San Pedro Bay California Navigating the Past and Present

San Pedro Bay in California is a significant body of water with a rich history. It's situated in the Los Angeles Harbor, which is a major commercial and recreational hub.

The bay's strategic location has made it a vital part of the region's economy since the 19th century. Its proximity to the Port of Los Angeles has enabled the growth of international trade.

San Pedro Bay's complex ecosystem is home to a diverse array of marine life, including fish, birds, and other wildlife.

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The Free Harbor Fight was a contentious issue in the late 1800s, with the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the Harbor League advocating for a harbor in San Pedro, while the Southern Pacific Railroad pushed for a Santa Monica harbor. The outcome was the annexation of the Harbor Gateway in 1906, securing San Pedro and Wilmington as the main ports of Los Angeles.

The division of Terminal Island in 1909 finally settled the geographic struggles between the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach. The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 gave both ports a unique opportunity to capitalize on their strategic location.

The Los Angeles River's channelization in the 1930s greatly reduced siltation, limiting the need for maintenance dredging in the Port of Long Beach.

The Free Harbor Fight was a pivotal moment in Los Angeles' history, shaping the city's economic and trading landscape. In the late 1890s, the Southern Pacific Railroad bought large parcels of land in Santa Monica near its terminus, sparking a heated debate.

The Huntington family advocated for a Santa Monica harbor, which would have given the Southern Pacific a monopoly on freight. This would have been a game-changer, allowing the railroad to control the flow of goods in and out of the city.

The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and a newly formed Harbor League, however, pushed for a harbor in San Pedro, where the Southern Pacific would face competition from Phineas Banning's Los Angeles and Harbor Railroad. This opposition ultimately led to the Free Harbor Fight.

The fight ensured that Wilmington and San Pedro would serve as the main port of Los Angeles, a decision that would have far-reaching consequences for the city's development. The considerable distance between the harbor and the city's main rail yards was a result of this decision.

It wasn't until the construction of the Alameda Corridor nearly a century later that this situation was addressed, highlighting the long-term impact of the Free Harbor Fight.

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Terminal Island was once a spit of land known as Rattlesnake Island, but it evolved into a crucial location for both the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach.

The geography and turf struggles between the two ports were finally settled in 1909 with the division of Terminal Island between the two municipalities and their harbor interests.

Terminal Island's water depths were insufficient for ship traffic, and it was an island without major bridges to nearby cities, making it essentially useless for shipping until shipping channels were dug.

The island was renamed Terminal Island in the 1890s and expanded as dredge material was placed on it, becoming a convenient location for shipping.

The island's strategic location became even more valuable with the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, giving both ports a unique opportunity to capitalize on their location.

In the 1930s, the Los Angeles River was channelized in concrete, greatly reducing siltation and the need for maintenance dredging in the Port of Long Beach, a rare advantage for ports located near rivers.

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San Pedro Bay is a fisherman's paradise, with a diverse range of species to target. Top fish species at San Pedro Bay include trophy-worthy species like sand bass, calicos, and halibut.

Fishing in San Pedro Bay requires knowledge of the habitat, which can be found in various forms such as rocky reefs, coarse sand, eelgrass beds, and kelp. The bay's bottom composition changes throughout, making it essential to understand these variations to catch the right species.

Over 150 popular fishing spots are listed in San Pedro Bay and the surrounding San Pedro Shelf, including Point Fermin, Horseshoe Kelp, and The Rockpile. These spots are marked with GPS numbers, making it easy to find the best fishing locations.

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Sand bass, calicos, halibut, sculpin, rockfish, and lobster are just a few of the species you can find in San Pedro Bay. The bay's fish-holding habitat is a key factor in determining where to fish.

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The seabed composition in the bay is varied, with changes in bottom composition, rocky reefs, coarse sand, eelgrass beds, and kelp. This diversity supports a wide range of marine life.

The bay's depth ranges from 32 to 75 feet, with some areas experiencing subsidence due to oil extraction. This has led to the Port of Long Beach becoming a major hub for shipping.

Knowing the location of rocky reefs, docks, jetties, wrecks, piers, and other underwater features is crucial for successful fishing. The bay's complex topography provides numerous hiding spots and feeding grounds for fish.

Over 150 popular fishing spots have been identified in the bay, including Point Fermin, Horseshoe Kelp, and the Olympic II Wreck. Familiarizing yourself with these locations can increase your chances of landing a big catch.

San Pedro Bay is a paradise for anglers, with a variety of fish species that offer trophy potential.

The top fish species at San Pedro Bay include the Yellowfin Tuna, which can grow up to 200 pounds.

These fish are attracted to the bay's rich marine life, including the abundant baitfish that can be found in its waters.

The Yellowtail and Calico Bass are also found in the bay, and can be caught using a variety of techniques, including bottom fishing and trolling.

The Yellowtail can grow up to 50 pounds, making them a prized catch for many anglers.

The bay's unique combination of warm and cold water currents also makes it home to a variety of other fish species, including the Bluefin Tuna.

The Bluefin Tuna can grow up to 1,500 pounds, but are much rarer in the bay than the Yellowfin and Yellowtail.

San Pedro Bay is protected by three breakwaters that stretch 8.5 miles across the bay, with two openings for ships to enter the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach.

The western and middle breakwaters provided significant protection during the 1939 California tropical storm, but coastal neighborhoods of Long Beach like Belmont Shore were severely impacted because the eastern breakwater wasn't yet constructed.

The breakwaters were built over several decades, with the first section of the San Pedro Breakwater constructed between 1899 and 1911, and the eastern breakwater completed between 1941 and 1949.

The breakwaters in the bay are a crucial part of the navigation system. They extend 8.5 miles across most of the bay.

The construction of the breakwaters began in 1899 with the first section of the San Pedro Breakwater. It took 12 years to complete, finishing in 1911.

The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1930 authorized further construction of the breakwaters. The middle breakwater started construction in 1932.

The western and middle breakwaters provided significant protection to the ports during the 1939 California tropical storm. Without the eastern breakwater, coastal neighborhoods like Belmont Shore were severely impacted.

The Los Angeles Basin is a flat, alluvial plain surrounded by mountains and drained by two river systems. The twin river systems are the Los Angeles River and Ballona Creek.

The Los Angeles River empties into San Pedro Bay at Long Beach, while Ballona Creek discharges into Santa Monica Bay. This unique geography has made both areas viable locations for a seaport.

The Palos Verdes Peninsula serves as a fulcrum, with the two embayments facing the south and west at a 90-degree angle.

The Marine Chart: US18749_P1902 is a valuable resource for navigating the waters of San Pedro Bay. This chart is part of the Nautical Charts App, which provides users with a wealth of information to ensure safe and efficient navigation.

The chart covers an area of approximately 12 square kilometers, with a scale of 1:20000. This level of detail allows users to pinpoint specific locations, such as the nearby tide station at Long Beach, Inner Harbor, which is just 4 kilometers from the center of the chart.

For those interested in sailing or boating, the chart lists 10 nearby yacht clubs, including the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and the Long Beach Yacht Club. These clubs often provide valuable resources and support for sailors and boaters.

The chart also includes a tide table for the nearby Long Beach, Inner Harbor tide station. The table shows the high and low tide times for the next seven days, with heights ranging from -43.835L cm to 197.352H cm.

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The chart also includes information on the wind conditions in the area, with a table showing the predicted wind speed and direction for the next several days.

Navigating small craft harbor facilities can be overwhelming, but having the right information can make all the difference. Our San Pedro Bay map has the names and locations of the following types of facilities: marinas, transient mooring areas, public dock access, bait barges, public boat ramps, kayak launches, and fuel docks.

You can find marinas and transient mooring areas on our map, which are perfect for docking your boat or stopping for the night. Public dock access is also available, allowing you to tie up and explore the area.

Bait barges are a great resource for fishermen, providing a convenient place to stock up on bait and supplies. Public boat ramps are another essential facility, offering a safe and accessible place to launch your boat.

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Kayak launches are also marked on our map, making it easy to find a spot to launch your kayak or paddleboard. Fuel docks are a must-visit for any boater, providing a convenient place to refuel and continue on your journey.

Sportfishing landings and harbor patrol offices are also located on our map, offering a range of services and resources for boaters.

The Free Harbor Fight in the late 1890s resulted in the construction of the port in San Pedro, rather than Santa Monica, due to the competition it would have posed to the Southern Pacific Railroad.

This decision had a lasting impact on the city's infrastructure, with the harbor being a considerable distance from the main rail yards. The Alameda Corridor, built nearly a century later, finally addressed this issue.

The port in San Pedro has since become a vital part of Los Angeles' economy, with the city's main port serving as a hub for trade and commerce.

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The harbor's location also had a significant impact on navigation, with the need for clear and accurate maps becoming essential for fishermen and boaters.

A two-sided laminated map, featuring San Pedro Bay and San Pedro Shelf, is an essential tool for private boaters, with over 150 fishing spots marked with GPS coordinates.

This map also clearly marks diving boundaries, hoop netting information, and other important details for boaters to navigate safely.

The mild climate of southern California played a huge role in making the region's rail connections robust.

The Southern Pacific Railroad was instrumental in providing linkages from the region, spurring regional development and inspiring other railroads to follow suit.

Uniformly good weather in southern California allowed rail routes to operate smoothly year-round, unlike other regions where winter weather would impede rail routes into and out of the West.

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The restoration of San Pedro Bay is a topic of great debate. The Long Beach breakwater is at the center of this controversy, with some environmental groups pushing for its modification or removal.

This would allow for better water flows and a more natural coastal environment at the mouth of the Los Angeles River. The Surfrider Foundation's Long Beach chapter is one such group advocating for this change.

The breakwater provides protection from storm damage, a benefit that waterfront property owners and shippers strongly emphasize. This trade-off between environmental benefits and economic protection is a complex issue.

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The Long Beach breakwater has been a topic of controversy in the harbor towns and Greater Los Angeles conservationist community.

Environmental groups, including the Long Beach chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, propose modifying or removing the breakwater to promote better water flows and a more natural coastal environment at the mouth of the Los Angeles River.

This restoration ecology-based removal is opposed by waterfront property owners and shippers, who consider that the breakwater provides needed protection from storm damage.

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The breakwater has been a point of contention, with various groups having different opinions on its removal.

Some of the specific locations affected by the breakwater include the Port of Los Angeles, Terminal Island, Long Wharf (Santa Monica), Los Angeles Harbor Light, Long Beach Light, and Dominguez Channel.

These locations are all within the vicinity of the Long Beach breakwater.

The shift to container shipping in the 1960s and 70s had a profound impact on the economy of the ports. Over 775 acres of new land were added to Terminal Island on the POLA side.

Terminal Island's unique ability to be widened by depositing dredge material made it an ideal location for container terminals. This allowed the construction of new land on which container terminals could be built.

The deeper draft ships of the container fleet required deeper channels, which were dug using dredge material to create new land. This process enabled the construction of large container terminals like the one on the POLB side, which was built on 385 acres of former US Naval Shipyard land.

The growth of the ports was also driven by World War II, which led to a robust aviation industry in southern California. This industry spread throughout the region, including Los Angeles and Long Beach, and down to San Diego.