ReelCaster
Back to map
Shore spot · PierGroundfish Management Area SouthernYellowtail · Open

Balboa Pier

33.60°N · 117.90°W

Shore spot · PierGroundfish Management Area SouthernYellowtail · Open

Balboa Pier Fishing Forecast

Updated today

Yellowtail fishing at Balboa Pier looks good today.
The best time to go is 6 AM to 12 PM, with the tide ebbing.

ReelCaster scores every hour at Balboa Pier from 0 to 100, reading the tide, current, wind and weather for Yellowtail. The higher the score, the better your odds. Green means go.

Yellowtail
Explore the map

Pro is free for 7 days: all 14 days, full catch reports and text alerts for Balboa Pier.

Start free trial
1 of 4
Balboa Pier, on the live map

Every spot is scored for today, out of 100. Green is worth the trip, amber is fair, red is slow.

Species

tap to switch species
Best score for the day · 7 AM
83/100
GOOD

Now 62 · 12 PM PST

BEST WINDOW
6 AM-12 PM
Tide ebbing
CDFW · Groundfish Management Area Southern · Yellowtail openRegulations ↗10 per day · min 24"

14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
Mon
Nov 2
Tue
Nov 3
Wed
Nov 4
Thu
Nov 5
Fri
Nov 6
Sat
Nov 7
Sun
Nov 8
Mon
Nov 9
Tue
Nov 10
Wed
Nov 11
Thu
Nov 12
Fri
Nov 13
Sat
Nov 14

24-Hour Conditions

All times PST

Tap or drag to read any hour

Conditions
Time
12 PM
Now
Score
62
Fair
Tide
4.5 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
14 kn
W · steady
Sea state
Choppy
3 ft @ 13 s S
Air temp
69°
Warm
Weather
Clear
6% cloud
Hour 12 PM. Score 62 Fair. Tide 4.5ft Rising ▲. Current +0.7kn Flood. Wind 14kn W G19. Sea 3 ft @ 13 s S Choppy. Air 68.7°.

Why this score

Temp break
On the break
Tough
Light
Low sun
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

Yellowtail
Retention open
Daily limit
10 per day
Possession
10 in possession
Size
Minimum 24"
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Open year-round. Minimum size 24 inches fork length, except that up to 5 fish less than 24 inches fork length may be taken or possessed.
Other species here
Barred Sand Bass Retention openBonito Retention openSurfperch Retention openCalifornia Halibut Retention open
Always check with CDFW ↗

Source: CDFW · Groundfish Management Area Southern · synced yesterday

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Yellowtail is best at this spot

Off seasonOff season for Yellowtail
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season

SHORE PROFILE

FISHED FROM
Pier
ACCESS
On foot
No boat needed
GETTING THERE
A paid lot sits beside the pier at Main Street on the Balboa Peninsula, a short walk from the pier entrance.
HOW IT'S FISHED
Live bait on a Carolina rig

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Balboa Beach
Groundfish Management Area Southern
86
Top: California HalibutOFF SEASON
California Halibut 86 · Barred Surfperch 86 · Barred Sand Bass 86
0006121824
12 kt W
H 1:54 PM · 1.5 m
L 9:42 PM · 0.0 m
Newport Beach
Groundfish Management Area Southern
86
Top: Barred SurfperchSHOULDER SEASON
Barred Surfperch 86 · Barred Sand Bass 86 · California Halibut 86
0006121824
12 kt W
H 1:54 PM · 1.5 m
L 9:42 PM · 0.0 m
The Wedge (Newport Harbor West Jetty)
Groundfish Management Area Southern
87
Top: Barred Sand BassOFF SEASON
Barred Sand Bass 87 · California Halibut 87 · Kelp Bass 87
0006121824
14 kt W
H 1:54 PM · 1.5 m
L 9:42 PM · 0.0 m
China Cove Beach
Groundfish Management Area Southern
87
Top: Barred SurfperchSHOULDER SEASON
Barred Surfperch 87 · California Halibut 87 · Barred Sand Bass 87
0006121824
14 kt W
H 1:54 PM · 1.5 m
L 9:42 PM · 0.0 m

About Balboa Pier

Balboa Pier is a shore spot near Newport Beach, California. Charted structure: pier. Species scored here: Yellowtail, Barred Sand Bass, Bonito, Surfperch and California Halibut.

CUSTOM ALERT
Notify me when Balboa Pier scores 75+
Email free · SMS available with Reelcaster Pro
Got questions?

Balboa Pier is one of the spots we track around Newport Beach. More spots in Newport Beach · All of California.

Looking for the full interactive map? Open Explore.