BOLSA CHICA STATE BEACH
Bolsa Chica State Beach is a popular place for surf fishing for perch, corbina, croaker, cabezon and sand shark. Also popular is in the summer is bare-handed fishing for California grunion, a species that only spawns on sandy southern California beaches. The beach extends three miles from Seal Beach to Huntington Beach City Pier. A bikeway connects it with Huntington State Beach, seven miles south. Wildlife and bird watching are popular. Across the road from the beach is the 1,000-acre Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, operated by the California Department of Fish and Game.
The area was originally part of a Mexican land grant from 1834. It became popular for hunting and fishing during the late 19th century.
In early years it served as an oil extraction site until its purchase by Signal Oil Company in 1941. The company drilled wells but also preserved parts of wetlands which later formed Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.
The State acquired this beachfront property in1960 to provide public recreational opportunities while preserving coastal resources.
It officially opened as a state park on July 25,1972 offering various activities like surfing or bird watching.
Today it is managed by California Department of Parks and Recreation attracting over two million visitors annually with diverse wildlife habitats making it significant ecological reserve along Southern Californian coast.
Day-UseFishingyes
Hiking Trailyes