What you'll find here
Rocky point plus sandy beach. The fishing pier is a separate public-pier listing.
Access
The City of Los Angeles lists Cabrillo Beach (3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro) among its fishing-permitted locations. The beach complex includes the inner harbor beach, the outer beach, the breakwater and the public fishing pier; Point Fermin's rocky shoreline lies to the west.
License rules
Fishing from the beach, the rocks and the breakwater requires a license for anglers 16 and older. Only the Cabrillo Beach Fishing Pier itself is a CDFW public pier, and CDFW specifically notes that the adjacent breakwater requires a license.
What you can catch
Rocky areas around Point Fermin and the breakwater hold calico bass, opaleye, halfmoon, sheephead and pile perch. The sandy beach has surfperch, and mackerel come in with bait.
Grunion
CDFW's grunion run predictions are based on Cabrillo Beach, and the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium runs a public grunion program on some nights. The open season runs July 1–March 31; hand take only; 30 fish; license required.
Tips
- Use moss or frozen peas for opaleye on the rocks.
- Fish plastics along the breakwater for calico.
- Respect swell and tides on the Point Fermin rocks.
Seasons and limits for the fish here
- Kelp Bass (Calico Bass): Year-round, best late spring–fall. Limits: 14 inches total length (10 inches alternate length); 5 kelp/barred/spotted sand bass in combination; no more than 4 barred sand bass. Tip: Cast to the kelp edge, sink, then hop the bait up.
- Barred Surfperch: Year-round; CDFW lists Sep–May peak. Limits: No minimum for barred surfperch; 20 surfperch in combination, no more than 10 of any one species; shiner perch 20 separate. Tip: Fish the trough on an incoming tide.
- Pacific Mackerel: Year-round on piers. Limits: No minimum; No bag limit (Pacific and jack mackerel are listed as no-limit species under T14 CCR §27.60(b)). Tip: Jig a Sabiki near pilings and bait receivers.
- Opaleye: Year-round on rocks and kelp. Limits: No species-specific minimum; General ocean finfish 20/10. Tip: Fish the white water on a rising tide.
- Halfmoon (Catalina Blue Perch): Year-round around kelp and rocks. Limits: No species-specific minimum; General ocean finfish 20/10. Tip: Fish the kelp canopy and the first 15 feet.
- 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.
- Pile Perch: Year-round around pilings. Limits: No species-specific minimum; 20 surfperch combo, max 10 of one species. Tip: Drop straight down along a piling and hop it.
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: kelp (calico) bass 1 and 1; surfperch 2 and 2; Pacific chub mackerel 2 and 4; opaleye 2 and 2; pile perch 2 and 2. Halfmoon, sheephead are not named in this advisory. OEHHA also recommends eating skinless fillets and trimming fat.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license at Cabrillo Beach?
Yes on the beach, rocks and breakwater. Not on the Cabrillo Beach Fishing Pier.
Where do grunion run near LA?
CDFW bases its run predictions on Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, though runs happen on many LA beaches.
What fish are caught at Point Fermin?
Calico bass, opaleye, halfmoon, sheephead and perch.
Fish species at Cabrillo Beach / Point Fermin, San Pedro
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.
Nearby waters
- Cabrillo Beach Fishing Pier — about under 1 mi away (straight line)
- 22nd St. Landing, San Pedro — about 1 mi away (straight line)
- Pier J Fishing Piers, Long Beach — about 6 mi away (straight line)
- Shoreline Village Piers, Long Beach — about 6 mi away (straight line)
- Palos Verdes Kelp Beds — about 7 mi away (straight line)
- Belmont Pier / Long Beach — about 8 mi away (straight line)
- Machado Lake (Ken Malloy Harbor Park) (freshwater) — about 5 mi away
- Alondra Park Lake (freshwater) — about 13 mi away
Sources & official links
- City of LA Recreation & Parks — Lakes, fishing and beaches
- CDFW — Beach fishing and public piers in Southern California
- CDFW — California grunion facts and expected runs
- OEHHA — Fish advisory: Santa Monica Beach south of the pier to Seal Beach Pier
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules, stocking and access change; confirm with the agency linked above before you go.