Fishing in Los Angeles

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Fishing

There's plenty of freshwater fishing in the lakes dotting the city and in the Angeles National Forest. A license is required: they're available at many sporting-goods stores. (Out-of-state visitors can get two-day licenses for $18, or one-day licenses for $12.) The Fish and Game Department (562/342-7100; 562/590-5020 lake-stocking information) can answer questions about licenses and give advice.

Shore fishing and surf casting are excellent on many of the beaches, and pier fishing is popular because no license is necessary to fish off public piers. The Santa Monica, Redondo Beach and Malibu piers have bait-and-tackle shops with everything you'll need.

If you want to break away from the piers, sign up for a boat excursion with one of the local charters, most of which will sell you a fishing license and rent tackle. Most also offer whale-watching excursions. Del Rey Sport Fishing (13759 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey. 310/822-3625) runs excursions for $35 per half day and $50 for three-quarters of a day, with tackle rental another $8-$12. Redondo Sport Fishing Company (233 N. Harbor Dr., Redondo Beach. 310/372-2111) has half-day charters starting at $30. Sea bass, halibut, bonita, yellowtail, and barracuda are the usual catch.

Twenty Second Street Landing (141 W. 22nd St., San Pedro. 310/832-8304) leads an overnight charter ($130) that lets you stargaze while waiting for a bite. Day charters are $55. L.A. Harbor Sportfishing (1150 Nagoya Way, Berth 79 at harbor, San Pedro. 310/547-9916), which sails some of the area's best charter boats, offers excursions ranging from half a day ($33) to two-day runs in summer.

Fishing Fingers

The most popular and most unusual form of fishing in the L.A. area involves no hooks, bait, or poles. The great grunion runs, which take place from March through July, occur when hundreds of thousands of small silver fish called grunion wash up on Southern California beaches to lay their eggs in the sand. The fish can be picked up by hand while they are briefly stranded on the beach. All that's required is a fishing license and a willingness to get your toes wet. San Pedro's Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (310/548-7562. www.cabrilloaq.org) hosts programs about grunion throughout most of their spawning season. During certain months you're not allowed to touch the grunion; call the Fish and Game Department for details.