About Barn Kelp

Barn Kelp is an outer-exposed kelp reef off San Diego, sitting over rock bottom in 15 to 50 feet of water. The reef holds Kelp Bass and Calico Bass through the summer, with Calico Bass peaking June through July, while White Seabass move through from March to July and Yellowtail arrive July through September. Anglers work the kelp edges and rocky structure with live bait for White Seabass and Yellowtail, using live squid, sardines, and mackerel, while plastics on leadheads such as swimbaits and paddle tails cover the Calico Bass. California Halibut favor the shallower sand pockets from March to June and respond to drift fishing with live anchovies, sardines, or swimbaits. In the cooler months of October through February, Lingcod hold tight to the rock and take vertical jigs and swimbaits on lead heads worked along the bottom.