About Santa Rosa Island, Talcott Shoal

Talcott Shoal sits off the northwest end of Santa Rosa Island in the Santa Barbara Channel, an outer, exposed flat with mixed bottom running from about 120 to 240 feet. California halibut are the primary draw here, peaking from April through August, with California scorpionfish holding on the mixed structure through their May–June window. The broader shoal supports English sole, Pacific sanddab, and Pacific whiting, and the surrounding channel waters bring shortfin mako, blue shark, and passing Chinook and coho salmon. Drift fishing with live anchovies, live smelt, or sardines works the halibut across the flat, while trolling and jigging with swimbaits, plugs, leadhead jigs, or plastic grubs cover the same ground on different passes. For scorpionfish, bottom fishing with squid, cut mackerel, shrimp, or anchovies holds against the mixed bottom, and metal or leadhead jigs and swimbaits fill the supporting role.