Imperial Beach Pier

South Bay

Imperial Beach Pier, San Diego’s southernmost pier, extends out 1,491 feet into water 20 feet or more deep. As with most San Diego piers, the closer to shore you are the lighter gear you want to use for inshore fish like barred surfperch, California corbina or yellowfin croaker. Halibut can lurk there, especially on nights when grunion are running. Sand bass also may be biting, too. At the end of the pier, anglers target bonito, mackerel and small barracuda, with an occasional yellowtail or white seabass. Currently fishing is allowed on the pier except near the Tin Fish restaurant in the west portion due to social distancing requirements for outdoor diners.

Amenities: Tin Fish restaurant, restrooms, fish-cleaning stations.
Directions: To reach the pier, take I-5 south to Palm Avenue (Highway 75); follow Palm Avenue to where it divides with Highway 75, stay on Palm Avenue to Seacoast Drive, turn right to the pier.
Hours: 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM

Coronado Ferry Landing Pier

Coronado

The Coronado Ferry Landing Pier is one of the area’s secret fishing spots. It’s tucked behind the Coronado Ferry Landing shopping complex across San Diego Bay on Coronado Island, so many visitors don’t know it’s there. It’s only 377 feet long but can be an excellent fishing spot for sand bass, spotted bay bass, mackerel and bonito in designated areas. Please follow the signage. There’s also good action for perch, croakers, rays and sharks. You’ll need lighter tackle here because the water is very clear and shallow. There’s no bait or food for sale on the pier, but the Coronado Ferry Landing shopping center has a variety of options. The restrooms are a short walk from the pier.

Amenities: Restaurants, shops and bathrooms within walking distance
Directions: Take the Coronado Bridge to Third Street in Coronado, follow it to B Avenue, turn right and follow it to the front of the Coronado Ferry Landing at the intersection of B Avenue and First Street. The pier is behind the shops.
Hours: 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Embarcadero Marina Park South Fishing Pier

Downtown

Embarcadero Marina Park South Fishing Pier is another of the lesser-known fishing spots, but it can be very good. It’s southwest of the San Diego Convention Center and stretches out just 95 feet, but it has a T-shaped end and is 300 feet wide. There’s an artificial reef nearby that draws some quality fish like schools of bonito, mackerel, jack mackerel and small barracuda. But there’s usually always good fishing for calico bass, sand bass and spotted bay bass.

Amenities: Burgers, Bait & Beer (currently closed) is a small restaurant adjacent that sells bait, and the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel is nearby as well as a ferry stop to Coronado Island.
Directions: Take I-5 to the Market Street exit, follow Market Street west to Harbor Drive, turn left on Harbor Drive and go to 8th Avenue, turn right onto Convention Way. Follow that a short block to 5th Avenue and the pier.
Hours: 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM

Shelter Island Pier

Point Loma Peninsula

Shelter Island Pier is located near the most vibrant fishing community in San Diego. The Marlin Club is down the street, the Shelter Island Launch Ramp is east of the pier and the boardwalk is a great place to take a nice, long walk along the waterfront. It’s also a short drive from the San Diego-based sport fleet, four landings that offer every kind of fishing trip, from half-day to multi-day runs into Mexican waters. There are lots of quality restaurants in the area as well. Right on the pier is Fathom Bistro Bait & Tackle offering San Diego craft beers and homemade sausages among other menu items. Anglers can see sport boats and private boats, and even a Navy ship cruise by as you relax on the 200-foot pier with a T-shaped end that stretches 500 feet. There is lots of room to fish for mackerel, yellowfin croaker, calico and sand bass, an occasional halibut in addition to shovelnose sharks and bat rays.

Amenities: Fathom Bistro Bait & Tackle
Directions: Take I-5 or I-8 to Rosecrans (Highway 209) and go west, turn left at Shelter Island Drive and follow the road until you see the pier and entrance to the parking lot on the left.
Hours: 24/7

Ocean Beach Pier

Mission Bay and Beaches

(Note: The Ocean Beach Pier will be closed until at least Spring 2024 for repairs and maintenance.)

The Ocean Beach Pier is the longest pier in San Diego County at 1,971 feet. It's a great place to fish and sight-see. There's a stocked bait and tackle store and the Ocean Beach Pier Café offers good chow. The T-shaped design gives this pier nearly one mile of railing for anglers, so fishing options are many. Most go to the end of the T to fish the deeper water for bass, perch, mackerel and even California spiny lobster (but only in-season, October to March).

Amenities: Restaurant: Pier Café, Bait and Tackle Shop
Directions: Take I-5 north of San Diego to the Sea World Drive exit. Follow Sea World Drive to Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, take Sunset Cliffs Boulevard to Newport Avenue, turn right on Newport Avenue and follow it to the end and the pier parking lot.
Hours: 24/7

Crystal Pier

Mission Bay and Beaches

Crystal Pier is one of the great spots in San Diego because it offers stay-on-the-pier and over-the-ocean cottages and some good fishing off Pacific Beach. It’s a private pier at night, but anglers may fish it during the day. Masks are required to enter the pier. The fishing can be very good for barred surfperch, corbina, walleye surfperch, shovelnose guitarfish and even an occasional halibut. There’s also fair fishing for sand bass and calico bass at the end of the pier, mostly. It’s a great lobster spot, too, and a tradition for some on the opening night of lobster season. The Crystal Pier Hotel offers great lodging, but make sure you make your reservations well ahead of time.

Amenities: Crystal Pier Hotel and Crystal Pier Bait and Tackle
Directions: Take I-5 to Garnet Avenue and follow Garnet to the foot of the pier.
Hours: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM (at sunset) for visitors, 24/7 for motel guests.

Oceanside Pier

North Coastal

Oceanside Pier is another of the area’s top tourist spots, located near a thriving harbor and marina area, a very active beach and surfing spot. The end of the pier hosts a fun restaurant, Ruby’s Diner, which offers outdoor dining including cold drinks and a killer burger. There’s also a very good bait and tackle shop. The pier is 1,942 feet long and offers a wide range of fish, from the inshore species like corbina, perch and croaker to the more pelagic species like bonito, mackerel, barracuda and even an occasional white seabass or yellowtail. Halibut also show here, so be ready.

Amenities: Ruby’s Diner, Bait and Tackle Shop
Directions: To reach the pier take I-5 to Mission Boulevard, go west to Pacific and turn left. Follow it to the pier.
Hours: 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM