Fishing Hot Spots® Saltwater Directions Fishing Charts for California

Channel Islands Inshore
These federally protected islands are surrounded by clear, blue waters containing numerous exotic species and diverse habitats. The area is popular for anglers seeking barracuda, calico bass, chinook salmon, halibut, white sea bass and yellowtail.

L.A. Inshore Central (Malibu to Long Beach Shore)
Touting the highest population of any county in the nation, Los Angles County encompasses 76 miles of coastline and is home to healthy populations of a variety of different species. These waters offer some top-notch fishing opportunities for barracuda, bonito, calico bass, halibut, sand bass, sculpin and yellowtail.

L.A. Inshore North (Oxnard to Marina del Rey)
Because of this area’s sandy beaches and relative isolation from the city, this scenic expanse of coastline offers numbers fishing opportunities. These waters are abundant with barracuda, bonito, calico bass, halibut, sand bass, sculpin and yellowtail.

L.A. Inshore South (Palos Verdes to Orange County)
A sunny climate and magnificent coastline makes this area a perfect habitat for barracuda, bonito, calico bass, halibut, sand bass, sculpin and yellowtail.

L.A. Offshore (Marina del Rey to San Clemente Island)
Chasing giant schools of tuna is one of the most popular summertime activities in these waters, while anglers looking searching for one of the most sought-after trophy species will find the elusive striped marlin cruising the offshore banks here. Trolling the island waters can produce yellowtail, yellowfin tuna, albacore tuna, bluefin tuna, marlin, dorado, white sea sass and barracuda.

Mission Bay
With more than 27 miles of shoreline and numerous access points, Mission Bay Park offers some of the best year-round, light tackle bay fishing in Southern California. While known for its spotted bay bass fishery, sand bass, California halibut, barracuda and yellowfin croaker, white sea bass regularly frequent the area.

San Diego to Imperial Beach
This area offers a wide variety of fish to both the inshore and onshore angler throughout the year. The prime species are the California halibut, barracuda, calico bass, halibut, sand bass, shortfin corvine, spotted bay bass, spotfin croaker, white sea bass and yellowfin croaker.

San Diego Inshore (San Clemente to Imperial Beach)
San Diego’s Mediterranean-like climate helps inshore angles find excellent opportunites to take calico bass, sand bass, white sea bass and numbers rockfish species year-round. Look for hard fighting yellowtail, barracuda, California halibut and bonito to add to the excitement of any summer-time fishing trips.

San Diego Offshore (San Diego to Ensenada)
Boasting some of the best angling opportunities Southern California has to offer, San Diego’s offshore banks produce excellent yellowtail, albacore tuna, bluefin tuna, marlin and dorado fishing.

Santa Barbara Channel Inshore (Tajiguas to Oxnard)
In these waters anglers are likely to find that lingcod, calico bass and various rockfish species are the primary wintertime targets. However, spring offers a chance for California halibut while abundant, populations of albacore tuna, calico bass, chinnok salmon, rockfish, sand bass and yellowtail can be found year-round.

Santa Catalina Island to San Clemente Island
Numerous canyon walls and thick forests near San Clemente Island provide premier habitat for a multitude of poplular game fish. Anglers will discover a number of other outstanding fishing locations near these islands with healthy, year-round populations of white sea bass, yellowtail, calico bass, halibut, barracuda and bonito.