About San Juan Rocks

San Juan Rocks sits off Dana Point, California, a deep-water reef complex running from 240 to 340 feet. The structure holds a mix of resident and seasonal species, with California Halibut peaking March through June and Kelp Bass concentrating June through August, while Rockfish stay catchable across the full year. Halibut respond best to drift fishing with live anchovies, sardines, or smelt worked across the bottom, and anglers targeting Kelp Bass rely on bait fishing with live sardines and anchovies or plastics like swimbaits and leadhead jigs. Along with these, the reef supports Barred Sand Bass, California Sheephead, California Scorpionfish, Bonito, Calico Bass, and Leopard Shark. At the depths found here, bottom fishing with squid, cut bait, or shrimp flies keeps rods on the aggregate rockfish that populate the rock.