About this pier
Ocean Beach Pier, located in the Ocean Beach neighborhood of the city of San Diego, San Diego County, opened in 1966 as the longest concrete pier on the West Coast at the time, stretching about 1,971 feet into the Pacific. For decades it served as one of the region's most popular fishing destinations, drawing anglers for its unusually deep water access from shore. Storm damage in October 2023 closed the pier to the public. City officials have since determined the old structure cannot be repaired and are planning a full replacement estimated in the $170–190 million range, with no firm reopening date. Treat the historic pier as permanently closed pending that rebuild, even if some listings still describe the status more vaguely.
What you can catch
When it was open, Ocean Beach Pier sat within CDFW's Southern Management Area, the zone from Point Conception to the Mexico border, and its deep-water end historically supported an especially wide species mix: surfperch and croaker near shore, mackerel, bonito, and jack mackerel further out, plus halibut, bat rays, and even occasional larger gamefish passing through the deeper water off the pier's tip. It was long considered one of the better shore-based spots in San Diego for variety.
License and regulations
Historically, no California sport fishing license was required to fish from Ocean Beach Pier as a public structure, and that exemption applies to public piers statewide. Size limits, bag limits, and seasonal closures for each species remain fully enforced regardless of license status whenever a replacement pier opens, and the standard two-rod limit for public pier anglers will still apply. Given the current closed status, always check CDFW's current Beach Fishing list and City of San Diego updates before planning a trip here.
Tips for fishing here
Because the pier is closed with no near-term repair timeline, anglers looking for a similar deep-water fishing experience in the area often shift to nearby San Diego piers like Crystal Pier or Shelter Island Pier. Once a replacement pier is built and opened, the outer end is expected to remain the top spot for mackerel, bonito, and halibut, based on historical fishing patterns. Checking local tackle shops, city project updates, or CDFW listings is the best way to track when fishing access might return.
Before you go
Ocean Beach's surrounding neighborhood still has restaurants, shops, and beach access even with the pier closed, so it's worth checking current signage before making a special trip specifically to fish. If you do visit, respect any posted closures or barriers around the pier structure. The beach itself often remains open even when the pier is not, so it can still be a pleasant stop. Do not plan on fishing from the pier itself until a replacement opens and official sources confirm public access.