Live bait can be limited in Avalon, so anglers should plan ahead before crossing the channel.
For boaters heading to Catalina Island with fishing plans, finding bait isn’t always as simple as pulling up to a dockside bait receiver.
Unlike many mainland harbors, Avalon doesn’t have a permanent live bait receiver or a physical bait shop selling live bait directly to boaters on the island. That means anglers planning to fish around Catalina should arrive prepared, especially if they’re hoping to use live squid, sardines or anchovies.
According to Cheryl Allison, senior administrative assistant with the City of Avalon Harbor Department, live bait options in Avalon are limited and can vary.
“I haven’t seen an actual bait ‘barge’ in the Avalon area for years,” Allison said.
While a permanent bait barge isn’t currently operating in Avalon Harbor, bait boats may occasionally appear nearby.
“Periodically, ‘light’ boats, aka ‘bait’ boats, show up in the waters just outside Avalon Harbor to sell bait,” Allison said. “Boats have to go out to the bait boats on their own when they’re in the area.”
Allison noted that those boats operate outside City waters, meaning the Harbor Department doesn’t oversee them or maintain contact information or sales statistics.
For most visiting boaters, the safest option is to purchase live bait before making the crossing. Anglers commonly load up at mainland bait receivers in Long Beach, San Pedro or Newport Beach before heading across the channel. Long Beach Bait Company, the San Pedro bait receiver and the Newport Bait Barge are among the common mainland stops for boaters preparing to fish Catalina waters.
Boaters taking live bait across the channel will need a functioning bait tank or livewell capable of keeping bait healthy during the trip. Water quality, circulation and temperature can all affect how well bait survives the crossing, particularly during warmer months.
Once on Catalina, anglers looking for live bait generally have to catch their own. The Green Pleasure Pier in Avalon can be a useful spot for those carrying a Sabiki rig, with small mackerel, smelt and other baitfish sometimes available around the pier.
Frozen bait is more readily available on the island. Allison said there are likely five or six businesses within the City of Avalon that sell frozen bait. Common options in Avalon include Joe’s Tackle Box on the Green Pleasure Pier and Chet’s Hardware, where anglers may find frozen squid, anchovies, shrimp or similar bait depending on availability.
For boaters staying on the west end of the island, the Two Harbors General Store typically carries frozen bait as well.
The takeaway for visiting boaters is simple: live bait around Catalina is possible, but not guaranteed. Those hoping to fish with live bait should plan ahead, purchase bait on the mainland when possible and bring the proper equipment to keep it alive. Once in Avalon, frozen bait and catch-your-own options are the most reliable local alternatives.
