Santa Monica Pier Fishing Guide: Species & Rules

What you'll find here

Classic public pier — bait shop, rod rentals, no license on the pier deck (CCR 1.88).

License & access

CDFW lists Santa Monica Pier as a public pier: no sportfishing license on the pier itself. Two-rod limit. License required if you step onto the beach to land a fish.

Access and rules on the pier

Santa Monica Pier is on CDFW's list of Los Angeles County public piers, so no fishing license is needed while you fish from the pier itself. The public-pier rules still apply: no more than two rods or lines per person, and all size limits, bag limits and seasons are the same as anywhere else in the ocean. If you walk down to the sand to land a fish, or cast from the beach beside the pier, you need a license.

Parking, hours and event closures are set by the pier operator and the City of Santa Monica, so check the official pier site before a night trip. We have not listed fees here because they change.

What you can catch

The pier reaches past the surf zone into deeper water. Pacific mackerel, queenfish and jacksmelt make up most of the catch and are present much of the year. When warm water and bait move in, bonito and the occasional barracuda show near the end. Halibut, calico bass, white croaker and walleye and pile perch work the bottom and pilings.

Where on the pier

The end of the pier offers the deepest water and the best chance at bonito, barracuda and halibut.
The pilings along the middle hold perch and calico bass.
The shallow section over the surf line is where corbina, croakers and surfperch sometimes move through, but casting into the surf from the pier near swimmers is often restricted, so read posted signs.

Seasonal tips

Summer and fall bring the most variety, including bonito and barracuda. Winter tends to be mackerel, jacksmelt and perch. Night fishing under the lights can be productive for queenfish.

Seasons and limits for the fish here

Pacific Bonito: Summer–fall schools. Limits: 24 inches fork length or 5 pounds, except 5 smaller fish may be taken; 10 fish. Tip: Troll feathers at 4–6 knots around bait.
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.
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.
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.
Jacksmelt: Year-round, often winter–spring piers. Limits: No minimum; No bag limit (T14 CCR §27.60(b)). Tip: Watch for surface dimples around the pier.
Walleye Surfperch: Year-round, often in large schools. Limits: No species-specific minimum; 20 surfperch combo, max 10 of one species. Tip: Fish mid-water, not on 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.
White Croaker (Kingfish): Year-round on piers. Limits: No species-specific minimum; General ocean finfish 20/10. Tip: Fish the bottom around pier pilings.
California Barracuda: Warm water, late spring–fall. Limits: 28 inches total length or 17 inches alternate length; 10 fish (general finfish cap of 10 of one species). Tip: Burn a long iron through a bait school.

Limits summarize CDFW rules as of October 2026; each species page links the official source.

Eating your catch

For fish caught here, OEHHA's Ventura Harbor to Santa Monica 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; kelp (calico) bass 1 and 1; California halibut 1 and 2; queenfish 2 and 2; jacksmelt 4 and 7; walleye surfperch 2 and 2; pile perch 2 and 2; white croaker 1 and 2; barracuda 0 and 1. Bonito is not named in this advisory. OEHHA also recommends eating skinless fillets and trimming fat.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a fishing license at Santa Monica Pier?

No. It is a CDFW-listed public pier. You need a license only if you fish from the beach or land a fish on the sand.

What fish are caught at Santa Monica Pier?

Mostly mackerel, queenfish and jacksmelt, with bonito, barracuda, halibut and calico bass in warmer months.

Is fish from Santa Monica Pier safe to eat?

OEHHA's Ventura Harbor to Santa Monica Pier advisory covers the pier. Mackerel is 2 servings a week for women 18–49 and children and 4 for others; barracuda is 0 and 1.

Fish species at Santa Monica Pier

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

Venice Pier — about 2 mi away (straight line)
Marina del Rey Harbor — about 3 mi away (straight line)
Marina del Rey Jetties — about 4 mi away (straight line)
Dockweiler State Beach — about 7 mi away (straight line)
Manhattan Beach Pier — about 10 mi away (straight line)
Malibu Pier / Malibu Surf — about 11 mi away (straight line)
Kenneth Hahn Regional Park Lake (freshwater) — about 7 mi away
Lake Balboa (freshwater) — about 12 mi away

Sources & official links

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

Santa Monica Pier