San Diego Beaches: San Diego Piers
Coming from the east coast to San Diego one of the first thing I noticed was the massive fishing piers. There are five major piers in San Diego and four of them are freely open to the public. This is our guide to San Diego Piers.
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Overview
My first experience with fishing piers was in Kill Devil Hills, NC at the Avalon Fishing Pier. This 700-foot pier is a classic example of east coast wooden piers. It was here at the age of 3 that I watched people catching fish and decided I would never eat seafood.
The East Coast is regularly hit by hurricanes, so the piers are definitely more modest. They tend to be under 1,000 feet. The longest east coast wooden pier is the 1,206-foot Apache Pier in Myrtle Beach, SC
The west coast piers are much longer. For example, San Diego’s Oceanside wooden pier stretches 1,942 feet. For someone new to the west coast these piers were fascinating for me.
According to this website, 3 of San Diego’s piers rank in California’s top 10 in length. If you look at the list of the longest piers in the United States, you will see that most of the longer piers outside California are on rivers or lakes.
The massive new St. Pete Pier in Florida is more like an island than a pier. It appears built to withstand a hurricane. Southern California has a truly unique pier experience that is well worth checking out.
For the record, I think the coolest pier is Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara. You can drive on this massive pier and there is parking, shops and restaurants. The Santa Cruz Wharf offers a similar experience.
San Diego’s piers are slightly more modest, and I appreciate them this way. They are mainly designed for fishing and usually have a bait shop and a restaurant or two. They make for a great stroll and all have spectacular views of the San Diego Coast.
Imperial Beach Pier
Starting in the southern most part of San Diego is the Imperial Beach Pier. Imperial Beach is the southwestern most town in the United States. You can clearly see Mexico and the Tijuana bull ring right across the border at nearby by Border Field State Park.
Imperial Beach Pier is a 1,491 foot pier made of a combination of concrete and wood. The current pier was built in 1989, replacing the older pier from the 1960s.
The area at the foot of Imperial Beach Pier has been significantly improved over the past twenty years. The entrance to the pier is Portwood Pier Plaza. This colorful plaza is highlighted by the Surfhenge sculpture. This is a popular area for events including the regular sand castles tournaments IB is famous for.
Parking in Imperial Beach is generally not too bad. There is a great deal of free street parking. There are also some free parking lots. Right on the beach there is paid parking but it only costs $2.
There are plenty of restaurants in the area, and at the end of the pier you can find Tin Fish, a small fast casual seafood chain.
Ocean Beach Pier
At 1,976 feet, the Ocean Beach Pier is the second longest pier in California. This concrete pier opened in 1966. It was closed for several months in 2019 after being damaged by a severe storm.
The pier has a bait shop and a small café, the WOW, or Walking on Water Café. Ocean Beach is a funky town known for its hippie vibe. The OB Pier is a prime surfing location, and this is one of the best places to watch surfers in action.
The surrounding Ocean Beach (OB) area has all kinds of places to eat and drink. In 2018, Thrillist named Ocean Beach as one of the coolest neighborhoods in America to spend a weekend. Dog Beach is a core part of the OB vibe.
At the south end of the pier you can find a rocky area that is great for exploring tide pools. Beyond this area the beach gives way to cliffs and becomes Sunset Cliffs on the Point Loma peninsula.
Crystal Pier
Crystal Pier is located at the end of Garnet St in hustling Pacific Beach. At 872 feet, Crystal Pier is the shortest in San Diego. However, it is probably the most aesthetically pleasing pier.
This pier was built in 1927 and since the 1930s has operated as a hotel with cottages. The cottages are Cape Cod style and have balcony patios overlooking the ocean. This is one of San Diego’s most unique places to stay.
Past the cottage there is your standard bait shop and fishing opportunities. Crystal Pier does not have a restaurant but there is a stand for snacks. There are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat along the Pacific Beach boardwalk.
Oceanside Pier
Oceanside is located in the north end of San Diego. At 1,942 feet, the Oceanside Pier is one of the longest on the West Coast. It is a wooden pier that is only a few feet shorter than the Ocean Beach Pier.
The original pier was built in the 1880s but has gone through several iterations over the years. The current pier was finished in 1987.
The Oceanside Pier stands out as a real attraction. Pier View Way is a long entrance to the pier from downtown Oceanside. Luxury hotels are being built at the foot of the pier, and a nice boardwalk runs along the sandy beaches.
Be sure and look for the famous Charlie the Pelican who can be found hanging out by the bait shop in the middle of the pier. At the end of the pier is a Ruby’s Diner restaurant. The entrance to the pier has a Tin Fish, the same chain found at the end of the Imperial Beach pier.
The beach area around the Oceanside Pier is often referred to as The Strand. Right by the pier there is an outdoor amphitheater, the Junior Seau Pier Amphitheatre, named after the late San Diego Chargers legend from Oceanside. This venue is host to regular events, especially during the summer.
Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier
The Scripps Pier is the only pier closed to the general public. It is a research pier operated by the Scripps Institute of Oceanography at UCSD. Access is only by specific request, generally for scientific or educational purposes.
Scripps Pier is about 1,000 feet and located right by La Jolla Shores at the entrance to Black’s Beach. This is a nice beach area and great tide pools. Taking pictures under the pier is popular, especially for couples.
Fishing on San Diego Piers
One great advantage of San Diego piers is you do not need a fishing license. Most of the piers have bait shops with supplies and gear for rent. There will be fish cleaning stations. Of course, you still need to follow California laws on fish size and limits.
If you want to know specifics about what fish you can catch we defer to SDFish.com
Imperial Beach Pier Fish Guide
Ocean Beach Pier Fish Guide
Crystal Pier Fish Guide
Oceanside Pier Fish Guide
Be sure and check our full guide to all San Diego beaches.
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