King Harbor Breakwater Fishing Guide: Species & Rules

What you'll find here

CDFW lists Redondo Beach/King Harbor Breakwater as a public pier structure.

License & access

Redondo Beach/King Harbor Breakwater is on the CDFW public-pier list. Rocks are slick; swell can close access.

License rules

CDFW lists the Redondo Beach/King Harbor Breakwater as a public pier, so no license is required on the qualifying structure. Two rods or lines per person.

What you can catch

Calico bass, opaleye, halfmoon, pile perch and sheephead live along the rocks. Mackerel come through with bait.

Safety

The rocks are slick and exposed to swell. Avoid the breakwater in high surf, wear good shoes and fish the harbor side first.

Tips

Use frozen peas or moss for opaleye.
Plastics and live bait for calico.
Sheephead: 12-inch minimum, 2-fish bag; shore anglers may take them year-round.

Why the breakwater is a public pier

Under T14 CCR §1.88, publicly owned jetties or breakwaters connected to land, with free public access, that form the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor are public piers. That is why the King Harbor breakwater is on CDFW's list.

Reading the Redondo boat counts from the rocks

Redondo Beach Sportfishing posts daily counts from its half-day trips out of the same harbor. In mid-October 2026 those trips were reporting calico bass, sheephead and blue perch (halfmoon), the same fish the breakwater holds. A good week on the local boats is a reasonable sign the rock species are active, though the boats fish kelp and reef the breakwater can't reach. Fish in LA's weekly report summarizes those counts.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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; opaleye 2 and 2; Pacific chub mackerel 2 and 4; pile perch 2 and 2. Sheephead, halfmoon are not named in this advisory. OEHHA also recommends eating skinless fillets and trimming fat.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a license on the King Harbor breakwater?

No. It is listed by CDFW as a public pier.

What fish are caught on the breakwater?

Calico bass, opaleye, halfmoon, perch, sheephead and mackerel.

Is it safe to fish the breakwater?

Only in calm conditions; rocks are slick and exposed to swell.

Can I take lobster from the King Harbor breakwater?

Public-pier rules allow up to two hoop nets per person. Lobster season, size and bag rules apply, and CDFW requires a Spiny Lobster Report Card for everyone who fishes for lobster.

Fish species at King Harbor Breakwater

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

Redondo Beach / King Harbor — about under 1 mi away (straight line)
Redondo Beach Pier — about under 1 mi away (straight line)
Hermosa Beach Pier — about 1 mi away (straight line)
Manhattan Beach Pier — about 3 mi away (straight line)
Dockweiler State Beach — about 6 mi away (straight line)
Palos Verdes Kelp Beds — about 7 mi away (straight line)
Alondra Park Lake (freshwater) — about 5 mi away
Machado Lake (Ken Malloy Harbor Park) (freshwater) — about 8 mi away

Sources & official links

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

King Harbor Breakwater