About Christmas Tree Cove

Christmas Tree Cove is a mid-exposure kelp reef off Santa Monica, where rocky bottom rises through water running 15 to 50 feet deep. Calico Bass and California Sheephead anchor the season here, with Calico peaking April through August and Sheephead holding from April into September, while Barred Sand Bass turn on in March and again through the summer and California Halibut run March through July. Anglers work the kelp edges and rock structure with plastics for Calico Bass, casting swimbaits, soft plastic grubs, and leadhead jigs tight to cover. Sheephead come on bottom fishing over the reef with live shrimp, squid, cut mackerel, or crab, and drift fishing live anchovies or sardines across the sand pockets takes both Sand Bass and Halibut. Leopard Shark move through from April to August and hold to bait soaked on the bottom with squid or mackerel.