Episodios

  • Offshore Hot Bites: Lingcod, Rockfish, Seabass Limits for California Anglers

    Offshore Hot Bites: Lingcod, Rockfish, Seabass Limits for California Anglers
    May 18 2025
    Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Sunday, May 18th Pacific Ocean California fishing report. We’ve got cool spring weather holding along the coast with some early fog and light winds that should clear by midday. Sunrise came around 5:52 AM and sunset will hit at 7:59 PM, giving us a full day of good light to work the water.

    Tides are moderate today, with a low tide in the early morning and a high swinging in during the late morning and afternoon. This means the bite should pick up as the water moves, especially around rocky structure and kelp beds as bait stirs.

    Let’s get into the fishing. Up north around Fort Bragg, party boats had an outstanding half-day trip pulling in 22 lingcod and 105 rockfish for just 15 anglers recently, showcasing how solid the groundfish bite is[3]. Further south in the Santa Barbara and Ventura area, Stardust and Coral Sea boats reported full limits of white seabass—26 fish for a 26-angler trip—plus a couple of halibut, 13 lingcod, and close to 200 rockfish. These catches have been consistent this week, with hefty bags of reds, vermilion, and quality lings almost every trip[4].

    Bay Area boats are finding halibut and striped bass, with some scores showing 4 halibut and 17 stripers for 10 anglers on the C Gull II, and the California Dawn II producing 3 halibut up to 18 pounds plus 32 stripers for 25 anglers. Down San Diego way, rockfish are steady, and calico bass have been active with reports of up to 65 caught and released in a single outing. Sculpin and sheephead round out the mix with some nice whitefish mixed in[2].

    Best baits and lures right now are swimbaits and iron jigs for lingcod and rockfish, with sardines and squid strips working wonders on deeper reefs. For seabass, white flukes and mackerel are the go-to. If you’re targeting halibut, try drifting a live anchovy or shiner perch near sandy drop-offs or bay mouths. Stripers are hitting well on anchovies and chartreuse soft plastics near structure and current breaks.

    For hotspots, Fort Bragg reefs are on fire for lingcod and rockfish, and the Channel Islands off Santa Barbara are the real deal for limits of white seabass and mixed cod. In the Bay Area, try the flats around Alcatraz for halibut and striped bass. Down south, Point Loma kelp and La Jolla reefs continue to be solid for mixed bag bottom fishing.

    Overall, action is red hot on the reefs and the early coastal gamefish bite is in full swing. Watch that tide for the best window, and be sure to check current regulations, especially for salmon—season won’t open again until June and September. Tight lines and see you on the water.
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    3 m
  • Pacific Halibut Struggle, Rockfish Reigning, Limited Salmon Fishing - Fishing Report 05/17/25

    Pacific Halibut Struggle, Rockfish Reigning, Limited Salmon Fishing - Fishing Report 05/17/25
    May 17 2025
    FISHING REPORT: MAY 17, 2025

    Howdy folks, Artificial Lure here with your Saturday morning fishing report for the Pacific Ocean waters off California. Grab your coffee – it's 7:30 AM and we've got some fishing to discuss!

    Let me tell you straight, it's been a sluggish start to the Pacific halibut season around these parts. The ocean conditions have been giving us fits lately with wind and rough water keeping most boats docked since last weekend. The water's been running dirty, and the halibut bite isn't exactly on fire right now.

    Tim Klassen over at Reel Steel Sport Fishing mentioned they managed to boat a few halibut last Friday and Saturday, but nothing to write home about. With any luck, some boats might get out today, but hold onto your hats because the weekend forecast is calling for more wind to kick up.

    Up in Trinidad, small boats and kayaks haven't been able to launch all week due to those same nasty conditions. Their boat launch is scheduled to open around the beginning of June. If you're headed that way, give the bait shop a call at 677-3625 for the latest info.

    Down south, the Fort Bragg boats have been crushing it with rockfish and lingcod. One recent half-day trip reported 22 lingcod and 105 rockfish with just 15 anglers aboard. That's some hot action if you can get to it!

    For you salmon enthusiasts, I've got a bit of good news. After years of closures, we've finally got some limited recreational salmon fishing opportunities this year, though commercial fishing remains closed for the third straight year. The PFMC made that call back in April due to ongoing recovery efforts for our salmon stocks.

    River report: The Kings is fishing great right now. For you Central Valley anglers, remember the main stem Sacramento remains closed in 2025, but sections of the Feather, American, and Mokelumne will have nearly full seasons with a one Chinook limit.

    Hot spots for today? If I were heading out, I'd point toward Fort Bragg for the consistent rockfish action, or try your luck drift fishing near Shady Cove where some guides are limiting out on spring salmon using roe or MagLip plugs.

    For the youngsters, don't forget the Trinity Lake Lions Fish Derby happening today at Carrville Dredger Pond – all kids 4 to 15 are welcome!

    Best baits today: Fresh roe for salmon, squid strips for rockfish, and if you're after halibut, try large herring or anchovy. Artificial wise, I'd pack some 6-8 inch swim baits for halibut and MagLips for the river salmon.

    That's the report for today, folks. Remember, the fish are always biting somewhere – you just gotta find 'em!

    Tight lines,
    Artificial Lure
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    3 m
  • California Coastal Fishing Report: Salmon Bites Slow, Rockfish and Halibut Thrive

    California Coastal Fishing Report: Salmon Bites Slow, Rockfish and Halibut Thrive
    May 16 2025
    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!
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    3 m
  • Excellent Coastal Fishing off California with Rockfish, Lingcod, Halibut, and Striped Bass Bites

    Excellent Coastal Fishing off California with Rockfish, Lingcod, Halibut, and Striped Bass Bites
    May 14 2025
    This is Artificial Lure checking in with your California Pacific coast fishing report for Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

    We’re getting that classic late-spring weather all along the coast today. Expect marine layer in the early morning and mostly sunny skies as the day warms up. Temperatures will be in the mid-60s to low 70s along the water. Winds should stay light through the morning, but breezes will pick up after noon—plan accordingly if you’re heading offshore. Tides today show a moderate high just after sunrise and a falling tide into late morning, perfect for an early bite. Sunrise came at 5:54 am, and sunset will be at 8:06 pm, giving you long windows to fish each end of the day.

    Bottom fishing is on fire right now, especially for rockfish and lingcod. The Fort Bragg boats are reporting impressive hauls: One half-day trip showed 22 lingcod and 105 rockfish for just 15 anglers. Berkeley party boats have been steady, with California Dawn reporting up to 13 halibut and 36 striped bass, with some stripers pushing 20 pounds. Those are serious numbers, and it’s more of the same from Avila Beach all the way up to Crescent City[4][5].

    Your best bet for rockfish and lingcod is bouncing swimbaits or metal jigs off the bottom in 50-150 feet of water. Big plastics in root beer, motor oil, or white get hammered. Fresh squid strips or anchovies work great for lingcod if you’re dropping bait rigs. For halibut and stripers in the bay areas, drift live anchovies or sardines if you can find them, or slow-troll shad-pattern swimbaits and paddle tails along channel edges and sandy flats.

    Salmon fishing remains closed right now along California’s coast. There’s a lot of chatter about the upcoming special two-day recreational opener in early June, but for now, keep your focus on the reliable bottomfish and bass bite[1][2][3].

    Hot spots this week are the reefs and hard bottom off Fort Bragg for lingcod and rockfish, and San Francisco Bay flats for halibut and striped bass. The North Farallon Islands are also putting out nice mixed sacks when the weather allows a run. If you want quick action, watch the tide changes and hit those rock piles and drop-offs hard in the first few hours of the morning.

    Overall, the bite is steady, the fish are big, and the weather’s ideal—just keep an eye on the wind if you plan to go offshore. Tight lines and see you on the water!
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    3 m
  • California Coast Fishing Report: Rockfish, Halibut, Striped Bass Shine

    California Coast Fishing Report: Rockfish, Halibut, Striped Bass Shine
    May 12 2025
    Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Monday morning fishing report for May 12, 2025. Let's talk about what's biting in our beautiful California waters.

    The bite has been solid these past few days along the Southern and Northern California coasts. Down in SoCal, rockfish continue to dominate the counts. Just two days ago, the New Del Mar out of Marina Del Rey landed an impressive 425 rockfish with 76 anglers aboard their half-day morning trip. The Victory out of Long Beach brought in 330 rockfish, 165 sculpin, and some nice whitefish and sheephead on their 3/4 day run.

    If you're looking for halibut, the Spitfire from Marina Del Rey scored 9 halibut on Saturday, along with lingcod and whitefish. That's a decent showing for these flatties!

    Up north in the Bay Area, striped bass and halibut action has been heating up. The California Dawn II out of Berkeley tallied 36 stripers (some beasts up to 20 pounds!) and 13 halibut on a full-day trip. Several other Berkeley boats are also finding good numbers of both species.

    For those heading out to Fort Bragg, the Telstar put clients on 22 lingcod and 105 rockfish during a half-day morning run, showing the north coast rockfish bite remains strong.

    Hot spots to try today include the waters off Marina Del Rey for mixed bag action, Berkeley flats for stripers and halibut, and Fort Bragg for those tasty rockfish and lingcod. The islands have been producing amazing bass and barracuda as well.

    Bait-wise, fresh anchovies and sardines are working well for the rockfish. For halibut, try live bait like anchovies or small mackerel if you can get them. Striped bass are hitting on both live bait and artificial lures - swimbaits in white or chartreuse have been effective.

    For those targeting rockfish, heavy jigs tipped with squid strips are producing, and don't forget those swimbaits in the 4-6 inch range for lingcod.

    The tides today are moderate, with a high tide around mid-morning - perfect timing to get out there. Weather looks favorable with light winds in the morning, picking up slightly in the afternoon, so an early start is your best bet.

    Remember that the spring season is ramping up for tuna, yellowtail, and dorado, so keep an eye on those offshore reports as the water continues to warm.

    Whether you're hitting the bays, beaches, or heading offshore, the fishing has been consistent and should remain productive throughout the week. Get out there while the bite is on!

    This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines, folks, and I'll see you on the water!
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    3 m
  • Offshore Fishing Heats Up on California's Pacific Coast

    Offshore Fishing Heats Up on California's Pacific Coast
    May 11 2025
    Artificial Lure reporting here with your Sunday, May 11, 2025, fishing report for California's Pacific Coast. We’ve got a classic coastal morning with mild temps and patchy fog expected to burn off by late morning. Sunrise came at 5:54 AM, and you’ll get lines wet until sunset at 8:01 PM. Winds are forecast to pick up west at 8-12 knots, backing off toward evening, making the outgoing tide from midmorning through early afternoon prime for action.

    Offshore action in Northern California has been hot, especially around the Bay Area. Party boats out of Berkeley and Emeryville had solid hauls just yesterday: the Right Hook pulled in 12 halibut and 12 striped bass for 6 anglers on a half-day trip, and the New Huck Finn reported 8 halibut—some up to 19 pounds—and 22 striped bass for 11 anglers. If you’re after rockfish and lingcod, the Sea Wolf out of Emeryville boated 23 lingcod and a whopping 180 rockfish for 18 anglers, so bottom fishing is on fire right now[1][4].

    Down the Central Coast, Morro Bay and Monterey boats are reporting full sacks of rockfish and lingcod. The Endeavor out of Morro Bay loaded up with 70 bocaccio, a handful of copper rockfish, 7 lingcod, and 28 red rockfish for their 14 anglers, while the Flying Fish out of Avila Beach brought in 123 rockcod on a half-day run. Monterey’s Check Mate logged 6 lingcod and 80 rockfish for just 8 anglers, so there’s no shortage of action if you’re working jigs deep[4].

    Southern California anglers, offshore the bite is building for spring. Reports out of Dana Point say the bass and barracuda bite is excellent, and folks are seeing bonito and small yellowtail around kelp paddies. The bluefin tuna bite is starting to heat up, especially west of San Diego, with boats on the hunt for foamers and working poppers and flat-falls during early evening hours[2][3].

    Best bait and lures this week: For halibut and bass in NorCal, live anchovies or sardines are your ticket, but swimbaits in chartreuse or white, and hair jigs, are getting hammered too. For bottom fishing, standard dropper loops with squid strips or fresh anchovy are reliable. Lingcod can’t pass up a big white grub or metal jig bounced near rocky spots. In SoCal, surface irons and plastics in blue and green for barracuda and bass, and deep-diving jigs for yellowtail around kelp.

    Top hot spots: San Francisco Bay—especially around Alcatraz and the Berkeley flats—for halibut and bass. Try Emeryville or Berkeley Marina for party boats. Central Coast rockfish are biting hard around Morro Bay and Monterey reefs. In Southern Cal, try out of Dana Point or hit the kelp lines near La Jolla for calico bass and the chance at spring yellowtail.

    That’s the word for today. Tight lines out there!
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    3 m
  • SoCal Coast Fishing Report: Rockfish, Bass, and Barracuda Action Sizzles

    SoCal Coast Fishing Report: Rockfish, Bass, and Barracuda Action Sizzles
    May 10 2025
    CALIFORNIA PACIFIC COAST FISHING REPORT - May 10, 2025

    Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Saturday fishing report. The sun rose at 6:02 AM today and will set at 7:47 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to hit the water.

    The weather's cooperating with temps in the mid-60s along the coast. We've got a moderate westerly breeze picking up in the afternoon, so morning fishing should be prime. Tide's coming in until noon with a high of 5.2 feet, then ebbing through the evening.

    Fishing activity has been solid this week with rockfish being the star of the show. Marina Del Rey boats reported impressive catches on Thursday with the New Del Mar bringing in 425 rockfish with 76 anglers aboard[1]. The Betty-O and Spitfire also had decent outings with the Spitfire landing 9 halibut and 2 lingcod along with 60 whitefish[1].

    Down in Long Beach, the Victory had a killer day with 330 rockfish, 165 sculpin, and some sheephead and whitefish in the mix[1]. San Pedro boats are consistently pulling in rockfish, whitefish, and some red snapper.

    Bass and barracuda action has been hot in the northern and central sections with party boats reporting solid midweek action[3]. Nearshore waters are running a bit murky today, so you might want to push a little further offshore for clearer conditions.

    For those looking to hit the islands, the San Diego Full Day trip to Coronado Islands is running today, departing at 5:30 AM and returning at 5:00 PM[4].

    Bait-wise, squid has been the ticket for rockfish, while swim baits in blue/white patterns are working well for bass. For barracuda, try Krocodile spoons or Rapala X-Raps with a fast retrieve.

    Remember, ocean salmon fishing is currently closed but will open briefly on June 7-8 with a 7,000 Chinook quota[2]. Also, the red abalone fishery remains closed until at least April 2026[2].

    Hot spots this weekend:

    Santa Monica Bay is firing for rockfish and the occasional halibut. The artificial reefs off Huntington Beach are producing quality calico bass. And if you're boat-less, Redondo Beach Pier has been giving up mackerel and the odd bonito.

    For bottom fishing enthusiasts, try the deeper structures in 180-220 feet - that's where the bigger lings are hanging.

    That's the word from the water today, folks. Remember to check your regulations before heading out, especially with some seasonal closures in effect. This is Artificial Lure saying tight lines, bent rods, and I'll see ya at the cleaning station!
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    3 m
  • Pacific Ocean California Fishing Report: Rockfish, Halibut, and More in the Springtime Bite

    Pacific Ocean California Fishing Report: Rockfish, Halibut, and More in the Springtime Bite
    May 9 2025
    This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Pacific Ocean California fishing report for Friday, May 9, 2025.

    First light brought a calm, cool morning, but expect the usual May marine layer to linger till midmorning, making for a slow sunrise at 5:56 AM and sunset rolling in at 7:49 PM. The tide started low at dawn, pushing up to a midday high, so anglers should look for peak feeding activity around late morning and again near dusk as the water moves.

    On the weather front, we’re holding steady in the upper 60s to low 70s, with light winds out of the west and patchy afternoon sunshine. These spring conditions have made for excellent inshore and nearshore fishing, with waters warming and clarity improving each day.

    Now, onto the action. Party boat and local counts from Los Angeles to Marin have been absolutely loaded with rockfish. Boats like the New Del Mar out of Marina Del Rey reported 375 rockfish for a half-day trip, and the Victory from Long Beach stacked up a jaw-dropping 150 rockfish alongside healthy numbers of whitefish and sheephead. Halibut action is also picking up which is typical for May, with boats like the Spitfire bringing in a solid 10 halibut on a 3/4 day trip. Sculpin, lingcod, and a smattering of white seabass are keeping rods bent all along the coast. Those after surface action are seeing calico bass and sand bass popping up around the kelp beds, especially near Palos Verdes and Point Dume.

    Best baits right now are live sardines and anchovies, but frozen squid still gets bit if you’re deep dropping. For artificials, nothing’s beating a glow or root beer swimbait on a leadhead for rockfish, and chrome or white spoons have been hot for halibut and seabass. If you’re chasing bass, try a brown or green weedless plastic through the kelp stringers, especially with the afternoon sun lighting up the water.

    Hot spots today are the rock piles off Rocky Point and the inner reefs outside Marina Del Rey, with deep stones around Redondo producing big numbers of quality rockfish and the occasional surprise lingcod. Don’t overlook the sand flats off Cabrillo Beach for a shot at a trophy halibut, especially on the incoming tide.

    In short, the bite is wide open for bottom fish, the spring transition has halibut on the chew, and calm seas have made for great boat and kayak access all week. Be safe, respect the limits, and tight lines out there.
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    3 m
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