About this pier
There is currently no pier at Seacliff State Beach. January 2023 storms destroyed more than half of the wooden pier and left the rest in danger of collapse. California State Parks determined it was beyond repair, held a public farewell, and had the entire structure demolished — with officials stating demolition would leave no visible portions of the pier. Park resilience materials say that for the foreseeable future, nothing will be built in its place. There is no rebuild timeline.
What remains famous here is the Cement Ship — the SS Palo Alto, a World War I–era concrete-hulled tanker built in 1919 in Oakland, completed too late for the war, later purchased by the Seacliff Amusement Company and deliberately grounded in 1930 as the centerpiece of a recreation complex (restaurant, pool, dance hall, casino) once connected to shore by the now-demolished pier. Seacliff State Beach sits near Aptos in Santa Cruz County; Monterey Bay waters here fall under California's Central groundfish management area. The beach itself remains open for day use.
What you can catch
With no pier left, shore fishing here means surf fishing from the beach — historically a place for perch, jacksmelt, and flatfish along the sand, with Central Coast species matching Monterey Bay beach patterns. Older pier notes about fishing near the Cement Ship's structure are historical only; you cannot walk out on a pier to that hull today.
License and regulations
There is no public pier exemption available at Seacliff right now because there is no pier. Fishing from the beach requires a California sport fishing license (for anglers 16 and older), and all size limits, bag limits, and seasons still apply. Central groundfish management area rules matter for any bottomfish you keep. Public-pier two-rod limits are moot here until a pier exists again — which State Parks is not planning for the foreseeable future.
Tips for fishing here
Plan for surf fishing, not pier fishing. A standard high-low rig can produce perch and other surf-zone fish from the sand. Follow all State Parks postings about beach access, swim areas, and staying clear of any remaining ship or rubble hazards. Do not expect a partially open boardwalk or temporary fishing platform — none is there.
Before you go
Do not drive to Seacliff expecting to fish from a pier. Confirm beach day-use details with California State Parks if needed, bring a sport fishing license for surf fishing, and enjoy the Cement Ship as a historic shoreline landmark rather than a pier destination. For Central Coast pier fishing, use currently open public piers such as Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf or Capitola Wharf instead.