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Palos Verdes Kelp Beds

33.74°N · 118.41°W

Species
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Best score for the day · 8 AM
85/100
GOOD

Now 26 · 10 PM PDT

BEST WINDOW
7 AM-8 PM
Tide flooding
14-Day Forecast
Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
Mon
Sep 14
Tue
Sep 15
Wed
Sep 16
Thu
Sep 17
Fri
Sep 18
Sat
Sep 19
Sun
Sep 20
Mon
Sep 21
Tue
Sep 22
Wed
Sep 23
Thu
Sep 24
Fri
Sep 25

24-Hour Conditions

All times PDT

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Conditions
Time
10 PM
Now
Score
26
Tough
Tide
4.9 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
1 kn
WSW · steady
Sea state
Choppy
3.0 ft
Air temp
71°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
60% cloud
Hour 10 PM. Score 26 Tough. Tide 4.9ft Rising ▲. Current +0.6kn Flood. Wind 1kn WSW G3. Sea 3.0ft Chop. Air 70.7°.
Why this score
Current
0.5 kn light
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

Yellowtail
Retention open
Daily limit
10 per day
Possession
10 in possession
Size
Minimum 24"
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Open year-round. Minimum size 24 inches fork length, except up to 5 fish less than 24 inches fork length may be taken or possessed.
Other species here
Lingcod Catch & releaseCalico Bass ClosedCalifornia Sheephead Retention openWhite Seabass Catch & releaseRockfish (Aggregate) ClosedKelp Bass Retention openCalifornia Scorpionfish Retention open
Always check with CDFW ↗

Source: CDFW · synced today

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Yellowtail is best at this spot

Peak seasonCurrently in peak season for Yellowtail
~5 more weeks at peak
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season
SPOT PROFILE
DEPTH
20-100 ft
LAUNCH
Not mapped
PEAK
Peak now
STRUCTURE
—

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Palos Verdes Kelp Beds
Groundfish Management Area Southern
84
Top: YellowtailPEAK SEASON
Yellowtail 84 · California Sheephead 83 · Ocean Whitefish 82
0006121824
1 kt W
H 10:51 PM · 1.6 m
L 4:47 AM · 0.3 m
Long Point (Palos Verdes)
Groundfish Management Area —
82
Top: California SheepheadSHOULDER SEASON
California Sheephead 82
0006121824
2 kt N
H 10:58 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:54 AM · 0.3 m
Long Point (Palos Verdes)
Groundfish Management Area Southern
83
Top: YellowtailPEAK SEASON
Yellowtail 83 · California Sheephead 82 · California Halibut 82
0006121824
2 kt N
H 10:58 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:54 AM · 0.3 m
Christmas Tree Cove
Groundfish Management Area —
85
Top: Barred Sand BassSHOULDER SEASON
Barred Sand Bass 85 · California Sheephead 85 · California Halibut 85
0006121824
1 kt W
H 10:51 PM · 1.6 m
L 4:47 AM · 0.3 m

The Palos Verdes Kelp Beds run along the rocky coastline near Santa Monica, California, where thick kelp stands and reef structure hold fish across depths of 20 to 100 feet. Yellowtail move through from May to October and respond to live sardines, mackerel, or anchovies, while yo-yo jigging with heavy iron reaches fish holding deeper along the beds. Calico bass fish well from April to August, worked with swimbaits, soft plastic grubs, and leadhead jigs through the kelp edges, and California sheephead hold near the bottom from April to September on live shrimp, squid, and crab. White seabass show from March to July on live squid and sardines, and rockfish stay available year-round on dropper loops baited with squid, cut mackerel, and shrimp flies. As the season cools, lingcod arrive from September to February and take metal jigs and leadhead jigs with swimbaits worked vertically over the reef.

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Palos Verdes Kelp Beds is one of the spots we track around Santa Monica. See every scored spot in California.

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