OB Pier and Tide Pools

OB Pier News and Events

Repairs to damaged pier are no longer feasible; the focus now turns to long-term replacement.

Click Here to view the latest statement from The City of San Diego.

Click "OB Pier News" to view local news articles and events from a variety of publications.

Exploratory Drilling

Thanks to photographer, Jim Grant for capturing a photo of the engineers taking core samples by drilling through the pier into the ocean floor. This is the continuation of the Pier Renewal Project which is ongoing. The next community meeting will be coming up soon to bring us all up to speed on the environmental review, and the pier assessment, and map out the path going forward.

2024-09-30 OB Pier Exploritory Drilling photo by Jim Grant

Design concepts for Ocean Beach Pier replacement

Ocean Beach Pier Concept Unveil

In September 2023, The City of San Diego and its consultants presented the above-preferred design concepts for an Ocean Beach Pier replacement. These preferred design concepts were created based on public input.

To learn more, or provide public comment visit.

OBPierRenewal.com

2023-04-01 ob pier meeting photo ralph teyssier

OB Pier Renew Project

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Interesting Facts...

Originally Named the San Diego Fishing Pier. The original plaque is still there.
Over 500,000 Visitors Per Year.
At 1971 Feet It Is the Longest Concrete Pier on the West Coast. The Pier at Santa Cruz is 2745 Feet, Making it the Longest in the State.
The 1st Fish Caught on the Pier was an 8-inch Perch. The 2nd and 3rd Fish Caught was a Gray Shark and a Crab.
Often Called the "Queen Fish", Herring is the Most Common Fish Caught on the Pier. There is NO LIMIT!
Then CA Governor Edmund G. Brown Made the First Cast Off the OB Pier and Reportedly Fished for 5 minutes. Brown caught nothing and was defeated in November. (Coincidence?)
Currently, No Fishing License is Required on the Pier.
In 1991 over $2 Million was Spent on the Pier to Repair Damages Caused by Winter Storms.

If you have an OB Pier memory to share, Click Here.

More about the OB Pier

The Ocean Beach Municipal Pier, one of the most visited landmarks in San Diego County, was officially christened and introduced to eager San Diegans on July 2, 1966. Over 7,000 of San Diego's then 600,000 residents showed up to celebrate the opening, including local politicians Mayor Frank Curran and California Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown who had the honor of cutting the ribbon.

Although the pier quickly became a popular destination for locals and tourists, its original purpose was for fishing. Local Ocean Beach fishermen needed a way to prevent their fishing lines and lures from getting tangled in the vast kelp and rock beds that lie near the surface of the water near the shores. With the construction of the OB Pier, anglers can fish in 25-30 feet of water, avoiding most of the shoreline kelp and enabling them to catch species of fish that live in deeper waters. The pier extends 1971 feet into the ocean and is purported to be the longest concrete fishing pier on the West Coast. Its unique T-shape at the end of the pier adds 360 feet to the south and 193 feet to the north.

The OB Pier was not the first attempt at providing OB residents a place to fish. Before the completion of the pier, a bridge had been constructed in 1915 across the mouth of Mission Bay, which extended from the north end of Bacon Street to what is now the dunes of Mission Bay. This bridge, which was 1,500 feet long, was mainly built so residents could travel from Voltaire to Mission Beach. Soon after its construction, local fishermen thought they had finally found a place to fish. Though the bridge served its primary purpose as a means of transportation for residents, it proved to be a poor solution for the town's fishermen. When safety concerns and issues with flood control eventually resulted in the bridge becoming derelict and ultimately demolished., San Diegans were promised a replacement for the tourists and fishermen who enjoyed it. Construction began on another fishing option – a steel pier at the foot of Del Monte Avenue – in the early 1940s. Due to World War II steel shortages, construction was halted, and the pier was never completed. In 1966, the city finally came through on its promise and opened what is now the OB Pier at the foot of Niagara, a location that proved better suited for tourists and anglers alike.

Tide Pools

Photos Courtesy of Josh Utley - Please respect sea life and put it back where you found it. (=

For the Best Experience, We Recommend You Visit the Tidepools During Low Tide.

The Ocean Beach Tidepools are Located at the foot of Newport Ave. Beneath the Pier.

Ocean Beach Tide Table

Click Here to view the full photo album.

OB Pier History

Thanks to all the OB Pier fans who have submitted stories, photos, and memories for your enjoyment below. If you have a memory, photo, or story to share, please do so using the "Pierbook" form.

Working on the Pier

"The pier afforded me my first job at the age of 16 as a tram driver. I worked ferrying sightseers and fishers from one end to the other the summer the pier opened. It was a great first job being outside and able to socialize with all the people..."

Romantic Pier Walk & Talk

"My friend, Michael, took me to the pier and we walked and talked while we shared stories, thoughts and ideas one sunny October day. It was a great afternoon that started at the local co-op, Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market with lunch and shopping. We got to see the many pier views and sights, and came to know each other..."

Living on the Pier Block

"We lived on the pier block of Niagara in 1976..."

Pier Sunrise Walks

"My 'story' is quite simple: I love starting my day with sunrise walks on the pier..."

Parsons Wedding & Flash Mob

Joshua Adam Parsons and Corie Ann Parsons were married on the OB Pier in October 2015 following a dancing flash mob performed by local fun-loving folks. When asked why they selected the OB Pier as the spot for their nuptials...

On a Foggy Day, We Couldn't See Land

"My first husband and I left South Bend, IN and came to OB in Feb., '71. We must have walked the pier almost weekly for many of those first years, and it was a 'must do' with any visitors. One time it was a foggy day, and after a certain point on the pier, we couldn't see land..."

My Most Treasured Photo

"I attached a photo. That picture is about 35 years old and is the most treasured one I have. My brother found that picture about 5 years ago and scanned it into a digital copy. That is me on the left with my dad and my brother around 1979. I am 10 at the time of the pic. I am 46 now and my dad passed away 15 years ago. When I saw that, I knew immediately.... Holy S#!^ We are on the freakin OB pier!! I grew up and lived in the IE at the time..."

Every Sunset, Every Sunrise

"The first time my best friend Dianne brought me to OB, I fell in love, and every since, every Sunset, every Sunrise that I'm able to see reminds me how truly blessed I am to have made OB my home..."

Photo of Rhyan Cowa and his wife on OB Pier

Cowan Engagement

"On September 19th, 2013 my husband proposed to me at the end of the pier. It was about 9:30pm and we strolled along the pier, under the full moon, until we reached the bench at the very end, where we had sat years earlier and decided to move to San Diego. We sat there laughing and talking, watching the moon dance on the waves. We could hear the bagpiper, who often plays on the streets in OB, play sweet songs to the night. Once my then-boyfriend finally got enough courage to ask the big question, I already knew what it was. Of course, I said yes and ..."