About Venice Flats

Venice Flats is an outer-exposed sand flat off Santa Monica, running 40 to 80 feet deep over open bottom that holds fish across the warm-water months. California Halibut is the marquee target here, peaking March through July, with Barred Sand Bass following on a similar March and June-through-August curve. Leopard Shark works the sand from April to August, while Sculpin stacks up over the deeper flat from June into September and Calico Bass runs April through August. Drifting live anchovies and sardines covers the flat for both Halibut and Sand Bass, while a dropper loop tipped with squid puts baits on the bottom for Sculpin. Soaking squid or mackerel on the sand takes the Leopard Sharks, and plastics or leadhead jigs draw Calico Bass across the same range.