Best Time to Fish Los Angeles

When to fish Los Angeles

Each row is shaded against that species' own best month here, so a dark cell means a good month for that fish rather than a comparison between them.

Yellowtail: January none, February fair, March peak, April peak, May peak, June excellent, July good, August poor, September fair, October fair, November none, December none. White Seabass: January poor, February excellent, March peak, April good, May peak, June excellent, July good, August fair, September poor, October poor, November poor, December poor. Kelp Bass: January poor, February fair, March good, April good, May good, June excellent, July excellent, August good, September fair, October fair, November fair, December poor. California Halibut: January poor, February fair, March excellent, April excellent, May peak, June excellent, July excellent, August good, September fair, October poor, November poor, December poor. Barred Sand Bass: January poor, February poor, March good, April excellent, May excellent, June peak, July peak, August excellent, September fair, October poor, November poor, December poor. California Sheephead: January fair, February fair, March good, April excellent, May good, June good, July good, August fair, September fair, October fair, November fair, December fair. bluefin tuna: January none, February none, March poor, April good, May peak, June peak, July peak, August peak, September excellent, October fair, November poor, December none. Rockfish (Aggregate): January fair, February fair, March fair, April fair, May fair, June good, July good, August excellent, September good, October fair, November fair, December fair. California Barracuda: January none, February poor, March fair, April good, May peak, June peak, July peak, August peak, September excellent, October poor, November none, December none. Bonito: January none, February none, March fair, April good, May excellent, June peak, July peak, August peak, September peak, October fair, November none, December none. Albacore tuna: January none, February none, March none, April none, May poor, June peak, July peak, August peak, September peak, October none, November none, December none. Bluefin tuna: January none, February none, March fair, April good, May good, June peak, July peak, August peak, September peak, October excellent, November fair, December none. Bonito: January none, February none, March fair, April good, May good, June excellent, July peak, August peak, September peak, October good, November poor, December none. Cabezon: January good, February good, March fair, April fair, May fair, June good, July good, August fair, September fair, October fair, November good, December good. Calico Bass: January fair, February fair, March good, April excellent, May good, June good, July good, August good, September fair, October fair, November fair, December fair. Canary Rockfish: January fair, February fair, March good, April fair, May good, June good, July fair, August fair, September good, October good, November fair, December fair. Chinook Salmon: January none, February good, March peak, April peak, May peak, June poor, July none, August none, September none, October none, November poor, December none. Coho Salmon: January none, February none, March none, April none, May none, June none, July none, August none, September none, October none, November none, December none. Cowcod: January good, February good, March good, April good, May good, June good, July good, August good, September good, October good, November good, December good. Dorado: January none, February none, March none, April none, May none, June none, July peak, August peak, September peak, October good, November none, December none. Halibut: January excellent, February peak, March peak, April excellent, May poor, June fair, July fair, August poor, September poor, October poor, November poor, December good. Kelp Greenling: January fair, February fair, March good, April good, May fair, June fair, July fair, August good, September excellent, October good, November good, December fair. Leopard Shark: January poor, February excellent, March peak, April peak, May excellent, June excellent, July excellent, August fair, September poor, October poor, November poor, December poor. Lingcod: January good, February fair, March fair, April fair, May good, June good, July fair, August fair, September fair, October good, November good, December good. Nearshore Rockfish: January fair, February fair, March fair, April good, May good, June fair, July fair, August fair, September fair, October good, November good, December fair. Ocean Whitefish: January fair, February good, March good, April good, May good, June fair, July fair, August good, September excellent, October good, November fair, December fair. Sablefish: January fair, February fair, March fair, April fair, May fair, June fair, July good, August excellent, September good, October good, November good, December good. sardine: January poor, February fair, March good, April excellent, May good, June fair, July fair, August good, September excellent, October good, November fair, December poor. Sculpin: January fair, February poor, March poor, April fair, May fair, June good, July good, August excellent, September excellent, October good, November good, December fair. Shiner Perch: January fair, February good, March excellent, April good, May fair, June fair, July good, August excellent, September good, October fair, November fair, December fair. Shrimp including prawn: January fair, February good, March good, April good, May fair, June good, July excellent, August excellent, September good, October fair, November poor, December fair. Skate: January good, February good, March fair, April poor, May fair, June good, July good, August fair, September fair, October good, November excellent, December good. Skipjack tuna: January none, February none, March poor, April fair, May excellent, June good, July excellent, August peak, September peak, October peak, November none, December none. Slope Rockfish: January good, February good, March good, April good, May fair, June fair, July fair, August fair, September fair, October fair, November good, December good. Striped marlin: January none, February none, March none, April poor, May poor, June good, July peak, August peak, September peak, October peak, November poor, December none. Surfperch: January excellent, February good, March fair, April poor, May poor, June fair, July fair, August fair, September good, October excellent, November excellent, December good. Swordfish: January none, February poor, March fair, April good, May excellent, June peak, July peak, August peak, September peak, October excellent, November poor, December none. Thresher Shark: January none, February fair, March peak, April peak, May excellent, June excellent, July good, August excellent, September excellent, October fair, November none, December none. Vermilion Rockfish: January fair, February fair, March fair, April fair, May fair, June good, July good, August good, September good, October fair, November fair, December fair. Vermilion/Sunset Rockfish: January fair, February fair, March fair, April good, May good, June good, July good, August good, September good, October fair, November fair, December fair. Yellowfin tuna: January none, February none, March good, April peak, May peak, June peak, July peak, August fair, September none, October none, November none, December none.

• Yellowtail. Southern California yellowtail abundance builds with warming water from late March, peaks late May through July around the local islands (Catalina, San Clemente) when squid spawns and water hits the upper 60s. A secondary smaller bump occurs in early fall when fish push back through on warm-water pockets before declining to a low resident winter presence.
• White Seabass. White seabass in LA waters peak in spring (March-May) when adults move inshore to spawn around squid grounds at the Channel Islands and along the mainland coast, with a secondary summer presence (July-August) tied to squid spawns and warm-water push. Abundance drops notably in late fall and winter as fish disperse offshore and to deeper water, though a small resident population keeps the curve from hitting zero.
• Kelp Bass. Kelp bass are year-round residents of SoCal kelp forests and rocky reefs, so they never hit zero, but abundance and catchability rise sharply as water warms. The primary peak spans the late spring/early summer spawning aggregation (May–July) when fish stack up on reefs, with a secondary bump in late summer/early fall as warm water and bait push fish shallow and active before cooling and winter lethargy reduce presence and feeding.
• California Halibut. California halibut are resident year-round in the Santa Monica/San Pedro Bay system but concentrate inshore on sandy flats during the spring spawn (March–June) when peak numbers move shallow, with a secondary late-summer bump as anchovy and grunion schools hold fish on the beaches. Winter weeks dip as larger fish slide deeper offshore but never disappear.
• Barred Sand Bass. Barred sand bass are resident year-round in the Southern California Bight but aggregate heavily on shallow sand flats off Huntington, Belmont, and Horseshoe Kelp during the late-spring through summer spawn (June–early August), driving the sharp peak. Outside the spawn they disperse to deeper structure and presence on traditional grounds drops markedly, though fish remain in the region.
• California Sheephead. California Sheephead are resident reef fish around LA's rocky structure and kelp beds year-round, so the curve is broad rather than migratory. Abundance peaks late spring through early summer (May–July) when fish aggregate on shallow reefs to spawn and males are most active, with a gradual decline through fall as larger fish move deeper into cooler water.
• bluefin tuna. Pacific Bluefin show year-round presence off LA since the 2014+ regime shift, but biomass peaks May–July as warm-water schools push north into the SCB and feed on sardine/anchovy. A secondary plateau holds through late summer before fish thin out in fall; winter sees lowest densities though sporadic schools remain offshore.
• Rockfish (Aggregate). Rockfish are resident, long-lived demersal species present year-round on SoCal reefs and banks, so the biological curve is nearly flat near baseline. A modest late-summer/early-fall bump (Aug–Oct) reflects warmer water consolidating shallow-shelf species and post-spawn recruitment of juveniles boosting overall counts, while winter shows slight dispersal to deeper structure but no true absence.
• California Barracuda. California barracuda migrate into Southern California waters as inshore temps cross ~62°F, with strongest abundance from late April through early June when spawning schools stack up off LA, then a secondary plateau through summer as fish spread along the coast. Numbers taper sharply through fall as fish move south toward Baja, leaving only scattered resident fish in winter.
• Bonito. Pacific Bonito in the LA Bight show a bimodal pattern: a spring push (Apr–Jun) as warming inshore water draws schools to the breakwaters and harbors, and a stronger late-summer/early-fall peak (Aug–Sep) when warm currents and bait concentrations along the coast and offshore banks maximize abundance. Winter shows reduced but non-zero presence, as resident pods often linger in LA/Long Beach harbors year-round.
• Albacore tuna. Albacore historically arrived off the Southern California Bight from late June through October, peaking July–August when offshore water warms into the 62–66°F band and bait pushes north along the temperature breaks. The fishery has been nearly absent since ~2015 as the stock shifted offshore and north, but biologically the curve still reflects the classic warm-season pulse with hard zero presence in winter/spring.
• Bluefin tuna. SoCal bluefin have shifted toward near year-round residency, but peak biomass builds through summer with warming water and bait pushes, hitting maximum from July into October when large schools of both juvenile and cow-class fish hold off LA. A modest late-spring bump reflects arriving migrants, and winter shows a leaner but persistent presence rather than full absence, reflecting the recent pattern of holdover fish.
• Bonito. SoCal bonito are a warm-water schooling species that thrive as water temps climb through spring, with peak abundance from late summer into early fall (Aug–Sep) when warm currents and bait push nearshore schools into LA waters and harbors. A residual winter population lingers in warm-water outflows (e.g., harbor power plant discharges), so numbers dip but rarely hit zero during the cold-water months.
• Cabezon. Cabezon are resident nearshore reef fish in the LA Bight, present year-round with no migration, so the curve stays broadly flat near 1.0. A modest peak appears in late summer/early fall (Aug–Oct) when post-spawn adults and recruited juveniles are most abundant on shallow reefs, with a slight dip in late spring when males are guarding nests and females have moved deeper.
• Calico Bass. Calico bass are resident year-round in LA kelp and reef structure, so they never disappear, but biological abundance peaks late spring through early summer (May–July) during the spawn when fish aggregate shallow. A gradual decline follows through fall and winter as fish scatter deeper into cooler water, with the lowest concentrations in shallow accessible zones during Jan–Feb.
• Canary Rockfish. Canary rockfish are deepwater residents off the LA coast (Catalina, San Clemente, offshore banks) and are present year-round with no migration. Subtle abundance lift in late spring/early summer reflects spawning aggregations on offshore structure, and a secondary bump in early fall corresponds to post-spawn feeding and recruitment of younger fish onto shallower reefs before winter storms scatter them deeper.
• Chinook Salmon. Chinook are rare strays at the southern edge of their range off Los Angeles; abundance is highest in late winter/early spring when cold-water transport occasionally pushes immature ocean Chinook south, with a smaller late-fall uptick. Summer waters are too warm and they are biologically absent from roughly May through mid-September.
• Coho Salmon. Coho salmon are biologically absent from Los Angeles saltwater year-round. Their southern range limit is Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz, and the central California ESU is endangered; LA waters are well south of any natal streams or feeding migration.
• Cowcod. Cowcod are deep-water, long-lived, non-migratory rockfish residing on offshore banks (e.g., Cortes, Tanner, 43-Fathom) in the Cowcod Conservation Areas off LA. As sedentary residents at 60–100 fathoms, their biological abundance is essentially flat year-round with no seasonal migration, spawning aggregation, or temperature-driven pulse that meaningfully shifts presence week to week.
• Dorado. Dorado (mahi) are warm-water visitors to LA waters, arriving as the 70°F+ water pushes north in mid-summer. Peak abundance is typically late August through mid-September around offshore paddies and kelp, then they retreat south by late October once water cools.
• Halibut. California halibut (the SoCal species; true Pacific halibut are rare south of Point Conception) show a strong spring spawning peak March–May as fish move onto sandy flats in 10–60 ft, with a secondary late-summer bump tied to grunion/anchovy bait. Numbers taper through fall and bottom out in late December as cooler water pushes fish deeper offshore.
• Kelp Greenling. Kelp Greenling are at the extreme southern edge of their range off Los Angeles, present year-round but in low numbers along rocky reefs and kelp edges. Abundance ticks up in late winter/early spring with cooler water and again in fall (Sep-Oct) during spawning when males guard nests in shallow rocky structure, while late-summer warm water pushes them deeper and less concentrated.
• Leopard Shark. Leopard sharks aggregate in warm, shallow LA bays (Alamitos, Cabrillo, Marina del Rey flats) from late spring through summer to pup and feed, peaking late April–June when females stack up in warm shallows. They remain present year-round but disperse to deeper, cooler water in fall/winter, lowering nearshore encounter rates.
• Lingcod. Lingcod are resident year-round on SoCal rocky reefs and offshore banks off LA, so abundance never drops to zero. A clear spring peak (late April–June) reflects pre-spawn aggregation and nest-guarding males moving shallow, with a secondary fall bump (Oct–Nov) as cooler water draws fish back onto accessible structure; midsummer warm water and winter post-spawn dispersal create modest dips.
• Nearshore Rockfish. Nearshore rockfish (gopher, grass, black-and-yellow, kelp, copper) are resident year-round on LA's rocky reefs and kelp edges, so the curve stays broad and flat near baseline. A mild spring bump reflects post-spawn feeding aggregations on shallow structure, and the strongest peak falls in October–November when cooling water pulls fish shallower and they feed heavily before winter storms scatter them deeper.
• Ocean Whitefish. Ocean Whitefish are resident structure-oriented fish around LA's offshore banks and islands (Catalina, Clemente, 14-Mile, 277) year-round, so the curve stays relatively flat with no biological zero. A modest spring peak reflects pre-spawn aggregations on the high spots, and a stronger late-summer/early-fall peak (Aug-Oct) reflects warm-water concentration and peak feeding activity before winter swell pushes fish deeper and slightly disperses them.
• Sablefish. Sablefish are deepwater (300-1000m) residents off the LA coast year-round, so the curve stays relatively flat. A modest late-summer/early-fall peak (Aug-Sep) reflects post-spawn feeding aggregations and juvenile recruitment moving onto the slope, with a winter low during deep spawning dispersal (Jan-Feb).
• sardine. Pacific sardine are present year-round in the Southern California Bight but show pronounced seasonal abundance tied to spawning aggregations in spring (April-May) when warming water draws schools nearshore, and a stronger late-summer/early-fall peak (August-October) when juvenile recruitment and bait balls concentrate off LA. Winter months see schools disperse offshore and southward, lowering nearshore abundance but never fully absent.
• Sculpin. California scorpionfish (sculpin) are resident year-round on SoCal rocky/structure habitat, so abundance stays near baseline. They aggregate heavily for spawning in late summer through fall (Sept-Nov) on deeper structure, producing the peak. Slight late-winter/early-spring dip reflects post-spawn dispersal and cooler-water inactivity.
• Shiner Perch. Shiner perch are year-round residents of LA harbor, bay, and pier waters, so abundance never drops to zero. A late spring peak (Apr-May) reflects shoreward movement for live-bearing parturition, and a stronger late summer/early fall peak (Aug-Sep) reflects juvenile recruitment swarming docks and pilings before dispersing into cooler late-fall waters.
• Shrimp including prawn. Ridgeback and spot prawns are present year-round in the deep basins off Los Angeles, with a moderate spring peak (Mar–Apr) tied to spot prawn berried-female aggregations and a stronger late-summer/early-fall peak (Jul–Sep) when ridgeback prawn recruitment and warmer offshore water boost catchable biomass. Late fall through midwinter shows the lowest abundance as adults disperse to deeper water after spawning.
• Skate. Skates (primarily big skate and California skate) are year-round residents on LA's soft-bottom shelf, so the curve stays near baseline. Abundance rises modestly in late fall through early spring when cooler water pushes them shallower onto accessible coastal flats and into bays, with a soft summer dip as they shift to deeper, cooler water offshore.
• Skipjack tuna. Skipjack are warm-water migrants to Southern California, largely absent in cold winter/early spring months and arriving as SST climbs above ~65°F in early summer. Peaks span late June through October when warm water and bait push them into LA-area waters, often bimodal with a mid-summer surge and a strong late-summer/early-fall pulse before offshore water cools.
• Slope Rockfish. Slope rockfish (bank rockfish, blackgill, splitnose, aurora, etc.) are deepwater residents on the 200-300+ fathom slope off LA and remain biologically present year-round with very little seasonal migration. The curve is nearly flat, with only a slight winter bump reflecting modest upslope movement and tighter aggregation in cooler months.
• Striped marlin. Striped marlin migrate into the Southern California Bight as water warms, with first scouts arriving in July, peak abundance from late August through mid-October when SST hits 68-72°F and bait is thick off Catalina and the 267, then tapering through November as fish push south. Winter and spring are near-absent as the stock holds in Baja waters.
• Surfperch. Barred surfperch in LA peak in late fall through early spring (Oct–Mar) when adults school in the surf zone for sand crab feeding and pupping. A modest summer lull reflects post-spawn dispersal and warmer water pushing fish off the beach, though they remain present year-round.
• Swordfish. Swordfish move into the Southern California Bight as water warms and the thermocline sets up, with biological presence ramping from late spring, peaking August–early October when warm offshore water and squid/sauries concentrate broadbills along the basins and canyons off LA. Numbers decline through fall as fish shift south with cooling water, leaving a sparse winter presence (some deep daytime fish remain, but abundance is low).
• Thresher Shark. Common thresher sharks migrate into the Southern California Bight in spring as water warms and bait (anchovy, sardine, mackerel) stacks up nearshore, peaking April–May off LA. A secondary late-summer/early-fall bump occurs as offshore-staged fish return through the bight before pushing south to Baja for winter, leaving low but non-zero residual presence Dec–Feb.
• Vermilion Rockfish. Vermilion rockfish are resident, non-migratory demersal fish on LA's rocky reefs and banks, so biological abundance stays near baseline year-round. A modest summer-through-early-fall bump (roughly July–September) reflects post-spawn recruitment and warmer-water feeding activity, but the species never leaves these waters, so there are no zeros.
• Vermilion/Sunset Rockfish. Vermilion/sunset rockfish are resident deep-reef dwellers off LA (Catalina, San Clemente, 14 Mile Bank, Horseshoe Kelp), present in stable numbers year-round with no migration. Minor summer-fall uptick reflects warmer thermocline pushing some fish shallower and onto more accessible structure, but biological abundance stays close to baseline all 52 weeks.
• Yellowfin tuna. Yellowfin tuna are a warm-water migratory species off Los Angeles, arriving as SST climbs in late spring (late May/June), peaking July through early October when warm offshore eddies push them into local waters, then declining through November as water cools. Winter and early spring weeks are near-absent biologically, though occasional stragglers may persist in El Niño years.

Common questions about Los Angeles