About Hermosa Artificial Reef

Hermosa Artificial Reef sits in the outer, exposed waters off Santa Monica, California, where a rock bottom and kelp cover rise across depths of 40 to 80 feet. The reef holds California Halibut at their peak from March through July, with Barred Sand Bass moving through in March and again from June into August. Calico Bass turn on from April through August and respond to plastics worked over the structure, including swimbaits, soft plastic grubs, and leadhead jigs, while California Sheephead hold near the rock from April through September and take bottom-fished squid, cut mackerel, or live shrimp. Sculpin stack up over the reef from June through September and come to a dropper loop baited with squid or anchovy. As the season shifts, Kelp Greenling show from August into November and Cabezon take over the cooler stretch from September through April, where rockfish jigging with shrimp flies and squid strips works the rocky bottom.