About Point Loma Kelp Beds

The Point Loma Kelp Beds sit off San Diego along an outer-exposed rock reef, where kelp-covered structure runs from 20 to 60 feet deep. Calico Bass hold tight to the kelp and peak in June and July, worked with plastics on leadheads or live sardines and anchovies, while Yellowtail move through from July into September and respond to live bait and yo-yo jigging over the reef. White Seabass build through spring into July and take live squid and sardine along the deeper edges, and California Sheephead feed on the rock through summer on squid strips, cut squid, and rock crab fished on the bottom. Cooler months turn the focus to Rockfish and Lingcod, with dropper-loop squid and mackerel strips for the aggregate and vertical iron jigs or swimbaits on leadheads for Lingcod from October into February. Halibut work the sand pockets adjacent to the reef on drifted live anchovies and sardines through the spring window.