What you'll find here
Long public pier reaching well past the surf line.
License & access
CDFW public pier — no license on the pier. Two rods. Beach fishing at Venice requires a license.
Status
The City of Los Angeles has been running a multi-phase repair project on Venice Pier, with work expected to continue into 2027, and earlier phases included temporary closures. Check the city's project page before you go.
License rules
Venice Pier is a CDFW public pier: no license is needed on the pier itself, and anglers are limited to two rods or lines. Fishing from the beach next to the pier requires a license.
What you can catch
Venice Pier reaches past the surf line. Surfperch, mackerel and queenfish are common, halibut work the sand around the pier, and corbina cruise the shallows in summer. Leopard sharks and shovelnose guitarfish are caught off the bottom.
Tips
- Use sand crabs or mussels for corbina and perch near the shallow end.
- Drift live bait for halibut off the end.
- Heavier tackle is needed for leopard sharks; release them carefully if not keeping.
Seasons and limits for the fish here
- Barred Surfperch: Year-round; CDFW lists Sep–May peak. Limits: No minimum for barred surfperch; 20 surfperch in combination, no more than 10 of any one species; shiner perch 20 separate. Tip: Fish the trough on an incoming 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 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.
- California Corbina: Summer, calm surf. Limits: No species-specific minimum; General ocean finfish: 20 in combination, no more than 10 of one species. Tip: Sight-fish the wash on a calm, low-swell day.
- 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.
- Shovelnose Guitarfish: Year-round in the surf. Limits: No species-specific minimum; General ocean bag: 20 finfish combined, no more than 10 of one species (finfish include rays). Tip: If targeting them, fish the outer trough on a moving 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: surfperch 2 and 2; Pacific chub mackerel 2 and 4; California halibut 1 and 2; corbina 2 and 2; queenfish 2 and 2; shovelnose guitarfish 1 and 2. Leopard shark is not named in this advisory. OEHHA also recommends eating skinless fillets and trimming fat.
Frequently asked questions
Is Venice Pier open?
The City of LA has a multi-phase repair project that may run into 2027 and has caused temporary closures; check the city's project page.
Do you need a license at Venice Pier?
No, on the pier itself. Yes, on the beach.
What fish are caught at Venice Pier?
Surfperch, mackerel, queenfish, halibut, corbina, leopard sharks and shovelnose guitarfish.
Fish species at Venice Pier
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
- Marina del Rey Harbor — about 1 mi away (straight line)
- Marina del Rey Jetties — about 2 mi away (straight line)
- Santa Monica Pier — about 2 mi away (straight line)
- Dockweiler State Beach — about 5 mi away (straight line)
- Manhattan Beach Pier — about 8 mi away (straight line)
- Hermosa Beach Pier — about 10 mi away (straight line)
- Kenneth Hahn Regional Park Lake (freshwater) — about 6 mi away
- Alondra Park Lake (freshwater) — about 10 mi away
Sources & official links
- City of LA Recreation and Parks — Venice Beach
- 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.