Newport Submarine Canyon

Newport Submarine Canyon is a deep-water trench off Santa Monica, California, dropping through depths of 100 to 1,000 feet where steep slope structure concentrates groundfish and pelagic predators. Sablefish hold along the deepest ledges with peaks from November through January and again April through October, while lingcod stack up on the harder structure from September through February. Pacific halibut move onto the shallower canyon edges February through May, and rockfish—both aggregate and slope species—produce across the full year, with slope rockfish strongest August through February. Deep dropping with squid, mackerel strips, or shrimp flies reaches the sablefish and slope rockfish along the bottom, while vertical jigging with metal jigs or leadhead jigs with swimbaits works the lingcod on the rock. Halibut on the upper slope respond to drifting live bait such as live anchovies, sardines, or smelt.

Newport Submarine Canyon is one of the spots we track around Santa Monica. See every scored spot in California.

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