Pacific Ocean California Fishing Report: Rockfish, Halibut, and More in the Springtime Bite

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.