. Usually found in various holes and crevices during the day while venturing out to feed alone at night. Typical food includes snails, sand dollars, shellfish and decaying animal and plant matter: they’ll eat just about anything.

Piers: A favorite goal of SoCal pier anglers during the typical October to March lobster season. Unfortunately, many piers have seen persistent and increased poaching of lobsters during the past decade and as a result few piers yield the numbers once commonly encountered. The poachers take (and keep) lobsters of every size, do so during every month (no matter the legal season), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife seems unable to end the problem. As a result we do not offer specific recommendations for best piers. General recommendations: 1. Most lobsters are taken at night so the piers that are open at night offer the best chance for a lobster. 2. Bugs are typically found along rocky shores and bottom areas that contain rocks so piers that have that type of bottom, or that have reefs near the pier, generally yield the best results.
Shoreline: Taken by hoop nets in rocky areas.

Boats: Taken by regular boaters and kayakers venturing into their shallow water, rocky habitat.

Bait and Tackle: Spiny lobsters are most commonly taken by using hoop nets. Bait varies but fish scraps are probably the most prevalent bait used to catch them (and cans of cat food are favored by some of the people on the Pier Fishing in California Message Board). While many lobsters are accidentally hooked on fishing lines, and give really big surprises to the anglers who pull them in, it’s against the law to keep them.

Food Value: Excellent eating!

Comments: As with crabs, be sure to check current Fish and Game regulations before you go after the “bugs.” Minimum size restrictions, approved seasons, and legal bag limits will all be explained. In addition, all people seeking lobsters need to have a "Lobster Card" on which they must record their take throughout the year.

10/14/2026

Someone asked the question on who is in Growin' Up A Pier Rat since the book has stories on many people. After making up the list it's more like who's not in the book. There are many. By the way, the book can be ordered through Amazon, book stores, and my site pierfishing.com (the Books Page) where it is $2.00 less and you get an autographed copy.

1. Some Professionals — (The Legends) — Don Hanson — Dana Wharf Sportfishing, Russell “Russ” Izor — Sportfishing Industry, Bill Poole — Sportfishing Industry, Milton C. Shedd — Oceanographer, Steve Carson — Sportfishing Industry, Milton Love — Marine Biologist. (Mere Mortals) — Capt. Davis Bacon — Sportfishing Industry, Paul Gregory — Marine Biology, Wayne Kotow — Sportfishing Industry, Eric Kramer — Commercial Fisherman, George Tasulis — Tackle/Bait Shop Owner, Mike Thompson — Sportfishing Industry, John Volaski — Tackle/Bait Shop Owner, Pete Wolf — Sportfishing Industry.

2. Some Writers and Their Stories; (1) Ed Ries — Fisherman’s Genesis/Night of the Croakers/Cabezon Crawl, (2) Chuck Cardamon — Growin’ Up A Pier Rat, (3) Jack Holder — One With The Fish, (4) John Kay — Cast It To China, (5) Carol Martens — Malibu Mackerel, (6) Greg Niemann — Papa Took Us Fishing, (7) Paul Sherman — An English Pier Rat, (8) Otis Gardner — Piers, like seasons, hold memories, (9) Louis Bignami — California Jacksmelt

3, Senior Members of the PFIC Pier Rat Nation (from the Pier Fishing in California Message Board): (1) Ben Acker: Pier Rat Name—dompfa ben (Dominating Positive Fishing Attitude Ben),
(2) Ed Burns: Pier Rat Name—Pescare, (3) Adam Cassidy: Pier Rat Name—Baitfish, (4)Tim Durham: Pier Rat Name—Sinker, (5) Verona Kay Fath: Pier Rat Name—Snookie, (6) Robert Gardner: Pier Rat Name—Red Fish, (7) Boyd Grant: Pier Rat Name—Pierhead, (8) Glen Gustavson-Falck: Pier Rat Name—Songslinger aka The Happy Wanderer, (9) Jeff Ishikawa: Pier Rat Name—Salty Nick, (10) Melvin Kon: Pier Rat Name—Mel, (11) James Liu: PFIC Rat Name—Gyozadude aka GDude, (12) Joe Maestas: Pier Rat name—Mola Joe, (13) Rita Magdamo-Jones: Pier Rat Name—Rita 001, (14) Pier Rat Name—OB Pier Rat , (15) Rich Reano, Webmaster for Pier Fishing In California: Pier Rat Name — Rich Reano , (16) Arvin Reyes: Pier Rat Name pescador619, (17) Martin Salawak: Pier Rat Name—Stinkyfingers aka Predator
(18) Mike Spence: Pier Rat Name—Santa

4. 46 SoCal Pier Rat Autobiographies and 51 CenCal & NorCal Pier Rat Autobiographies

5. Memories and Some Favorite Scenes: 1. Sentimental Journey—Aliso Pier — dompfa ben (Ben Acker), 2. A Small Tribute to My Friend Pancho — Gerardo Martin Del Campo, 3. A Tribute To Bonito Joe — Mola Joe (Joe Maestas), 4. Hueneme Pier, A Torrez Family Story, From the Pier to the Lake and Back — Mark “Chief” Torrez, 5. Santa Monica Pier — Neil E. Dixon, 6. Lobsterilla — Kent Knudsen, 7. Point Mugu Pier — linglover 805, 8. Growing Up A Pier Rat — Kevin Morton, 9. A Favorite Pier Story — Moonshine, 10. Pier Rats and Old Timers — Nimrod, 11. Manhattan Beach Pier, The Old Days — cfrost, 12. A Different Time, The Old Laguna Beach Pier — Milton Miller, 13. First Fish From The Rainbow Pier — Eugene Dow, 14. Growing Up In San Francisco & Smelt in Sausalito — Bill Roddy, 15. Growing Up A Pier Rat — Ron Martin, StripeSideChaser, Aaron, 415FishingFanatic, Flipback1976, Ken Jones — Some Scenes

10/10/2026

Surfperches—Family Embiotocidae — Barred Surfperch

Species: Amphistichus argenteus (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek word amphistichus (a double series, concerning the two rows of teeth in each jaw), and the Latin word argenteus (silvery).

Alternate Names: Silver perch, barreds, sand perch, surfperch, and silver surf fish. In Mexico called mojarra de bandas or perca.
Identification: Barred surfperch are one of three large surfperch with bronze or brassy bars on the side. Their coloring is brassy or silvery; olive-green to yellow-green on the back, silvery below; no red in their tail. Most have vertical yellow or gold bars on the sides, generally with a few spots between the bars; some are seen lacking the bars on the sides. The upper jaw extends slightly beyond the lower jaw with the lower edge of eye above the mouth. Dorsal spines are always shorter than the longest dorsal soft-rays.

Size: Up to 17 inches and 4 1/2 pounds (a nine-year-old fish); most caught from piers are less than 14 inches in length. Two fish share the title of California record fish at a weight of 4 lb. 2 oz. One was caught in Morro Bay in 1995 and the second was caught in Oxnard in 1996. The IGFA Word Record fish is listed at 4 Lbs 12 oz for a fish caught at Guadalupe, California n 2016.
Range: Bahia Santa Rosalia, central Baja California, to Bodega Bay, California. Common from Punta Blance, central Baja California, to San Francisco.

Habitat: Typically found in the surf zone, shallow-water, sandy-shore areas where markings blend with the wave churned environment (although some feel a large population lives in deeper water.) Recorded to a depth of 262 feet. Primarily feeds on sand crabs; also bean clams and small mussels.

Piers: Barred surfperch are common at almost all sandy-shore, oceanfront piers, north to the Pacifica Pier. Best bets: Imperial Beach Pier, Crystal Pier, Oceanside Pier, Huntington Beach Pier, Hermosa Beach Pier, Malibu Pier, Ventura Pier, Goleta Pier, Gaviota Pier (closed), Pismo Beach Pier, Avila Pier, Cayucos Pier and San Simeon Pier. Quite a few are also taken further north, especially at the Capitola Wharf, Santa Cruz Wharf and at the Pacifica Pier.

Shoreline: One of the main fish for sandy shore anglers in southern and central California anglers. Several areas see barred surfperch derbies.

Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.

Bait and Tackle: By far, the best bait for these perch are live sand crabs, which make up 90% of the diet of barred surfperch. Live sea worms, mussels and clams would be the next best baits but barreds are landed on just about every bait imaginable (and many regulars use nothing but plastic grubs). Light to medium tackle can be used depending on conditions. Since the best water to fish is found just outside the first set of breakers, most anglers use a pyramid sinker (with whatever size sinker is needed to hold the bait in place). Line can be 8-to 20-pound test. A high/low leader is most often used with size 6 to 2 hooks. Barred surfperch are caught year-round, but December-January are the best months in southern California according to the California Fish & Game studies. The same studies found the Oceanside area to be the top producer of fish.

Food Value: Mild-flavored flesh with small flakes and a soft texture. The flesh is white colored and low in fat content. Can be cooked in any manner but most commonly fried. Many BBQ or bake them whole while some fillet them (if large enough) trying to remove the many fine, hair-like bones. We recommend returning all pregnant perch to the water if for no other reason than their meat is generally subpar during their pregnancy (the nutrients in their system being used for the babies which they birth live).

Comments: There are three species of surfperch that are large and which are predominate in the inshore surf area: barred surfperch, calico surfperch and redtail surfperch. Barred surfperch are the number one surf-area fish caught on southern California piers. North of Morro Bay, calico surfperch start to replace barred surfperch as the main inshore perch species; north of San Francisco, redtail surfperch replace the calico surfperch. At the Pacifica Pier it is occasionally possible to catch all three species on the same trip, a trifecta of sorts. Barred surfperch put up a spirited fight and are a favorite of surf fishermen.

Of note was a study done by the Department of Fish and Game in the Bolsa Chica-Hermosa Beach area between 2007 and 2009. One conclusion was that the number of barred surfperch in that area had increased relative to the 90s. However, barred surfperch dropped from third to tenth place relative to other surf species collected.

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Demotte, IN

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http://pierfishing.com/, http://kenjonesfishing.com/

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