The water off the South Coast has been slowly warming up, and with sea temps now holding steady between 62° and 66°, fishing opportunities have really opened up. From bass and barracuda along the beaches to seabass and yellowtail at the islands, it’s been a stellar start to the summer season.
Dana Wharf Sportfishing image
Local bass fishing has stayed hot for the half-day boats. The fish are gearing up for their spawn and have been hitting a wide range of offerings. Live anchovies have been the go-to—especially fished near the surface in the kelp or sent down deep on a sinker rig for sand bass. Anglers working artificials have had plenty of success too. Natural-colored rubber lures—fluke styles and paddle-tail swimbaits—fished on light jig heads have been reliable. For those looking to fish higher in the water column, hard jerkbaits like the SP Minnow or Lucky Craft in bone, mint, or anchovy colors have been drawing solid strikes.
Dana Wharf Sportfishing image
Sand bass are starting to gather in several spots as they move into their spawn. Carolina rigs and dropper loops with live bait have been producing well, and the same natural-colored rubber lures mentioned above are putting fish on deck too. Depending on depth, anglers have been upsizing their jig heads to 1–2 ounces to stay in the zone. Twilight trips along the South Coast have seen good sand bass action, with a healthy mix of sculpin rounding out the bags.
Down in South Orange County, halibut fishing off Dana Point has been especially strong. Most half-day trips are landing a few, with fish ranging from 4 to nearly 30 pounds—clear evidence of a solid biomass holding close to shore. Sinker rigs with live bait are the standard, but long casts with rubber lures allowed to settle on the bottom and worked in slowly have been generating good bites as well.
Barracuda have started showing inside, particularly around the Horseshoe Kelp off LA/Long Beach and into Orange County. It’s a mixed-grade bite—lots of shorts, but legal fish are definitely in the mix. Surface irons have been effective, and those same zones have been holding bass and producing solid sculpin numbers around the 150 spot for anglers looking to fill their limits.
The island bite has been excellent. Catalina’s been producing all around, with bass eager to bite from Avalon up to Long Point. Barracuda and bonito are mixed in and chewing on live bait and small jigs. Halibut have been active tight to the backside of the island—from the V’s to Salta Verde. That same stretch has seen pockets of squid, and with it, some nice yellowtail and the occasional white seabass.
San Clemente Island is also putting out good numbers. Calico bass are biting along the kelp lines on live bait and artificials. Bonito and barracuda are in the mix too. In the squid-heavy areas, quality yellowtail in the 18–25 pound range have been showing, and white seabass have been in play as well. Bottom fishing has stayed steady for those targeting rockfish, whitefish, and sheephead.
Up around the Channel Islands, white seabass and halibut continue to be the big draw. Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and Anacapa have all seen solid days when the weather allows. Live squid and large white flukes have been the ticket for seabass. In the shallows and along the beaches, halibut fishing has been excellent. Dropper loops with squid have been producing quality fish in the 12 to 30-plus pound range.
All in all, it’s prime time along the coast. Conditions are shaping up, fish are on the chew, and whether you’re running a half-day or heading to the islands, there’s no shortage of action waiting to be had.
