About this pier
Malibu Pier has anchored the coastline of the city of Malibu, in Los Angeles County, since 1905, when it was built by Frederick Hastings Rindge to move agricultural goods for Rancho Malibu before the Pacific Coast Highway existed. Public recreational fishing dates to 1934, and today the pier operates as part of Malibu Lagoon State Beach under California State Parks. Twin buildings at the pier's end have long housed a bait-and-tackle shop and restaurant — normally a rare on-structure convenience — but California State Parks closed the end of the pier in January 2025 after a structural safety assessment. As of the latest public updates, that outer section remains closed with no confirmed repair cost or reopening date. The rest of the pier stays open, and fishing is still allowed from the open areas. The Malibu Farm Restaurant near the base, outside the closed zone, remains open; the end-of-pier café, surf shop, and bait-and-tackle counter are shut until that section reopens.
What you can catch
Malibu Pier sits within CDFW's Southern Management Area, spanning from Point Conception to the Mexico border, and its position near Malibu Lagoon and a rocky point brings a nice variety to the line. Surfperch, including barred, walleye, and occasionally silver, hold near the pilings, while corbina and croaker work the adjacent sandy stretches. Because of the nearby rocky reef (including an artificial reef built in 1960 from concrete pilings and old streetcars), calico bass and opaleye sometimes show up around the pier's structure, in addition to the more typical mackerel and halibut found along open sand elsewhere in the region.
License and regulations
Fishing from the open public sections of Malibu Pier does not require a California sport fishing license, following the same statewide exemption that applies to public piers generally. That exemption covers the license only; minimum size limits, daily bag limits, and any species-specific closed seasons still apply exactly as they would anywhere else. California also limits public pier anglers to two rods each. Respect all posted barriers for the closed outer section, and always check CDFW's current Beach Fishing list plus California State Parks notices before your trip.
Tips for fishing here
Until the outer pier reopens, plan to bring your own bait and gear — the on-pier bait-and-tackle shop sits in the closed end and is not currently available. Fishing near the pilings toward the rocky point, within the open stretch, tends to produce the widest species mix, including the occasional calico bass on a small swimbait or live bait. For halibut, work the sandy side of the pier with a strip of squid or anchovy fished slowly along the bottom, and give each spot a few minutes before moving on.
Before you go
Malibu Pier gets busy with visitors and photographers given its scenic setting, so arrive early for parking and elbow room along the rail. Expect the tip of the pier — and the historic twin end buildings — to be blocked off until State Parks completes repairs; fishing from the open mid-pier and shoreward sections continues. Nearby lagoon trails and the restaurant at the base still make it easy to turn a fishing trip into a longer outing. Confirm current access through California State Parks and CDFW before heading out, since the closure status and any temporary limits can change.