California Coastal Fishing Report: Salmon Bites Slow, Rockfish and Halibut Thrive

Artificial Lure here with your May 16, 2025, Pacific Ocean California fishing report.

Sunrise hit just before 6 AM and sunset will be just after 8 PM today, giving anglers a solid window for action. Early morning saw light coastal fog burning off by mid-morning with clear skies and temps rising into the mid-70s inland and mid-60s on the coast. Winds were mild early, picking up to 10-12 knots by noon, and seas have been relatively calm except for the afternoon chop once the breeze sets in.

Tidal swings are moderate today, with an early morning low and the incoming tide topping out around noon, then falling again in the late afternoon. That midday high has lined up perfectly with peak activity for baitfish, bringing in predators close to shore and over the reefs.

As for the fishing itself, there’s a big story this month in California—recreational salmon fishing is finally open in a limited way for the first time since 2022. The bite has been slow overall, with low numbers of Chinook salmon showing, and amounts caught remain modest due to restricted opportunities and strained populations. Most of the salmon in the area are passing through from the Sacramento and Klamath rivers, but catch rates are nothing like the heyday. If you want a shot, troll deep with anchovy or herring imitations behind flashers, and keep to the regulations—check closely for any area-specific limits or closures before heading out[1][2][3][4].

For everyone else, the stars right now are rockfish, lingcod, and halibut. Reports from Santa Cruz down to Morro Bay show quality limits coming in from rocky structure and kelp beds—shrimp flies, swimbaits in sardine or anchovy colors, and metal jigs have been top producers. Live anchovy or squid remains the best bet for halibut both near harbors and on sandy flats. Surf casters are seeing barred surfperch along the central and south coast beaches, with sand crabs and Gulp! camo worms doing the trick.

Baja is firing with a mixed bag if you’re heading south—recent catches from La Paz and the Sea of Cortez include roosterfish, yellowtail, dorado, marlin, and snapper. Roosters have been smashing live bait and poppers in the surf, while offshore anglers are getting dorado and marlin on trolled feathers and live mackerel[5].

Hot spots for today: Monterey Bay’s kelp beds are producing reliable rockfish and lingcod action on the high tide, while out of Santa Barbara, halibut are feeding aggressively during the outgoing tide on both live bait and white swimbaits. For a shot at salmon, keep an eye on the regulations and focus efforts off Bodega Bay and the Golden Gate, but manage expectations.

Best lures and baits for today: swimbaits in sardine, anchovy, or white; metal jigs for deeper structure; shrimp flies for rockfish; live anchovy or squid for halibut; and poppers or live mullet for roosterfish down in Baja waters.

Tight lines and good luck out there!