Fishing
Tides, windows, what is actually biting.
Public pier + nearby Bolsa Chica surf. NOAA tides (Santa Ana River station as a proxy for the pier). Solunar majors: confirm on FishingReminder or TideTap — we do not invent moon times.
License
No California sportfishing license on the public pier. License required for beach and surf, including Bolsa Chica.
Species in play (late summer, not a promise)
Surfperch, croaker, corbina at dusk on the sand, halibut if you like the bottom, mackerel when bait shows. We will not list tuna because it sounds exciting.
Tide table · Aug 27–Sep 3, 2026
NOAA 9410599 · feet MLLW · Pacific time
| Day | Tides |
|---|---|
| Thu 27 | L 5:32a −0.1 · H 10:25a 2.5 · L 5:09p 0.3 · H 9:50p 3.2 |
| Fri 28 | L 5:56a 0.0 · H 10:47a 2.6 · L 5:44p 0.3 · H 10:24p 3.1 |
| Sat 29 | L 6:20a 0.0 · H 11:10a 2.8 · L 6:23p 0.2 · H 11:00p 2.9 |
| Sun 30 | L 6:43a 0.1 · H 11:36a 2.9 · L 7:06p 0.2 · H 11:41p 2.6 |
| Mon 31 | L 7:07a 0.2 · H 12:04p 3.0 · L 7:56p 0.2 |
| Tue 1 | H 12:28a 2.3 · L 7:32a 0.3 · H 12:38p 3.0 · L 8:57p 0.2 |
| Wed 2 | H 1:31a 1.9 · L 7:57a 0.4 · H 1:21p 3.0 · L 10:18p 0.2 |
| Thu 3 | H 3:18a 1.6 · L 8:23a 0.5 · H 2:20p 3.0 |
Best windows this week
Fish the moving water around the afternoon low into the evening high (roughly 4–8pm Thu–Sun). Slack in the middle of those highs is the nap, not the bite. Bolsa corbina: first and last light, same tides, license in the pocket.
Boats, bait, shops
Want a captain instead of the rail? Named harbour boats are on the charter directory — private, license required. Bait on the pier; gear usually included on a charter. Surf shops: Jack’s and HSS.