Seacliff State Beach Campground

Fishing

Seacliff is popular for anglers to do some surf and pier fishing. Located in Soquel Cove, the area is known for its halibut. Anglers can find sole, flounder, mackerel, lingcod, cabezon, jacksmelt, perch, anchovy, bocaccio, kingfish, as well as salmon and steelhead from the pier. A fishing license is actually not required to fish from the pier, but you should probably have one anyway! Check out all the tips and tricks from Pier Fishing.

Paddling

Although you can’t launch your kayak from this state beach, you can start from Santa Cruz harbor and head in any direction. You can paddle down to Capitola and continue on to Seacliff State Beach to see the impressive cement ship, Seacliff’s main attraction.

Surfing

The waves here at Seacliff State Beach are perfect for boogie boarding, but aren’t too impressive for surfers. Definitely makes for a fun family trip though! You can check out some wave stats here.

Swimming

With fairly mild waves, this is a family hotspot for those looking to hit up the beach. You can swim by the visitor’s center or further down the coastline in the Rio del Mar section, or just relax on the warm sand and take in the sun!

Wildlife watching

Get your binoculars and watch out for whales during their migration season (winter to spring)! There are also plenty of sea lions, otters, and dolphins that you can see splashing in the water. Thousands of New Zealand birds called sooty shearwaters congregate over the water during summer and early fall to stock up on anchovy dinners, and you can also find all sorts of marine life, especially around the SS Palo Alto and the pier.