Do you need a fishing license to fish off a pier in california? ?

[kaboomssb]

Do you need a fishing license to fish off a pier in california? I see people all day in santa barbara county fishing off the pier with no license. I want to do the same but I want to read it on a fish and game government website first just to make sure. does anyone have a link to an official website that shows its legal to fish off a pier in california without a license?

Thanks

[Artie]

no not while fishing on it if you are in the sand under it yes you need a license. I was given a warning for catching a large halibut becasue I had left my dip net home. I had to walk the fish into shallow water negotiating each and every piling along the way and then with the biggest incoming wave surf it up to the high tide mark and then leave my rod there and run down to the end run down back across the sand and got to the fish and there was a D F G guy standing there asking me for my license. (timing) I pointed to the rod still on the pier and he let me go with it (13 pounder). I was forty five then, eleven years ago

[JustAsking]

You have to have a fishing license to fish off the pier in California at all times o.k and good luck to you.

[chris m]

No, you don't have to.

[James W]

You don't need a fishing license to fish when you're on a pier.