Plan Your Trip
Tell us the trip you want — we match you with the right boat and captain.
Southern California fishes year-round — but what you can catch off Los Angeles changes a lot with the seasons. Water temperature drives everything: cold winter water means white seabass and halibut, warm summer water brings yellowtail to the islands and tuna offshore. This guide breaks down the SoCal fishing year season by season, so you can book the right trip at the right time. For the quick-glance version, see our Southern California fishing calendar.
Winter (December – February): Seabass, Halibut & Lobster
Winter is the quiet season on the water — fewer boats, flat-calm mornings, and two of our most prized fish. White seabass begin their pre-spawn build-up around the islands and kelp lines, and California halibut move into the bays and harbor mouths. Local half-day trips still produce sculpin, sheephead, and sand bass. It is also the heart of spiny lobster season (open through mid-March): evening hoop-net trips are a winter ritual out of LA and Long Beach. Note that rockfish season is typically closed in January and February — check current rules on our fishing resources page.
Spring (March – May): The Seabass Peak & Rockfish Opener
Spring is when the year turns on. White seabass peak from March through June around Catalina and San Clemente, halibut make their spring run along the coast, and calico bass start feeding ahead of the spawn. Rockfish season typically opens April 1 in the Southern Management Area, reopening deep-water lingcod and rockfish trips. By May the first barracuda schools arrive and early yellowtail show at the islands — a taste of summer.
Summer (June – August): Peak Season for Everything
Summer is the main event. Yellowtail go full swing at Catalina and San Clemente from June through the fall, calico and sand bass spawn on the coast (the July–August sand bass run at the Huntington Flats is legendary), and barracuda and bonito fill in the surface action. Offshore, warm currents push bluefin and yellowfin tuna — and in warm years dorado — within range of overnight trips out of LA and Orange County landings. If you can only fish one stretch of the year, make it August to September.
Fall (September – November): Tuna Tails Off, Bottom Fishing Turns On
Early fall keeps summer's menu — tuna into October in warm years, yellowtail at the islands into mid-October — with a fraction of the crowds. As the water cools, rockfish and lingcod fishing gets excellent, calico bass stay willing into October, and spiny lobster season reopens in early October, restarting the hoop-net season.
Month by Month: What to Catch off Los Angeles
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Pick Your Trip by Season
- ½-day local: bass, halibut, sculpin, and sheephead year-round; rockfish in season.
- ¾ / full-day island: yellowtail, white seabass, and calico bass at Catalina and San Clemente — best April through October.
- Overnight / offshore: bluefin, yellowfin, and dorado — best July through October. See our offshore fishing trips.
- Evening lobster trips: hoop-netting for spiny lobster, early October through mid-March.
Seasons shift with water temperature and conditions year to year, and size/bag limits and season dates change — always confirm the current CDFW regulations before you fish. Ready to time it right? Plan your trip and we will match you with the best boat and captain for the season — or browse the California fish species guide and the species explorer to pick your target.
Fishing Seasons: Questions
When is yellowtail season in Southern California?
Yellowtail are a late-spring through fall fish off Los Angeles. They typically show at Catalina and San Clemente islands from May or June, peak July through September, and can hold into October in warm years.
What fish can you catch in winter off Los Angeles?
Winter is white seabass and halibut time, plus sculpin, sheephead, and sand bass locally — and spiny lobster season is open through mid-March for hoop-net trips. Rockfish season is typically closed in January and February.
When is California spiny lobster season?
Spiny lobster season typically opens in early October and closes in mid-March. Recreational hoop-net trips out of LA and Long Beach harbors are a winter favorite. Always confirm the exact dates with CDFW before you go.
What is the best month to fish in Los Angeles?
August and September offer the widest menu: tuna and dorado offshore, yellowtail at the islands, bass on the coast, and halibut still in play. Winter and spring are quieter but prime for white seabass and halibut.
Do I need a fishing license on a charter boat in California?
Yes — anglers 16 and older need a valid California sport fishing license, even on a charter. Our guide to fishing licenses on a charter explains exactly what to buy and where.