South Coast Fish Report: Cooler Waters Shape Winter Fishing Patterns

By Capt. Brian Woolley As cooler water temperatures continue to define the fishing landscape along the Southern California coast, anglers are finding opportunities centered around sculpin, halibut, and sand bass. While seasonal shifts have slightly affected halibut action, bottom fishing remains a productive and reliable option, with anglers targeting deep hard-bottom areas for sculpin and rockfish. Meanwhile, sand bass and calico bass have shown signs of improvement, offering a promising outlook for nearshore fishing. Sculpin fishing has remained fairly consistent from Los Angeles and Long Beach down through Orange County, with boats focusing their efforts over deep, hard-bottom areas. These structure-oriented fish are responding well to rubber lures, particularly twin-tail plastics rigged on 1/2 oz- to 1 oz-lead heads. Anglers targeting sculpin should carry a variety of rubber lures and appropriate lead heads, as well as a selection of heavier torpedo-style sinkers ranging from 3 oz to 10 oz, which are essential for fishing in deeper, high-relief areas where sculpin tend to congregate. Halibut fishing has tapered off slightly over the past week, with no major environmental changes to explain the dip in action. Previously productive zones have shown fewer signs of life, and conditions have been somewhat inconsistent. However, that hasn’t stopped...