Pacific Ocean, California Fishing Report - Daily

Artificial Lure reporting here with your Sunday, May 11, 2025, fishing report for California's Pacific Coast. We’ve got a classic coastal morning with mild temps and patchy fog expected to burn off by late morning. Sunrise came at 5:54 AM, and you’ll get lines wet until sunset at 8:01 PM. Winds are forecast to pick up west at 8-12 knots, backing off toward evening, making the outgoing tide from midmorning through early afternoon prime for action.Offshore action in Northern California has been hot, especially around the Bay Area. Party boats out of Berkeley and Emeryville had solid hauls just yesterday: the Right Hook pulled in 12 halibut and 12 striped bass for 6 anglers on a half-day trip, and the New Huck Finn reported 8 halibut—some up to 19 pounds—and 22 striped bass for 11 anglers. If you’re after rockfish and lingcod, the Sea Wolf out of Emeryville boated 23 lingcod and a whopping 180 rockfish for 18 anglers, so bottom fishing is on fire right now[1][4].Down the Central Coast, Morro Bay and Monterey boats are reporting full sacks of rockfish and lingcod. The Endeavor out of Morro Bay loaded up with 70 bocaccio, a handful of copper rockfish, 7 lingcod, and 28 red rockfish for their 14 anglers, while the Flying Fish out of Avila Beach brought in 123 rockcod on a half-day run. Monterey’s Check Mate logged 6 lingcod and 80 rockfish for just 8 anglers, so there’s no shortage of action if you’re working jigs deep[4].Southern California anglers, offshore the bite is building for spring. Reports out of Dana Point say the bass and barracuda bite is excellent, and folks are seeing bonito and small yellowtail around kelp paddies. The bluefin tuna bite is starting to heat up, especially west of San Diego, with boats on the hunt for foamers and working poppers and flat-falls during early evening hours[2][3].Best bait and lures this week: For halibut and bass in NorCal, live anchovies or sardines are your ticket, but swimbaits in chartreuse or white, and hair jigs, are getting hammered too. For bottom fishing, standard dropper loops with squid strips or fresh anchovy are reliable. Lingcod can’t pass up a big white grub or metal jig bounced near rocky spots. In SoCal, surface irons and plastics in blue and green for barracuda and bass, and deep-diving jigs for yellowtail around kelp.Top hot spots: San Francisco Bay—especially around Alcatraz and the Berkeley flats—for halibut and bass. Try Emeryville or Berkeley Marina for party boats. Central Coast rockfish are biting hard around Morro Bay and Monterey reefs. In Southern Cal, try out of Dana Point or hit the kelp lines near La Jolla for calico bass and the chance at spring yellowtail.That’s the word for today. Tight lines out there!

CALIFORNIA PACIFIC COAST FISHING REPORT - May 10, 2025Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Saturday fishing report. The sun rose at 6:02 AM today and will set at 7:47 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to hit the water.The weather's cooperating with temps in the mid-60s along the coast. We've got a moderate westerly breeze picking up in the afternoon, so morning fishing should be prime. Tide's coming in until noon with a high of 5.2 feet, then ebbing through the evening.Fishing activity has been solid this week with rockfish being the star of the show. Marina Del Rey boats reported impressive catches on Thursday with the New Del Mar bringing in 425 rockfish with 76 anglers aboard[1]. The Betty-O and Spitfire also had decent outings with the Spitfire landing 9 halibut and 2 lingcod along with 60 whitefish[1].Down in Long Beach, the Victory had a killer day with 330 rockfish, 165 sculpin, and some sheephead and whitefish in the mix[1]. San Pedro boats are consistently pulling in rockfish, whitefish, and some red snapper.Bass and barracuda action has been hot in the northern and central sections with party boats reporting solid midweek action[3]. Nearshore waters are running a bit murky today, so you might want to push a little further offshore for clearer conditions.For those looking to hit the islands, the San Diego Full Day trip to Coronado Islands is running today, departing at 5:30 AM and returning at 5:00 PM[4].Bait-wise, squid has been the ticket for rockfish, while swim baits in blue/white patterns are working well for bass. For barracuda, try Krocodile spoons or Rapala X-Raps with a fast retrieve.Remember, ocean salmon fishing is currently closed but will open briefly on June 7-8 with a 7,000 Chinook quota[2]. Also, the red abalone fishery remains closed until at least April 2026[2].Hot spots this weekend:Santa Monica Bay is firing for rockfish and the occasional halibut. The artificial reefs off Huntington Beach are producing quality calico bass. And if you're boat-less, Redondo Beach Pier has been giving up mackerel and the odd bonito.For bottom fishing enthusiasts, try the deeper structures in 180-220 feet - that's where the bigger lings are hanging.That's the word from the water today, folks. Remember to check your regulations before heading out, especially with some seasonal closures in effect. This is Artificial Lure saying tight lines, bent rods, and I'll see ya at the cleaning station!

This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Pacific Ocean California fishing report for Friday, May 9, 2025.First light brought a calm, cool morning, but expect the usual May marine layer to linger till midmorning, making for a slow sunrise at 5:56 AM and sunset rolling in at 7:49 PM. The tide started low at dawn, pushing up to a midday high, so anglers should look for peak feeding activity around late morning and again near dusk as the water moves.On the weather front, we’re holding steady in the upper 60s to low 70s, with light winds out of the west and patchy afternoon sunshine. These spring conditions have made for excellent inshore and nearshore fishing, with waters warming and clarity improving each day.Now, onto the action. Party boat and local counts from Los Angeles to Marin have been absolutely loaded with rockfish. Boats like the New Del Mar out of Marina Del Rey reported 375 rockfish for a half-day trip, and the Victory from Long Beach stacked up a jaw-dropping 150 rockfish alongside healthy numbers of whitefish and sheephead. Halibut action is also picking up which is typical for May, with boats like the Spitfire bringing in a solid 10 halibut on a 3/4 day trip. Sculpin, lingcod, and a smattering of white seabass are keeping rods bent all along the coast. Those after surface action are seeing calico bass and sand bass popping up around the kelp beds, especially near Palos Verdes and Point Dume.Best baits right now are live sardines and anchovies, but frozen squid still gets bit if you’re deep dropping. For artificials, nothing’s beating a glow or root beer swimbait on a leadhead for rockfish, and chrome or white spoons have been hot for halibut and seabass. If you’re chasing bass, try a brown or green weedless plastic through the kelp stringers, especially with the afternoon sun lighting up the water.Hot spots today are the rock piles off Rocky Point and the inner reefs outside Marina Del Rey, with deep stones around Redondo producing big numbers of quality rockfish and the occasional surprise lingcod. Don’t overlook the sand flats off Cabrillo Beach for a shot at a trophy halibut, especially on the incoming tide.In short, the bite is wide open for bottom fish, the spring transition has halibut on the chew, and calm seas have made for great boat and kayak access all week. Be safe, respect the limits, and tight lines out there.

Howdy there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your mid-week fishing report for May 7th, 2025.The sun's coming up over the Pacific right about now, rising at 6:03 AM with sunset expected around 7:50 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to work with today. Weather's cooperating nicely with light westerly winds and temps in the mid-60s - perfect conditions to get out on the water!Let me tell you, the action's been heating up lately! Looking at reports from yesterday, bass fishing has been absolutely wide open in the San Francisco Bay area. Sean Hodges from J&P Bait reported bass action was "wide open again today" - music to our ears!Down in Santa Cruz, folks are having good luck with inshore fishing, particularly for lingcod near South Rock. The deep water rock fish and lingcod bite has been consistent up the coast as well, so you've got options depending on your preference.For those looking at offshore opportunities, party boats in the northern and central sections are seeing solid action with bass and barracuda being the main attractions. Midweek trips have been particularly productive.Now, important regulation update: the recreational fishery for spiny lobster closed back in March and won't reopen until September 26th. The recreational ocean salmon season is currently closed but will open briefly for two days on June 7-8 with a 7,000 Chinook salmon summer harvest quota. More dates might get added if that quota isn't met, so stay tuned.For your tackle box today, I'm recommending swimbaits in anchovy patterns for the bass - they're absolutely crushing them. For the lingcod, try large white or motor oil colored jigs, or live bait if you can get your hands on it. Rockfish are hitting on shrimp flies tipped with squid strips.Hot spots worth checking out today:North of Santa Cruz along the rocky coastline for your lingcod actionThe Bell Buoy area for those targeting bassSouth Rock is definitely producing for inshore speciesRemember that giant sea bass and red abalone remain closed year-round in Southern California waters, so release those immediately if caught accidentally.The crabbing's been decent too, so you might want to drop a few pots while you're targeting fish - nothing beats fresh crab for dinner after a day on the water!That's the word from the water today, folks. This is Artificial Lure signing off until next time. Tight lines and full coolers to ya!

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure reporting from the California coast, bringing you today’s fishing update for the Pacific Ocean and surrounding waters on Monday, May 5, 2025.We’re coming off a cooler, windier stretch, with an overnight low in the upper 50s and a high today expected in the low 70s. Water temps are ranging between 67 and 70 degrees along much of the coast. Sunrise was at 5:59 am and sunset will hit at 7:46 pm, so you’ve got plenty of daylight to wet a line.Tidal swings are moderate today, with an early morning low followed by a building high that should peak mid-afternoon. This tide movement, combined with the cooling trend and some lingering murky water from recent rains and sand pumping, means fishing’s been a little inconsistent, especially at some of the piers.In the northern and central sections, party boats are seeing solid action. Bass and barracuda have been the main draw offshore, with boats loading up midweek. There’ve also been good counts of vermillion red rockfish, lingcod, and California whitefish reported deeper, especially when yellowtail action slows down. If you’re heading over to the Channel Islands or up the coast toward Avila Beach, expect similar catches as the boats are putting up strong numbers for anglers putting in time at depth.Nearshore and on the piers, things are a bit tougher. Oceanside Pier and Harbor Pier have seen slowdowns due to murky water and a lingering red tide. Most recent catches here are perch and the occasional halibut. Sharkers are having to work hard, occasionally connecting with bat rays or shovelnose guitarfish, though the action is slow. Sand pumping and river runoff mean these spots might remain sluggish for another week or so.Moving offshore and down toward the Baja border, the variety is still good. There’s been a mix of sierra, yellowfin tuna, roosterfish, jack crevalle, bonito, and an odd dorado or wahoo showing for the lucky boats. Striped marlin are around in the deeper blue as well, keeping things interesting.For your tackle box, best bets right now are plastics and swimbaits for the bass, and deep-drop jigs for the lingcod and reds. Bonito and barracuda are hitting fast-moving spoons and surface irons. If you’re soaking bait, cut squid and anchovies are the top producers, especially when the fish are finicky in off-color water.Hot spots this week are the reefs off Palos Verdes and the deeper structure off Catalina for rockfish and lingcod. For pier anglers, Santa Monica Pier and Ventura Pier have had more consistent action on perch and corbina thanks to cleaner water.That’s your Monday report from the coast. Tight lines, and here’s hoping the water clears and the bite heats up heading into summer.

Hey there anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Sunday morning fishing report for May 4, 2025, coming at ya from the beautiful California coast!The ocean's calling today, folks, and I've got the lowdown on what's biting and where you should be casting your lines.First up, let's talk about what's been happening on the water. The latest reports from May 2 show we've been seeing decent catches of Rockfish, Lingcod, and Sheephead along the SoCal coast. Some lucky anglers have even been pulling in Yellowtail, which is always a thrill this time of year.Now for some big news - after years of closures, we've got a limited recreational salmon season coming! Mark your calendars for June 7-8, when there'll be a two-day window with a 7,000 Chinook salmon quota. This is the first recreational salmon opportunity since 2022, so get your gear ready! The commercial salmon fishery remains closed for the third straight year as our salmon populations continue recovering from drought impacts.Just a heads-up on some closures: the red abalone season is shut down until at least April 2026. Also, Pacific razor clam harvesting in Humboldt and Del Norte counties remains closed due to those pesky domoic acid levels.For today's conditions, the morning started with a light offshore breeze, and we're expecting calm seas with a moderate west swell. Water temps are hovering in the low-60s, which is bringing in some nice action. Tides are running with a morning high around 9:30 AM and a decent afternoon low, making for good fishing on both sides of the cycle.For you early birds, you've already missed the sunrise at 6:05 AM, but sunset won't be until 7:43 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to work with.As for hot spots, I'm hearing great things about the kelp beds off La Jolla for Calico Bass - try swimbaits in brown and green patterns. The rocky structure near Catalina has been producing quality Rockfish, so drop some squid-tipped jigs down there. For my northern Cal folks, the reefs outside Monterey Bay are firing for Lingcod - heavy jigs and live bait are getting it done.Speaking of bait, squid and anchovies are your best bet for the bottom dwellers, while surface iron and Krocodile spoons are working for the pelagics. For artificial options, 4-inch swimbaits in sardine patterns or 6-inch plastic worms in motor oil color are producing consistent hits.That's the scoop for today, fellow anglers. Get out there, be safe, and remember to release what you don't need. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines and screaming reels to all of you!

Fishin' Report for Saturday, May 3, 2025by Artificial LureMornin' anglers! Your old pal Artificial Lure here with the latest on what's bitin' in our SoCal waters. It's a beautiful May morning, though we're still dealing with some challenging conditions along parts of our coast.Down in Oceanside, things have slowed considerably since last month. Bill Litchfield reports that water's been murky from rain runoff and that pesky red tide has shown up[2]. The city's pumping sand onto the beach, which isn't helping water clarity either. Inshore you might pick up a few perch, but the croaker action is slow, with just the occasional halibut mid-pier. The end of the pier remains closed for rebuilding, limiting those prime shark spots[2].Over at Oceanside Harbor, same story – dirty water and slow fishing. You might find some small perch and bass hanging around the inshore rocks, but casting out isn't producing much action[2].Up in Santa Barbara, they've been having better luck. The Santa Barbara Landing reported limits of nice grade fish on May 2nd[4]. Channel Islands fishing has been decent too, with good numbers of sheephead, whitefish, and the occasional triggerfish and calico bass reported in late March[4].Important regulation updates: Spiny lobster season closed March 20th and won't reopen until September 26th at 6 PM[1]. The recreational ocean salmon season will briefly open for two days only – June 7-8 – with a 7,000 Chinook summer harvest quota[1][5]. This will be the first recreational salmon fishing opportunity in California since 2022[5]. Sadly, giant sea bass and red abalone remain closed year-round in SoCal waters[1].For those wanting to try their luck, I'd suggest heading to the Channel Islands area where the water's been clearer and the bite more consistent. Bring squid, sardines, or anchovy for bait, or try plastics in motor oil or brown colors to mimic the local forage. Slow-pitch jigs have been working well for the reef species.If you're staying local to San Diego, La Jolla Shores can still produce some action if you get there early. The kelp beds off Point Loma are another decent bet, especially if you can get live bait from the barge.Just be prepared for potentially tough conditions, bring plenty of terminal tackle (you might lose some in the murky water), and maybe have a backup plan. At least you'll be out on the water enjoying this fine May weather!Tight lines, folks. This is Artificial Lure signing off – hope to see ya on the water!

Howdy anglers, Artificial Lure here with your May 2nd fishing report for California's Pacific waters.The early May action is heating up along our beautiful coastline! Reports from SoCal piers indicate surfperch and croakers are still biting well in the shallows, while mackerel and sardines are providing excellent top-water action[1].Up north, yesterday's reports show Berkeley boats are having a stellar halibut season. The California Dawn brought in 17 halibut and 4 striped bass, while California Dawn II landed 23 halibut (up to 14 pounds) and 10 striped bass. Right Hook's half-day trip yielded 8 halibut[2]. Bodega Bay's New Sea Angler is crushing it with 35 lingcod and 200 rockfish on their full-day trips[2].Great news, folks! After two years of closures, we finally have some recreational salmon fishing this season. Mark your calendars for June 7-8 for the first opportunity, with additional dates in July and August depending on harvest guidelines. Remember, there's a 7,000 Chinook summer limit, so get out early[5]. Unfortunately, commercial salmon fishing remains closed for the third straight year due to ongoing conservation efforts[4].For today's conditions, we're looking at a moderate tide swing. Use the incoming tide to your advantage, especially around structure. As for bait, fresh anchovies and sardines are working well for halibut. For rockfish and lingcod, try swimbaits in white, blue, or green patterns. Don't forget your jigs tipped with squid for those deeper water species.Hot spots this weekend: Berkeley Marina for halibut (drift live bait near the shipping channels), Bodega Bay for rockfish and lingcod (try the reefs north of the harbor), and for pier anglers, try Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz for perch, mackerel, and occasional halibut.Remember that our salmon stocks are still recovering from drought impacts, poor spawning conditions, and other environmental challenges[4], so practice careful catch and release where required. The limited season this year is our first chance since 2022 to target kings, so let's fish responsibly.Sunrise today is around 6:10 AM with sunset at 8:00 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours on the water. Weather looks decent with mild morning winds picking up in the afternoon, so get your lines wet early.That's it for today's report. This is Artificial Lure reminding you to keep your lines tight and your fish stories tighter! See you on the water!

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your morning fishing report for April 30, 2025, along the California coast.The sun's just coming up over the Pacific at 6:15 AM, with sunset expected around 7:45 PM, giving us a full day on the water. We've got partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-60s, and a light westerly breeze at 5-7 knots - pretty ideal conditions if you ask me.Tide's coming in this morning with a high around 10:30 AM, followed by a low tide mid-afternoon. That morning incoming tide should create some nice movement to activate the fish.Been seeing great action on California halibut lately, especially as they're moving into shallower water with the warming spring conditions. These flatties are opportunistic feeders and have been hitting a variety of artificials. For halibut, I've had success with swimbaits worked slowly along the bottom, especially around structure. Suspending jerkbaits, tube baits, and spoons are also producing nice catches when slow-rolled near the bottom.Bonito action is starting to pick up, with schools showing at several spots along the coast. These speedsters are hitting hard-body lures in bright gold and silver patterns. MirrOlures in mackerel or anchovy patterns have been killer, along with Krocodiles and Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows. The blue mackerel color on P-Line Lazer Minnows seems to be the hot ticket right now.For those targeting a mix of species, a paddletail soft plastic is hard to beat - versatile and effective for everything from halibut to bass. Gold spoons continue to produce when there's bait schools around, and don't leave home without a white bucktail jig.Hot spots this week include the Santa Monica Bay flats for halibut, especially the drop-offs near Marina del Rey. The Huntington Beach pier has been producing some nice bonito during the incoming tide. For those with boats, the kelp beds off Catalina are holding quality fish, with the east end producing better than the west side.If you're fishing the shallows, remember to use lighter jerkbaits to avoid spooking fish in clear water. For deeper water or faster drifts, switch to heavier jig heads to keep your bait in the strike zone.Looks like we're in for a great day of fishing. Remember to release what you won't eat and respect your fellow anglers. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines, everyone!

Fishing Report for April 23, 2025 Pacific Ocean, CaliforniaGood morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure checking in with your latest saltwater fishing report for the California Pacific coast.Today we’re looking at fair spring conditions. The morning started crisp with a light marine layer, but by mid-morning, skies are expected to turn partly sunny. Air temperatures will hover in the upper 50s and low 60s along the coast, with light winds trending northwest. Sunrise was at 6:15 am and sunset will be around 7:45 pm. The tide today features a low just after sunrise, pushing into a midday high, so expect improving bite windows as that tide fills back in late morning and early afternoon.Fishing activity remains solid. Reports from Santa Monica Bay down to Newport show good numbers of California halibut in the surf and sandy areas. Most halibut are in the 20–30 inch range, but several legals pushing 36 inches have been landed this past week. Inshore anglers have also had success on barred surf perch, especially near structure, with a few keeper-sized spotfin croakers mixed in.The most consistent action for halibut and other surf zone predators is coming on both live bait and a variety of artificials. Live smelt, sardines, or small mackerel are top choices for live bait. For artificials, small jerkbaits, swimbaits, and metal spoons in baitfish colors like anchovy, sardine, and smelt have been deadly. The Glass Minnow, P-Line Laser Minnow (in blue mackerel or chrome patterns), and classic spoons like the Krocodile are sure bets right now. For lure enthusiasts, white bucktails and paddle tail soft plastics rigged on a light jig head are also producing fish[1][2][4][5].Bonito made a nice showing this week at the piers in Redondo and Oceanside, with chrome or blue-holographic lures like the Buzz Bomb and Megabait working well[5]. Early mornings and dusk have been the prime times for a surface popper or fast-moving metal.Bait anglers targeting sharks have picked up some nice leopard sharks off sandy beaches—use a Carolina rig with a heavy wire leader and fresh mackerel, croaker, or surf perch cut bait for your best shot at a big one[1].Hot spots to check out today:Santa Monica Beach—solid perch numbers and halibut in the surf, especially near the lifeguard towers.Huntington Beach Pier—good for both halibut and bonito, especially at first light and evening.Newport Jetty—halibut on the inside, with some quality croaker on bait.In summary, whether you’re tossing artificials for halibut or soaking bait for sharks, today’s conditions set up well for a productive session. Time your trip with the rising tide and don’t overlook the edges of structure—these transition zones are holding the most active fish.Tight lines and see you on the sand—Artificial Lure.