About San Clemente Island - Northwest End

San Clemente Island's northwest end is a rocky offshore point off San Diego, California, with fishable structure running from 40 to 300 feet. Yellowtail dominate the warm-water months from May through October, while White Seabass move through in spring from March into July and Calico Bass hold from April into August. Rockfish stay productive year-round across the deeper zones, and Barred Sand Bass and California Sheephead fill out the mix through the summer stretch. Anglers work live bait such as sardines, mackerel, and anchovies for Yellowtail, drop squid and cut mackerel on dropper loops for the rockfish holding on the bottom, and fish live squid or sardines for White Seabass over the reef edges. Calico Bass respond to plastics worked along the rocks, while Sheephead come off the bottom on squid, cut mackerel, and crab in the same rocky terrain.