About Mugu Canyon

Mugu Canyon is a deep offshore trench off Ventura, California, where the seafloor drops through 570 to 860 feet and draws pelagic species to its steep contours. Yellowfin tuna move through from March to July, albacore tuna hold from May to September, and swordfish stay present from May to October, alongside bigeye tuna, opah, and blue, mako, and common thresher sharks. Anglers work albacore with live bait fishing on live sardines and live anchovies, supplementing with trolled cedar plugs, feather jigs, and skirted lures or surface iron jigs over the canyon edge. Swordfish come to deep-drop daytime rigs baited with squid, bonito strip baits, and mackerel along the canyon walls, with night drifting over the same water using squid, mackerel, and glow sticks. The depth and structure concentrate bait and predators, keeping the fishing tied to the canyon's dropoff rather than the surrounding flats.