Early Spring California Fishing Report: Sand Bass, Perch, and Rockfish Going Off

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for Pacific Ocean angling from NorCal to SoCal. It's a crisp March 25 morning off California's coast—sunrise hit around 7 AM, sunset 'bout 7:15 PM. Weather's mild per National Weather Service forecasts: light winds 5-10 knots south, seas 3-5 feet, patchy fog burning off by noon. Tides? Low incoming now, high around 2 PM at most piers like Pismo—fish the slack and rise for best bites.

Fish are active early spring style. Recent dock totals from Fisherman's Landing and Seaforth Sportfishing show boats slamming sand bass (up to 46 on Dolphin trips March 22), sculpin (40+ limits), calico bass, whitefish (140 at 22nd Street Landing March 24), sheephead, and halibut releases. NorCal reports from NorCal Fish Reports March 24: rockfish hauls (100+ at J&M Monterey), lingcod to 25 pounds, halibut to 14 pounds off Berkeley. Surfperch going nuts at Pismo Beach Pier—barred, walleye, silvers on every cast with bloodworms or ghost shrimp. Salmon season kicks April 11 south of Pigeon Point per WONews, quotas looking solid at 21,300+ fish—get ready but no keepers yet. OPC's 2026 Coast Report says most species healthy despite kelp woes.

For lures, plastic grubs like Kalin's Perch Power or Big Hammers shine for perch and halibut in surf—fish 'em Carolina-rigged. Rockfish rigs? Double dropper loops with Owner 1/0 Aki Twists, squid strips or anchovies per Tackle Express. Live bait kings: sand crabs, seaworms, mussels, bloodworms, ghost shrimp for perch; smelt, mackerel, sardines for bigger stuff. High/low leaders, size 4-6 hooks.

Hot spots: Pismo Beach Pier for perch frenzy—hit surf end two hours pre-high tide. San Diego's Fisherman's Landing boats for bass/sculpin limits.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI