What you'll find here
CDFW public pier in Avalon Harbor. Catalina is a boat-or-ferry destination, not a day drive.
License & access
Avalon Pier is on the CDFW public-pier list. Island MPAs exist — check the Catalina MPA map before you walk a rod away from town.
License rules
Avalon Pier is a CDFW public pier: no license on the pier, two rods or lines.
MPAs nearby
Casino Point SMCA, next to Avalon, is no-take. Lover's Cove SMCA, east of town, allows recreational hook-and-line only from the Cabrillo Mole. Fish feeding for viewing is allowed in both.
What you can catch
Calico bass, halfmoon, opaleye, mackerel, sheephead and yellowtail.
Tips
- Light tackle for halfmoon and opaleye.
- Live bait for calico.
- Bring gear on the ferry.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Limits summarize CDFW rules as of October 2026; each species page links the official source.
Eating your catch
For fish caught here, OEHHA's statewide advisory for coastal locations without site-specific advice lists servings per week (women 18–49 and children 1–17, then women 50+ and men) as: kelp (calico) bass 1 and 2. Halfmoon, opaleye, Pacific chub mackerel, sheephead, yellowtail are not named in this advisory. OEHHA also recommends eating skinless fillets and trimming fat.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license on Avalon Pier?
No, it is a CDFW public pier.
Can you fish at Casino Point?
No. Casino Point SMCA is no-take.
What fish are caught at Avalon?
Calico bass, halfmoon, opaleye, mackerel, sheephead and yellowtail.
Fish species at Avalon Pier, Catalina Island
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 Mole, Catalina Island — about under 1 mi away (straight line)
- Catalina / San Pedro Channel (boats) — about 6 mi away (straight line)
- Cabrillo Beach / Point Fermin, San Pedro — about 25 mi away (straight line)
- Cabrillo Beach Fishing Pier — about 25 mi away (straight line)
- 22nd St. Landing, San Pedro — about 26 mi away (straight line)
- Palos Verdes Kelp Beds — about 28 mi away (straight line)
- Machado Lake (Ken Malloy Harbor Park) (freshwater) — about 31 mi away
- El Dorado Park Lakes, Long Beach (freshwater) — about 35 mi away
Sources & official links
- CDFW — Beach fishing and public piers in Southern California
- CDFW — Marine Protected Areas maps and regulations
- OEHHA — Statewide advisory for coastal locations without site-specific advice
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules, stocking and access change; confirm with the agency linked above before you go.