Pacifica Pier News

Pier fishing has always had the image of being a sport for barefoot lads with cane poles and kite string, bent pins and bait.

There’s still plenty of room for that Tom Sawyer ambience, but pier fishing has room for a whole lot more. There’s room to develop special fishing skills, and to try a wide range of gear on an incredible number of target species. An angler can devote a day or a lifetime to exploring the possibilities on piers.

The kind of fish that can be tackled depend largely on which pier and season is chosen. On a regular basis, anglers can expect an assortment of species such as striped bass, rockfish, flounder, sharks, rays, sand dabs, mackeral, kingfish, seaperch and occasionally salmon, lingcod, halibut and sturgeon.
Most seasons the catch is limited to a few of these species, but many piers in the lower bays feature all these fish during the course of an entire year.

Equipment used for pier sport normally can be selected from gear you already own. Even a hand drop line can be effective on small rockfish, perch and starry flounder.

“One thing you can count on in pier fishing is plenty of action,” said Dave Girsch of Pleasant Hill as he watched his son, Jonathan, land a pair of wiggling shiner perch. “The kids like activity, no matter what kind. The whole trick is to catch something as often as possible.”

A perfect rig suitable for virtually all pier species is as simple as a six- to nine-foot, medium-action rod fitted with a level wind or spinning reel filled with 200 yards of 20-pound test monofilament. The rod should break down into at least two pieces to facilitate transporting to and from the water. This outfit will handle most of the fish taken off piers.

The primary rule for choosing pier-fishing equipment is not to buy any at all until conditions on the chosen pier are studied. At certain times of the year the best gear can be a light spinning rod with eight- to 10-pound monofilament. This is ideal for seaperch, sand dabs or small flounder.

However, at the same pier during a different time in the season, when large game fish like striped bass, halibut or sturgeon are running, even a 30-pound test rig is barely enough to land a brute from a tall pier.
“A pier offers kids a lot of freedom of movement,” said Clyde Ayers of San Pablo. He watched his two sons, Alex, 7, and Scott, 5, as they hauled in small rock crabs, admired them and then put them back into the water.
“I think adults could take some lessons from kids and piers,” Ayers commented. “I own a boat but we still spend days on the piers just enjoying togetherness and the outdoor scene.”

The primary charm of pier fishing is that it can be done in less time, and with less equipment, than any other form of Bay Area angling. A state fishing license is not required on most public piers, no advance reservations are needed and access is easy.

The basic techniques used by pier goers are easy to learn. A pier is the perfect spot to introduce a youngster to fishing. They also are right for the adult who simply wants to get away from it all and experience a day on the water without having to book a partyboat or buy a boat.

“I own a boat that I use near home, but I still come back to pier fishing at times when the winds are blowing in the Delta,” said George Ealy of Pittsburg. “I don’t know of any other place where you can get such grand views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate, Bay and Richmond bridges and still have a chance to catch a nice mess of fish.”

Pier fishing is open for 24 hours a day and 12 months of the year. There is no need to worry about rough water that limits small-boat fishing.

Terminal tackle should be tailored to the situation for each pier. There are two rigs used for most piers. Bait stores sell bottom leader already rigged with a swivel at the top end, two loops for attaching bait leaders and a snap swivel on the bottom to take a pyramid bottom sinker in a variety of weights. To this rig are looped two short snelled leaders and No.2 to 4/0 bait-holder hooks.

A sliding sinker rig is most effective on bottom-feeding fish like flounder, halibut and sturgeon. The line to the rod is threaded through the hole in the sliding sinker; a swivel is attached to prevent the leader from sliding past the sinker; a snelled bait-holder hook is attached to the end of the line.

When a fish samples the bait, it encounters no resistance because the line slides freely. The fish is allowed to mouth the bait and even to carry it a short distance. When the angler thinks the fish has taken in the bait, the slack is reeled out of the line until weight is felt. Then the hook is set with a strike of the rod.

The most popular baits are anchovies, sardine, pileworms, bloodworms and squid. During runs of striped bass, many anglers cast plugs and leadhead jigs as they move along the length of the pier.

There also is a considerable “strolling value” to piers. On a nice day there are always more strollers on longer piers than anglers.

“I come down to Berkeley pier to walk because there is always something to watch,” said Joseph Weldon, an elderly Berkeley walker. “This is the best way to drink in the scenery, watch the wind surfers, seals, gulls and still get the most priceless view of the Bay Area.”
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A FISHERMAN’S LOOK AT PUBLIC PIERS

No fishing license is needed when fishing from public piers in the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco/San Pablo/Suisun bays downstream from Antioch. The following are the most important public piers:

SAN FRANCISCO

1. Candlestick Park Pier - South of Candlestick Park off Hunters Point Expressway at Jamestown Ave. Stripers, halibut, seaperch in spring and summer; occasional sturgeon; 415-794-3474.

2. Fort Mason Piers - At northern end of Fort Mason, off Marina Blvd. Striper, rockfish, seaperch, halibut, occasional salmon; 415-441-5706.

3. Fort Point Pier - Near Fort Point in Presidio. From Hwy. 101 near Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza, view roads to Lincoln Blvd. to Battery E Rd. to pier. Halibut, seaperch, kingfish in summer and fall; occasional salmon, striper; 415-556-1693.

4. Marina Green Jetty - Marina Blvd. to Gashouse Cove, to East Harbor. License required to fish off Marina seawall and catwalk at Gashouse Cove; 415-563-8300.

5. Mission Rock Pier - At Agua Vista Park, off China Basin St., near Mission Rock Resort. Striper, rockfish, seaperch, sharks, halibut in summer and fall; occasional salmon; 415-563-8300.

6. Pier Seven - At the foot of Broadway off Embarcadero. Stripers, kingfish, jacksmelt, flounder, occasional halibut; 415-563-8300.

7. S.F. Municipal Pier - At foot of Van Ness Ave. Stripers, kingfish, seaperch, rockfish, bullhead, flounder, spring through fall; occasional striper, salmon; 415-556-4484.

8. Twenty-Fourth St. Pier - At east end on 24th St. near PG&E plant. Stripers summer and fall; occasional salmon; seaperch all year; 415-563-8300.
PENINSULA

9. Brisbane Fishing Pier - Off Hwy. 101 to Sierra Pt./Marina Blvd. Striper, kingfish, bullheads, seaperch, shark, rays, all year; 415-583-6975.

10. Half Moon Bay - On San Mateo coast at El Granada; from Hwy. 1 turn west on Capistrano Rd. Surfperch, kingfish, halibut, occasional striper, salmon, summer and fall; 415-726-5727.

11. Old Dumbarton Bridge Piers - (See East Bay listing).

12. Oyster Pt. Pier - Hwy. 101 to first So. San Francisco exit to Oyster Blvd., follow signs. Striper, sturgeon, kingfish, skates, shark, seaperch, all year; 415-952-0808.

13. Pacifica Pier - Hwy. 1 to Paloma Ave exit. At west end of Paloma turn left on Beach Blvd. Extends into ocean from Sharps Park State Beach. Salmon, surfperch, kingfish, halibut, flounder, occasional striper, spring through fall; 415-355-0690.

14. Redwood City Harbor - From Hwy. 101 take Harbor Blvd. off-ramp to Redwood City Municipal Marina. Stripers, sturgeon, shark, seaperch, flounder, jacksmelt, all year; 415-365-1613.

15. Werder Pier-Foster City - Off Hwy. 101 take Hillsdale Blvd., pier next to Hwy. 92 Bridge. Stripers, sturgeon, seaperch in summer and spring; sharks, rays summer and fall; 415-794-3474.
MARIN COUNTY

16. China Camp Pier - Located at China Camp State Park. North San Pedro off-ramp from Hwy. 101 near Marin County Civic Center; proceed east approximately four miles. Perch, smelt, flounder, occasional striper in fall, winter; 415-456-1286.

18. Paradise Pier - From Hwy. 1 near Mill Valley, take Tiburon off-ramp, west on Hwy. 113, left on Trestle Glen Blvd., right on Paradise Dr. 415-499-6387.

19. Sausalito Pier - Hwy. 101 to Sausalito exit, next to Ondines. Sharks, seaperch, flounder, rays, occasional stripers, rockfish, halibut, occasional sturgeon; 415-332-0779. SAN PABLO BAY/DELTA

20. Antioch Bridge - Hwy. 4 to Antioch Bridge. Wilbur Ave. off-ramp near toll plaza; frontage road to the pier, to right of bridge. License required. Striped bass, catfish in winter and spring; occasional sturgeon in fall; 415-757-3852.

21. Antioch City - Foot of `H’ Street in Antioch. License required. Striped bass, catfish in fall and winter; occasional sturgeon; 415-757-3852.

22. Benicia Piers - I-680 to Benicia, foot of First St. and foot of 9th St. Stripers, flounder, occasional sturgeon, steelhead in fall, spring, summer; 707-746-4285.

23. Crockett - From I-80 Crockett exit to Pomona St., turn left on Port St., left at foot of Port to Dowrelio Rd. Sturgeon, striper, flounder, perch, all year; 415-787-1047.

24. Martinez Fishing Pier - Martinez Marina, Hwy. 4 to Alhambra Ave. off-ramp, through Martinez to end of Alhambra, follow signs to parking. Striper, sturgeon, in fall, winter, spring; 415-372-3593.

25. Pittsburg Pier - Hwy. 4 to Railroad Ave., north to city marina, left one-half block to parking area. License required. Stripers, sturgeon, catfish, occasional steelhead, all year; 415-687-8400.

26. Point Pinole - From I-80, Hilltop exit in Richmond, west on Hilltop to intersection with San Pablo Ave., right on San Pablo Ave., north to intersection of Atlas Rd., left onto Atlas. Take park shuttle bus or hike to pier. Sturgeon, striper in winter; seapearch, kingfish in spring and fall; some sharks, rays, spring and summer; 415-531-9300.

27. Vallejo Public Pier - At east end of Napa River Bridge, off I-80 to Hwy. 37, take Wilson Ave. off-ramp. Stripers summer and fall; sturgeon all year. Stripers, flounder, sturgeon, spring through fall, occasional salmon; 707-642-4334.
EAST BAY

28. Bay Park Refuge - Hegenberger Rd. off Hwy. 17 to Edgewater Dr., pier at end of Edgewater. Striped bass, flounder, pileperch, rays in summer and fall; occasional sturgeon, seaperch in spring; 415-531-9300.

29. Berkeley Fishing Pier - I-80 to University Ave. off-ramp, follow signs to Berkeley Marina, pier at foot of University Ave. Stripers, halibut, seaperch, kingfish, jacksmelt in summer, fall and winter; occasional shark, rays; 415-849-2727.

30. Emeryville Fishing Pier - Powell St. Exit from I-80, West on Powell St. to its end in Emeryville Marina, pier is at foot of Powell St. Stripers, perch, jacksmelt, shark, rays, all year; 415-654-6040.

31. Fruitvale Bridge Park - Hwy. 17 to High St. exit onto Alameda Ave., west to intersection with Fruitvale Ave., pier is on southeast shore of Oakland Estuary next to Fruitvale Bridge. Striper, kingfish, sturgeon, rays, shark, flounder, spring through fall; occasional halibut; 415-522-6731.

32. Middle Harbor Park - Hwy. 17 to Oakland to Cypress St. exit, west to Adeline St., continue west to Middle Harbor Terminal and Oakland Estuary. Kingfish, seaperch, shark, stingrays, occasional stripers; 415-465-2764.

33. Oakland Estuary Park - Near Jack London Square. Jackson St. exit from Hwy. 17, south on Jackson, left on Embarcadero four blocks. Stripers, jacksmelt, flounder, seaperch in summer and spring; 415-465-2764.

34. Old Dumbarton Bridge Piers - West side Ravenswood Pier/East Side Dumbarton Pier, Hwy. 84 east off Peninsula/west off Nimitz. Sharks, skates, seaperch, striper, sturgeon in summer, spring and fall; 415-343-6837.

35. Portview Park - Hwy. 17 to Oakland. If traveling south, Cypress St. exit to Seventh St., right onto Seventh to end. Seaperch, kingfish, rays, shark, occasional striper, all year; 415-465-2764.

36. San Leandro Fishing Pier - Hwy. 17 to Marina Blvd. exit, West on Marina to intersection with Neptune Dr., left onto Neptune Dr., pier is on South Dike Rd. in marina. Kingfish, seaperch, flounder, shark, rays, occasional striper, sturgeon, all year; 415-357-7447.
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PHOTO CUTLINES: (1) With the Golden Gate Bridge as a dramatic backdrop, Dennis (left) and Melody Wong got in some after-school fishing at Pier 2 at Fort Mason, (2) Lily Khuu and grandson David chose Berkeley Pier for fishing and crabbing / PHOTOS BY LIZ HAFALIA/THE CHRONICLE

Caption:
SEE END OF TEXT
Caption:
PHOTO (2), MAP
Edition: FINAL
Section: SPORTS
Page: 65
Index Terms: FISHING; RELATED STORY ATTACHED; SPORTS; BAY; HARBORS; FISH; BAY AREA; LIST
Copyright 1987 San Francisco Chronicle

FISHING WITHOUT PEER
Some of the Best angling in the Bay Area is as close as your local pier
THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
August 24, 1987
Author: JIM FREEMAN
Estimated printed pages: 7
Record Number: 462189