About Flat Rock

Flat Rock is an outer-exposed rocky drop-off off Crescent City, California, where the bottom falls away through depths of 330 to 1,300 feet. The structure holds Lingcod, which peak in February through March and again from August through October, alongside Pacific Halibut, Canary Rockfish, Pacific Cod peaking November through January, Sablefish, and both Chinook and Coho Salmon. Chinook Salmon run strongest from April through September and respond to trolling anchovies, herring, spoons, or hoochies over the drop, with mooching whole anchovies or cut herring working as a supporting approach. Lingcod hold tight to the rock along the ledge, where jigging metal jigs, swimbaits, or leadhead jigs reaches them, and live bait such as rockfish, sanddabs, or squid draws them out. The deep, rocky relief here concentrates fish along the edge of the drop, making precise positioning over structure the key to working these depths.