What you'll find here
CDFW lists Pier J Fishing Pier North and South as public piers.
License & access
Pier J Fishing Pier South and North are on the CDFW public-pier list.
License rules
CDFW lists Pier J Fishing Pier North and Pier J Fishing Pier South as public piers: no license, two rods or lines.
What you can catch
Mackerel, barred sand bass, halibut, queenfish, leopard sharks and white croaker.
Tips
- High-low rigs with squid for bottom fish.
- Live bait for halibut.
- Heavier tackle for leopard sharks.
Harbor water
Pier J's piers sit inside the Long Beach harbor complex. Harbor water tends to be calmer than the open coast and holds bottom fish year-round.
Seasons and limits for the fish here
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Queenfish (Herring): Year-round under piers. Limits: No minimum; No bag limit (T14 CCR §27.60(b)). Tip: Fish mid-water under pier lights.
- Leopard Shark: Year-round, all depths. Limits: 36 inches total length; 3 fish. Tip: Fish a moving tide at harbor mouths.
- White Croaker (Kingfish): Year-round on piers. Limits: No species-specific minimum; General ocean finfish 20/10. Tip: Fish the bottom around pier pilings.
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: Pacific chub mackerel 2 and 4; California halibut 1 and 2; queenfish 2 and 2. OEHHA advises everyone not to eat barred sand bass or white croaker from this area. Leopard shark is not named in this advisory. OEHHA also recommends eating skinless fillets and trimming fat.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license at Pier J?
No, both Pier J fishing piers are CDFW public piers.
What fish are caught at Pier J?
Mackerel, sand bass, halibut, queenfish, leopard sharks and white croaker.
Is fish from Pier J safe to eat?
Mackerel is 2 and 4 servings a week; halibut 1 and 2; sand bass and white croaker do not eat.
Fish species at Pier J Fishing Piers, Long Beach
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
- Shoreline Village Piers, Long Beach — about under 1 mi away (straight line)
- Belmont Pier / Long Beach — about 1 mi away (straight line)
- Alamitos Bay, Long Beach — about 4 mi away (straight line)
- Alamitos Bay Jetties — about 4 mi away (straight line)
- 22nd St. Landing, San Pedro — about 6 mi away (straight line)
- Cabrillo Beach Fishing Pier — about 6 mi away (straight line)
- Machado Lake (Ken Malloy Harbor Park) (freshwater) — about 6 mi away
- El Dorado Park Lakes, Long Beach (freshwater) — about 7 mi away
Sources & official links
- CDFW — Beach fishing and public piers in Southern California
- 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.