Fishing at Central California Beaches

The Central California Coast has many places where you can fish right from shore (scroll down to see a list). There are several ways to fish at these beaches including dropping a line from rocky areas, fly-fishing, and casting live bait right into the waves. The central coast is also great for fishing from piers or launching a boat or kayak to fish offshore.

To make it happen you need to do a few things first. Find a location you want to fish, pick the dates of your trip, get the required permits, and start packing. The information below will help you plan a beach fishing trip.

Fishing license / permit

Shore fishing anywhere in Central California counties (Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Cruz) requires a fishing license for those who are 16 or older. Start online by getting a “GO ID” and you can easily get a permit after that.

Remember that fishing from California’s public piers doesn’t require a permit.

When to fish

After low tide (best during an incoming tide)
Always check California tide tables
Early in the morning or an hour before dusk
Calm surf (avoid heavy surf)
Fish year-round

Species fished for in Central California

Rockfish
Salmon
Lingcod
Cabezon
Barred surfperch
Walleye surfperch
Calico surfperch
Silver surfperch
Redtail surfperch
Bocaccio
California halibut
Sand dabs
Starry flounder
Petrale sole
Red snapper
Yellowfin croaker
White croaker
Black croaker
California corbina
Shovelnose guitarfish
California scorpionfish
Pacific barracuda
Opaleye
Queenfish
Striped bass
Barred sand bass
White sea bass
Kelp bass (calico bass)
Pacific bonito
Sargo
Jacksmelt
Topsmelt
Surf smelt
Night smelt
Pacific chub mackerel
Pacific sardine
Leopard Sharks
Bat Rays

Tackle checklist

Bag or cooler for fish
Fish bonker
Tape measure
Needle-nose pliers
Fish net (optional)
Stripping basket if fly-fishing
Rods and reels: In the Socal surf you can usually get by with a light to medium weight setup like a 9 foot rod and 6 to 12 lb test line. Go to a heavyweight setup if using larger baitfish lures and plugs.
Bait or lures: Use a sinker, small hooks, and try live bait (or frozen), small lures, sand worms & blood worms, green peas, and small chunks of shrimp or clams/shellfish. Using a Carolina rig is typical while trying things like worms and live sand crabs. Do some research for fishing tactics based on what you intend to catch.

Packing checklist

Fishing permit
Sunblock & sun hat
Jacket & extra layers
Polarized sunglasses (to see into the water better)
Water shoes or waders
PFD (personal floatation device) if wading
Water & snacks
Wallet & cell phone in a sealed bag/container (don’t leave valuables in the car)

Where to cast

Look for channels in the sand where fish move through.
Try flat sand bars and the edges of them
Try white wash areas for corbina
Cast into areas of feeding birds (areas with bait fish)
Cast off rocks and look for sand crab beds
Drop a line off of a fishing pier (try mid-pier first) to get into deeper water, shallow reefs, and even kelp beds

The best beach fishing spots in Central California

You can catch fish year-round just about anywhere in the surf along the Central California shoreline. The key is to avoid crowds and stay out of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). CaliforniaMPAs.org is a good source for locating these restricted areas. The map on this page is particularly useful. Note that some MPAs have restrictions, but still allow taking fish recreationally. The main places to avoid are Campus Point in Santa Barbara, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Piedras Blancas, parts of Big Sur (near Big Creek and Point Sur), Point Lobos, and Point Pinos (between Monterey and Carmel).

Check the California OEHHA fish advisory map for where you’ll be fishing to know what species can be eaten and which should not (or should be limited).

The beaches below are great for surf fishing and are legal. Now all you need to do is get out there and start casting.