Recreational fishing licenses are not required when fishing from a public pier in ocean or bay waters. Public piers are defined in Section 1.88 of Title 14, California Code of Regulations. They must be connected to the shoreline, allow for free, unrestricted public access, and have been built or currently function for the primary purpose of fishing.
Additionally, publicly owned jetties or breakwaters that are connected to land, as described above, that have free unrestricted access for the general public, and whose purpose it is to form the most seaward protective boundary of an ocean harbor, are public piers.
A list of free fishing piers and a zoomable map of pier locations is now available on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website to help you plan your pier fishing adventure.
Even though a license is not required on a public pier, all other regulations (including minimum size, bag limits and seasons) apply while fishing from a public pier. Additionally, only two rods and lines, handlines, or nets, traps, or other appliances used to take crabs may be used per person on a public pier (CCR Title 14, section 28.65(b)).