Marina del Rey Jetties & Ballona Creek Mouth

The jetties at the Marina del Rey entrance are some of the most popular shore-fishing spots on the Westside. The south jetty runs along the mouth of Ballona Creek, a flood-control channel that drains about 17 miles of the Los Angeles basin into Santa Monica Bay. The north jetty is a separate structure, reached from the Venice side via Via Marina and Ocean Front Walk.

What's biting

Anglers here target California halibut (22-inch minimum, 5-fish limit), kelp bass (14-inch minimum, 5-fish limit), surfperch and California corbina, and Pacific and jack mackerel, which are especially active in season. Boaters drift the edges of the harbor entrance channel for the same species. Keep clear of the navigation channel, though: harbor traffic is constant.

Access

For the south jetty, use the published coastal access point at the southwest end of the Pacific Avenue / 62nd Street bridge, then walk or bike toward the beach and jetty. The Ballona Creek Bike Path, nearly 7 miles long, also ends here.

Licenses and safety

Unlike public fishing piers, the jetties don't have the free-fishing license exemption. Carry a valid California sport fishing license. Rocks are uneven and slick on a rising tide or swell, so retreat if waves start washing over the top. After rain or spills, Ballona Creek can bring strong current, floating debris and sudden water-quality closures.