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Imperial Beach and Its Pier

Part of San Diego Beaches, our guide to San Diego beaches, coast and safety rules.

The Imperial Beach Pier is on the state list of free piers, so no fishing license is needed on the pier. The City posts rules: no more than two poles, no casting over the rail, no spears or bows, no glass, and clean fish only at designated places. Pier length and hours are not confirmed.Checked October 23, 2026.

No licenseneeded on the pier
2 polesmaximum, per City
No glasson the pier
Not confirmedlength and hours
Imperial Beach Pier at sunset with an orange sky
Imperial Beach Pier at sunset. Stephen Bay, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
LicenseNot needed on a public pier in ocean or bay waters (CDFW). Size and bag limits still apply.
Pole limitNo more than two poles; drop lines count.
Other rulesDo not fish in areas closed to fishing. Clean fish only at designated places. No above-rail casting. No spears or bows. No glass. Alcohol is prohibited except for patrons of the restaurant at the west end.
City office825 Imperial Beach Blvd (City admin office, not the pier)

Pier Rules

The City of Imperial Beach publishes the pier fishing rules shown above. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife lists the pier among free piers in San Diego County. For catch limits, see Pier Fishing Rules.

Imperial Beach and Its Pier Open the map. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Pier length, address and restrooms are not confirmed.
  • Search results only (not opened): Pier Plaza hours of 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., lifeguards 7 a.m. to dusk, and a rule that surf anglers stay 300 feet from either side of the pier. The City of Imperial Beach can confirm.
  • The coordinates shown are for the city, not the pier.

More in San Diego Beaches

FAQ

Do I need a fishing license on Imperial Beach Pier?

The state says no license is needed on a public pier in ocean or bay waters. Size, bag limits and report cards still apply.

Sources

  1. City of Imperial Beach: Pier Fishing
  2. CDFW: Beach and Pier Fishing

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.