About this pier
The Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier extends into the Pacific from the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach, Los Angeles County. Dedicated to military veterans, it is one of the longer public fishing piers in the area — roughly 1,600–1,800 feet with a wide T-shaped or hexagonal end — and sits within easy reach of Belmont Shore's shops and cafes. The pier is open and actively used today, but its long-term form is in flux: Long Beach's "8 by 28" program aims to finish eight major projects before the city hosts sailing and related events for the 2028 LA Olympics, and a full Belmont Pier redesign is part of that plan. Leading concepts call for a rainbow-shaped, double-decked replacement (echoing the historic Rainbow Pier that once stood nearby), with a lower fishing deck and an enclosed swimming harbor that could also serve as an Olympics viewing venue. Cost estimates have ranged from roughly $35–40 million to over $100 million depending on the design phase, with city timelines targeting completion around mid-2028 — so construction that affects pier access could begin well within the next year or two. Confirm current open status before you go.
What you can catch
Belmont Pier sits within CDFW's Southern Management Area, the zone running from Point Conception to the Mexico border. Typical catches include barred and walleye surfperch near the pilings, corbina and croaker along the adjacent sandy surf, and seasonal runs of mackerel and jack mackerel around the pier's outer section. Because the pier extends a good distance from shore, halibut and bat rays are realistic targets for anglers fishing bait on the sandy bottom near the end. If you plan to eat what you catch, note that Belmont Pier is one of eight Southern California piers covered by an EPA-supported angler education program tied to the nearby Palos Verdes Shelf Superfund site: some locally caught fish can carry elevated DDT and PCB levels and should be avoided or limited. Check current OEHHA/EPA fish-consumption advisories for this pier before keeping fish for the table.
License and regulations
As a public pier, Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier does not require anglers to hold a California sport fishing license, under the statewide exemption for public piers. Minimum size limits, daily bag limits, and any seasonal closures still apply in full regardless of license status. California also caps public pier anglers at two rods each. Because Olympic-related reconstruction could change access with relatively little notice, check CDFW's current Beach Fishing list and City of Long Beach project updates before your trip.
Tips for fishing here
Working the pilings near the shoreward end with small hooks and natural bait like sand crab or bloodworm tends to be most productive for surfperch, while the pier's outer end offers better odds at mackerel using a Sabiki rig. For halibut, a sliding-sinker rig with a strip of squid fished slowly along the bottom is a proven approach. Because the pier is fairly long, bringing a rod holder or pier cart makes moving along the rail much easier over a full session. Trying a few different spots along the length of the pier during your visit can help you locate where fish are holding on any given day.
Before you go
Belmont Shore's shops and restaurants are within easy reach of the pier, making it simple to combine fishing with a broader visit to the neighborhood. Restrooms and parking are available nearby, though weekend crowds can make both harder to find. The pier remains open now, but treat near-term access as potentially changing once Olympic redesign construction begins. Review current fish-consumption advisories if you intend to keep fish, and confirm CDFW regulations plus city pier status before fishing.