About 18 Spot (LA Harbor Rockpile)

The 18 Spot, also known as the LA Harbor Rockpile, is a rocky bottom structure off Los Angeles, California, sitting in water that runs 120 to 240 feet deep. The rockpile holds Lingcod through its September to February peak and supports a year-round Rockfish fishery, with California Sheephead most active from April to September and Ocean Whitefish concentrated in the June to August window. Anglers work the depth with vertical jigging using metal jigs or leadhead jigs with swimbaits for Lingcod, while dropper loop rigs baited with squid and cut mackerel produce Rockfish and Whitefish over the same hard bottom. California Sheephead come to bottom fishing with live shrimp, squid, or crab worked close to the rocks. In the warmer months, California Halibut show from March to July on drifted live anchovies and sardines, and Pacific Bonito move through from May to September, taking live bait chumming with anchovies and sardines.