Fisherman's Cove Beach

What it’s like

Fisherman’s Cove is a small beach about 400 feet long. The city lists it as Boat Canyon Beach, and the Coastal Commission uses the Fisherman’s Cove name. It sits between Shaw’s Cove to the north and Divers Cove to the south.

The city names skin and scuba diving as the popular activities. It calls this a small beach with light crowds on weekdays. At moderate high tides the beach washes out.

The Coastal Commission lists a sandy beach and a rocky shore. It lists no restrooms, and the city’s amenity list shows only the marine protected area. Divers Cove, a short walk south, has restrooms and outdoor showers.

Getting there and parking

Stairs lead down from the 600 block of Cliff Drive. The Coastal Commission puts them on the north side of a condominium complex, and the city says the stairway runs along the side of the Diver’s Cove condominiums. The stairs to Divers Cove start 20 yards to the south.

Parking is on the street, and the Coastal Commission lists it as metered. Meters and pay stations take cards, coins and bills, and you can pay through the Laguna Beach Parking App. The city’s parking page lists enforcement from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., but its lot list gives 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the off-season through June 2027, so check the meter. The city says some parts of Laguna Beach have three-hour meters and others have limited neighborhood parking. The parking guide covers permits and lots, and getting around covers the trolley.

City beaches open at 5 a.m. and close at 1 a.m.

Rules and safety

The bottom here is rock, and the city lists several hazards. Flat rocks on the north side are dangerous when a swell runs. Sharp, shallow rocks line the south end. A drop-off sits about five feet from shore. The Splash Rock area draws divers, and the city tells swimmers to stay away from it.

Fisherman’s Cove lies inside the Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve, and the state names Boat Canyon Beach among the reserve’s beaches. The reserve runs from Abalone Point to Goff Island. State rules make it unlawful to injure, damage, take or possess any living, geological or cultural marine resource, and fishing is not allowed. The city repeats both rules on its page for the beach.

The ban on alcohol, smoking and fires covers city beaches. Some beaches have no lifeguard at times, so the city asks you to swim with a partner and near a lifeguard when one is on duty. It also warns that the rocks along the coast injure people.

Good to know

Dogs can visit on a leash. During the summer window, June 15 to September 10, they can use the beach before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.; the rest of the year there is no hour limit.

Cliff Drive runs through North Laguna, and the coves on both sides of this one have their own stairs. Picnic Beach lies beyond Divers Cove, below Heisler Park.