About Outer Harbor Hump

Outer Harbor Hump is an outer-exposed rocky pinnacle rising from the seafloor off Santa Monica, holding structure across a depth range of 60 to 120 feet. The rock and hard relief concentrate Lingcod, which peak from September through February and respond to vertical jigging with metal jigs or leadhead jigs with swimbaits, alongside Copper Rockfish, Black Rockfish, Kelp Bass, and California Scorpionfish. Through spring and summer the pinnacle draws California Halibut, best from March through July on drift fishing with live anchovies, sardines, or smelt, while Barred Sand Bass fill in from March and June through August on the same drift approach with live baits or plastic swimbaits. Pacific Bonito school over and around the structure from May through September, taking live bait chumming with anchovies and sardines or metal jigs cast across the current. Leopard Shark work the bottom from April through August and come to squid or mackerel soaked on the seafloor.