Marina del Rey Jetties Fishing Guide: Species & Rules

What you'll find here

CDFW public-pier jetties. South jetty is listed clean; north jetty has a land-wall license note.

License & access

Marina Del Rey South Jetty is a CDFW public pier. North Jetty: on the adjacent rock wall touching land a fishing license is required.

Getting there

LA County Beaches and Harbors gives the entrances: the North Jetty is reached at Via Marina and Ocean Front Walk, and the South Jetty is reached from the Ballona Creek bridge near 62nd Avenue and Pacific Avenue in Playa del Rey.

License rules

CDFW lists Marina del Rey South Jetty and North Jetty as public piers, so no license is needed on the qualifying jetty. On the North Jetty, the adjacent rock wall touching land is licensed water. Two rods or lines per person.

What you can catch

The rocks hold calico bass, pile perch and opaleye. Halibut and barred sand bass work the sand along the base, and mackerel come through with bait.

Safety and tips

Rocks are slick and exposed to swell; avoid them in high surf.
Use plastics or live bait along the rocks for calico.
Bring a long-handled net to land fish safely.

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.
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 Halibut: Year-round. Limits: 22 inches total length; 5 fish south of Point Sur (Monterey County); LA County is in this zone. Tip: Drift the sand-to-kelp transition, bouncing just off bottom.
Barred Sand Bass: Summer peak. Limits: 14 inches total length; Part of the 5-fish kelp/barred/spotted combo; no more than 4 barred sand bass. Tip: Slow drift across open sand/mud, jig near bottom.
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.
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.

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; Pacific chub mackerel 2 and 4; California halibut 1 and 2; pile perch 2 and 2; opaleye 2 and 2. OEHHA advises everyone not to eat barred sand bass from this area. OEHHA also recommends eating skinless fillets and trimming fat.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a fishing license on the Marina del Rey jetties?

No on the qualifying jetties, which are CDFW public piers. Yes on the North Jetty's adjacent rock wall touching land.

How do you get to the Marina del Rey South Jetty?

From the Ballona Creek bridge near 62nd Avenue and Pacific Avenue.

What fish are caught on the jetties?

Calico bass, perch, opaleye, halibut, sand bass and mackerel.

Fish species at Marina del Rey Jetties

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

Marina del Rey Harbor — about 1 mi away (straight line)
Venice Pier — about 2 mi away (straight line)
Dockweiler State Beach — about 3 mi away (straight line)
Santa Monica Pier — about 4 mi away (straight line)
Manhattan Beach Pier — about 6 mi away (straight line)
Hermosa Beach Pier — about 8 mi away (straight line)
Kenneth Hahn Regional Park Lake (freshwater) — about 6 mi away
Alondra Park Lake (freshwater) — about 9 mi away

Sources & official links

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

Marina del Rey Jetties