The coast of Southern California has a variety of fishing opportunities, from active beaches and piers to wealthy hot spots offshore. The coastal waters are dominated by rockfish, halibut, flounder, surf perch and a host of other game fish, providing recreational fishing opportunities for local fishermen and visiting anglers from around the world.
Fishing By The Water
Surf fishing in Southern California offers a great opportunity for anglers who don’t have access to a boat, or who actually enjoy fishing for near-shore species. Surfperch, croaker, and corbina are among the most frequently caught species along the beaches of Southern California, and you can also catch halibut, bat fish, and leopard shark. Morning, evening and oncoming high tide are the best times of the day for beach fishing, and there are different species available throughout the year, but usually the summer months provide the most active fishing. Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Point Vicente and Redondo Beach are only a handful of the hot spots to beach fishing in Southern California.
Offshore Fishing
For fishermen willing to venture a little farther from shore, a wide variety of possibilities open up. Bass, pompano, whitefish, sheephead and much more fish inhabit waters ranging up to 300 feet deep, while deeper waters harbor sole, lingcod, midshipman and more. Coastal waters also are home to more than two dozen species of rockfish, which are 1,500 feet deep or only a few feet from shore depending on the species and the time of year. Offshore hot spots around Southern California include Nine-Mile Bank, Santa Catalina Island, Avalon Bank, Hidden Reef and Butterfly Bank, among many others. Nautical charts are a useful tool to help you find fishing spots, and numerous guides and charters are available in many cities and towns along the coast and Venice Pier, located about 1/2 mile south of the famed Venice Boardwalk.
Licenses and Arrangments
An current California saltwater fishing license is necessary to fish in coastal waters of California, regardless of location. Licenses are available via the Fish and Wildlife Department of California website, and at most bait shops and sports goods stores throughout the state. A comprehensive guide to the fishing seasons, limits and other regulations in California is available online, or as a free printed brochure anywhere licenses are sold. It is a good idea to review the current fish consumption advisories when preparing to hold and consume your catch, because certain types of saltwater contain DDT, PCB and a number of other pollutants.
