About Horseshoe Kelp

Horseshoe Kelp is an outer-exposed kelp reef off Los Angeles, California, where a rocky bottom rises through depths of 25 to 65 feet. The reef holds Yellowtail through their May–October peak and White Seabass from March into July, with Calico Bass stacking up on the structure from April to August. Anglers work live sardines, mackerel, and anchovies for Yellowtail, while swimbaits and soft plastic grubs cover the Calico Bass along the rock. California Halibut and Barred Sand Bass show from spring into summer, both responding to drift fishing with live anchovies and sardines over the sand-and-rock edges. As water cools, Lingcod move in from September through February, taken on metal jigs and leadhead jigs with swimbaits worked vertically over the reef.