Malibu Sport Fishing Pier

I love this place. I’ve actually never been here during the day and it was absolutely amazing. The pier wasn’t too touristy which was nice. People were scattered here and there enjoying a day of sport fishing.
Walking down the pier to the right were a bunch of surfers and to the left were people that were paddleboarding and kayaking. It was really serene and quiet out there, which was definitely a plus. I guess I’m used to going to Hermosa Beach where the vibe, crowd, and surroundings are completely different.
If you want a relaxing day, make the drive on PCH and head out to the Malibu Sport Fishing Pier. It’s a nice place for a date. Bring a towel and sit along the various benches they have on the pier or find a secluded spot on the beach. Either way, it’s a beautiful view
We got lucky and found a place on PCH to park, or else, there are some small lots nearby that you would have to pay for.
I’ll definitely be back again soon. If you’re stressed or just need a quiet relaxing day, head out here to forget all the external factors going on in your life. It’s good for you.

Had a great time trying our luck at deep sea ocean sportsfishing with Malibu Sport Fishing Pier’s charter boat, the Malibu Sportsman. We went on a Sunday morning with a group of 16 (mostly adults, plus two really annoying kids including one idiot who tried to store an unsheathed knife in his hoodie pocket.)
Between the two of us we caught 11 species of fish, some edible and some not! Sand dab, mackrel, sardine, perch, starry rockfsh, honeycomb rockfish, salmon grouper, jack smelter, red snapper, bat ray, and a tiny shark! In the end we ended up with some red snapper, salmon grouper (boccaccio) and miscellaneous rockfish to barbecue.
Having never gone fishing before (ever ever ever) it was a somewhat bewildering experience but I wouldn’t say you need to have experience to go on the trip as long as you are an easy going person. I was pleasantly surprised to not be the only woman on the ship! Erin, one of the crewmembers, was very friendly and helpful. Jordan, another crewmember, was also a lifesaver – he set up my gear, fixed it when it was tangled, and later on wrestled pelicans and enthusiastically gaffed bat rays.
Newbie tips:
— RSVP online on
. It makes things smoother. You can also pay for your fishing license there. Definitely get there at 6:30am, if not earlier. We were a little straggly and we ended up being last on the boat.
— Bring enough cash for renting gear, snacks, and tipping. (The galley is pretty basic… simple packaged sandwiches, chips, sodas, and gummy snacks, so consider bringing food.)
— ALWAYS keep your thumb on the line.
— You will see animals die on this trip. Make sure you’re okay with that.
— Live bait is kind of intimidating… sticking your hook through a poor fish. Don’t use it if the person standing next to you is using squid – my bait fish ate my neighbor’s squid bait. If you’re too squeamish it’s okay, I don’t think anyone really caught anything on live bait.
— The best combination we found was sardine and squid on a single hook together. (How my friend caught the shark, in any case.)
— Bring water and consider dramamine if you get sea sick.
— They’re not kidding about the windproof jacket. I had a sweatshirt hoodie on and was still cold on a warm August day. If you have one, bring it.
— Reapply sunscreen on your nose or you will burn. Ouch!
— They will give you your fillets but not give you ice. Get a celebratory drink at the Beachcomber and ask for some, or go across the street to Jack in the Box! You don’t really need a big ice chest, either.

Seriously, people – a one and half hour ANYTHING in Malibu qualifies as a bargain – but one and a half hours of watching dozens of dolphins frolic along side the boat on a glorious, sunny day in Malibu for a measly $ 22 is downright charitable of the people who run this boat tour. Had a blast, only 5 people on the boat! I did the 11:30 tour on a Friday. Tour guide was really knowledgeable & seemed to love his job. Highly recommend!
Again – it’s only TWENTY TWO dollars! That’s, like, the cost a crab cake appetizer next door at the Malibu Beach Inn. Go do this boat trip!

I feel bad giving the Malibu Pier whale watching tour a lukewarm review because the people seem very nice, but it’s definitely not something I would do again.
The boat: small, crowded, choppy ride.
The weather: totally overcast and foggy– for the first hour, we couldn’t even see the shore.
The whales: nonexistent, though we did see some seals (sea otters?) and lots of birds.
I realize that the weather and the absence of whales is totally out the control of the business– but for 2.5 hours on the choppy waters, mostly staring at the fog and the people jammed into seats beside me.. . not fun.

I bought a deal on Living Social for a whale watching trip from Malibu Pier. They were booked up so we showed up and got on standby, hoping we could get a spot last minute. It’s supposedly the end of the season so I wasn’t sure if we would see anything but wanted to give it a try. The staff at the dock was very helpful and friendly.
The boat crew was awesome! Captain Rick, Jordan and Tyler knew exactly where to go and how to follow the whales so we could get as much out of the trip as possible. We were fortunate enough to see the Gray Whales breaching out of the water!
Overall an awesome experience. I will definitely go back, and would absolutely recommend this to my friends!
TIP: Be sure to call ahead and make a reservation! They are booked for the whole season! You can show up and get on standby though. Try to get parking along PCH so you don’t have to pay for the lot.

This is where it all happened. It was over 20 years ago on the Aquarious that I went on a sportfishing boat. Its great fishing out here mostly since things are a bit closer. During summers good bass, bonita, and barracuda bite. Spring is halibut season. Good year round fishing here. Kinda far from LA.