Surf Beach fishing proposal gets preliminary OK, but years away from taking effect

Recreational fishing could one day return to a portion of Surf Beach near Vandenberg Space Force Base after California Fish and Game Commissioners gave preliminary approval to a proposal allowing anglers to fish along a half-mile stretch of coastline.

The decision marks a step forward in efforts to restore fishing access to the beach, but state officials caution it could still take several years before any changes take effect. During meetings held October 13 through 16, commissioners considered two proposals aimed at changing fishing restrictions within the Vandenberg State Marine Reserve.

What the Approved Proposal Includes

Commissioners rejected a broader petition that would have allowed fishing along the entire reserve but granted preliminary approval to a narrower plan. The approved concept would create a small State Marine Conservation Area within the existing reserve, allowing anglers to catch finfish from shore using hook-and-line methods. It could also allow limited collection of bait, though those details have yet to be determined.

Claire Waggoner, Marine Region Habitat Conservation Program Manager with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, explained that the Commission's decision does not mean fishing can immediately resume. The proposal must undergo environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, followed by the state's formal rulemaking process, which includes public notice, discussion and an adoption hearing.

In the meantime, recreational fishing at Surf Beach remains prohibited, and anyone caught fishing there could face enforcement action. For more local updates, visit /news.

Facts via KSBY.