22nd St. Landing, San Pedro Fishing Guide: Species & Rules

What you'll find here

Departure point for offshore charter trips — not a shore fishery.

What it is

22nd Street Landing is a sportfishing landing in San Pedro that runs boat trips to local reefs, the San Pedro Channel and Catalina. This is a boat departure point, not a shore spot.

License requirements

Every angler 16 and older needs a California sport fishing license plus an Ocean Enhancement Validation south of Point Arguello.

Groundfish rules for boats (2026)

CDFW's 2026 Southern Management Area table: closed January–March; all depths April–June; shoreward of 50 fathoms July–September; and from October 1 to December 31, nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenlings are closed, while shelf and slope rockfish and lingcod may be taken only seaward of 50 fathoms. Boats must carry a descending device.

Other boat rules

Boat-based sheephead season is March 1–December 31, 2026. Copper rockfish limit is 1; vermilion and sunset 2; lingcod 2 at 22 inches. Yellowtail 10 fish at 24 inches fork length with 5 under allowed. White seabass 3 fish at 28 inches.

Target species

Yellowtail, white seabass, rockfish, lingcod, ocean whitefish, scorpionfish, sheephead and thresher sharks, depending on trip and season.

Seasons and limits for the fish here

Yellowtail: Year-round; best summer–fall. Limits: 24 inches fork length, except up to 5 fish under 24" fork may be possessed; 10 fish. Tip: Drop iron, crank it back on a fast yo-yo.
White Seabass: Year-round; squid nights in spring. Limits: 28 inches total length; 3 fish, except only 1 fish south of Point Conception between March 15 and June 15. Tip: Drift live squid after dark on a spawn.
Rockfish (SoCal hub): Boats Oct–Dec 2026: only seaward of 50 fathoms; shore open. Limits: No minimum size for rockfish; 10 RCG in combination, with copper 1, vermilion/sunset 2 combined (SoCal), canary 2. Tip: Drop to bottom over charted rock, then work a few feet up.
Vermilion Rockfish: Boats Oct–Dec 2026: only seaward of 50 fathoms; shore open. Limits: No minimum; 2 vermilion and sunset rockfish combined, counting toward the 10-fish RCG bag. Tip: Fish the deep rock, not the sand.
Bocaccio: Boats Oct–Dec 2026: only seaward of 50 fathoms; shore open. Limits: No minimum; Counts in the 10-fish RCG; no species sub-limit. Tip: Drop to marked rock in 150–400 ft.
Copper Rockfish: Boats: closed Oct 1–Dec 31, 2026 (nearshore); shore/divers open. Limits: No minimum; 1 copper rockfish, counting toward the 10-fish RCG. Tip: Stop at one copper.
Lingcod: Boats Oct–Dec 2026: only seaward of 50 fathoms; shore open. Limits: 22 inches total length; 2 fish, separate from the 10-fish RCG. Tip: Fish the same rock as the rockfish drop.
Ocean Whitefish: Year-round, all depths (2026 SoCal summary). Limits: No minimum; 10 fish within the general 20-finfish bag. Tip: Same deep-rock drop as rockfish.
California Scorpionfish (Sculpin): Year-round, all depths (2026 SoCal summary). Limits: No minimum; 5 fish. Tip: Fish the bottom and stay there.
California Sheephead: Shore/dive year-round; boats Mar–Dec 2026. Limits: 12 inches total length; 2 fish. Tip: Drop to the rocks, not into the sand.
Common Thresher Shark: Year-round; boat fishery. Limits: No size limit; 2 fish per day for thresher, shortfin mako, or blue shark. Tip: Book a boat that actually runs a thresher program.

Limits summarize CDFW rules as of October 2026; each species page links the official source.

Eating your catch

For fish caught here, OEHHA's Santa Monica Beach south of the Santa Monica Pier to Seal Beach Pier advisory lists servings per week (women 18–49 and children 1–17, then women 50+ and men) as: rockfish 1 and 2; vermilion rockfish 1 and 2; bocaccio 1 and 2; copper rockfish 1 and 2; scorpionfish 1 and 1. Yellowtail, seabass, lingcod, ocean-whitefish, sheephead, thresher shark are not named in this advisory. OEHHA also recommends eating skinless fillets and trimming fat.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a license to fish from a boat out of San Pedro?

Yes, plus an Ocean Enhancement Validation.

Can boats keep rockfish in October 2026?

Only shelf and slope rockfish seaward of 50 fathoms. Nearshore rockfish are closed to boats through December 31.

What is the sheephead boat season?

March 1–December 31, 2026.

Fish species at 22nd St. Landing, San Pedro

Map

View larger map

Regulations reminder

Size limits, bag limits, seasons, and MPA rules are set by CDFW and can change in-season. Public-pier license exceptions (CCR 1.88) apply only on qualifying structures — not on the beach next to them. This is an independent site and is not affiliated with CDFW.

wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing →

Nearby waters

Cabrillo Beach Fishing Pier — about under 1 mi away (straight line)
Cabrillo Beach / Point Fermin, San Pedro — about 1 mi away (straight line)
Palos Verdes Kelp Beds — about 6 mi away (straight line)
Shoreline Village Piers, Long Beach — about 6 mi away (straight line)
Pier J Fishing Piers, Long Beach — about 6 mi away (straight line)
Belmont Pier / Long Beach — about 8 mi away (straight line)
Machado Lake (Ken Malloy Harbor Park) (freshwater) — about 4 mi away
Alondra Park Lake (freshwater) — about 12 mi away

Sources & official links

Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules, stocking and access change; confirm with the agency linked above before you go.

22nd St. Landing, San Pedro