About Long Beach - Alamitos Bay Entrance / Outer Flats

The Alamitos Bay Entrance / Outer Flats is an exposed sand flat off Long Beach, running through depths of 15 to 40 feet where open water meets the bay mouth. The flat holds California Halibut and Pacific Halibut through spring, peaking March to July and February to May respectively, alongside White Seabass in the same March-to-July window and Barred Sand Bass building from March into the summer months. Drifting live anchovies, sardines, or smelt across the sand covers both halibut species, while bounce-balling with squid strips or casting soft plastic swimbaits works the deeper edges of the flat. As water warms, Pacific Bonito move through from May to September and California Barracuda from April to September, both responding to trolled spoons and swimbaits or casts with metal jigs. Winter shifts the focus to Surfperch along the shallower margins, peaking January to March.