Wow the CA fishing regulations are confusing.

['tailpursuit]

umm well if you dont have a way to get off the piers and surf it its pretty easy
these are the fish you will normally catch.

mackerel they are green and are related to tuna they might also look dark green

perch you seem to know about perches but there are different types and these are saltwater ones they look like bluegills (kinda)

halibut they are flat most of them have eyes in the right side

thresher sharks have a tail shaped like a scythe and the face looks like a mako and is kinda of stubby (blue)

well thats all i caught off piers and surf
srry i suck at describing