About Carmel Canyon

Carmel Canyon is an outer-exposed drop-off off Monterey, California, where a rock bottom plunges from roughly 180 feet to 1,200 feet. The steep structure holds pelagic species including Albacore Tuna, Bigeye Tuna, Bluefin Tuna, Swordfish, Dorado, and Blue, Mako, and Sixgill Sharks, alongside deep-dwelling residents like Sablefish. Lingcod concentrate on the rocky slope with peaks from November through January, March through May, and again in September and October. Anglers work jigging with metal jigs, swimbaits, and leadhead jigs across the drop-off to reach them, targeting the rock ledges where the fish stage. Live bait such as sanddabs, mackerel, and squid, along with drop shot rigging using plastic grubs, squid strips, or cut bait, covers the same structure at depth.