About Soquel Canyon

Soquel Canyon is an outer-exposed drop-off off Monterey, California, where a rocky bottom plunges from roughly 2,020 to 2,545 feet along the canyon's steep slope. The deep structure holds Sablefish, Slope Rockfish, and Widow Rockfish, while the open water above draws Shortfin Mako Shark and Bigeye tuna. California Halibut move through the shallower margins with a peak window from March through September. Anglers targeting halibut work drift fishing with live anchovies, live sardines, shiner perch, or squid across the drop, supplementing with trolling using plastic swimbaits, diving plugs, or hootchies. Jigging with leadhead jigs, plastic swimbaits, or metal jigs covers the same ground when fish sit tight to the rock.