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Weather Forecast
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Weather Forecast | Spirit Sportfishing
Before every trip, check the marine forecast for Santa Monica Bay and the waters around Catalina Island. Conditions change fast — the captain watches the swell, wind, and tides closely when planning each charter.
Live conditions & forecasts
Right now — Santa Monica Bay
Live data via Open-Meteo · 33.74°N 118.41°W (no account or key needed)
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Interactive wind & wave map
NOAA marine zone forecasts
Official forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service. Each link opens that zone’s full marine text forecast:
- NOAA marine forecast — Pt. Mugu to San Mateo Pt., incl. Santa Catalina & Anacapa Islands (zone PZZ655)
Our home water: Santa Monica Bay and Catalina Island. - NOAA marine forecast — East Santa Barbara Channel, Pt. Conception to Pt. Mugu, incl. Santa Cruz Island (zone PZZ650)
Northern Channel Islands runs. - NOAA marine forecast — San Mateo Pt. to the Mexican border, out 10 nm (zone PZZ740)
Southern waters toward San Diego. - NOAA marine forecast — outer waters, Santa Cruz Island to San Clemente Island to 60 nm offshore (zone PZZ676)
Offshore tuna grounds.
What’s biting when — Southern California seasonal guide
A general seasonal pattern guide based on typical SoCal sportfishing seasons — not a live prediction and not a regulation reference. Size, bag, and season rules change: always confirm with CDFW ocean regulations before keeping fish.
| Species | Winter Dec–Feb | Spring Mar–May | Summer Jun–Aug | Fall Sep–Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calico Bass | Good | Good | Peak | Good |
| Yellowtail | Slow | Peak | Peak | Good |
| White Seabass | Good | Peak | Good | Slow |
| California Halibut | Slow | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Barracuda | Slow | Good | Peak | Good |
| Bonito | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak |
| Rockfish | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Bluefin Tuna | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak |
| Yellowfin Tuna | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak |
| Lingcod | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Sheephead | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Ocean Whitefish | Good | Good | Peak | Good |
| Spiny Lobster | Peak | Slow | Closed | Good |
Peak prime time Good worth targeting Slow off-season Closed season closed — lobster season typically runs early Oct to mid-Mar.
Local fish — know your targets
Yellowtail
Size: 10–40 lbs typical, to 90+ lbs
Where/how: kelp paddies, Catalina Island, offshore banks — yo-yo iron, surface plugs, live mackerel or sardine
Best season: spring through fall, peaking late spring into summer
Bluefin Tuna
Size: 40–200+ lbs
Where/how: offshore banks (Tanner, Cortez) — kite rigs, sinker rigs, knife jigs at night
Best season: summer through fall
Yellowfin Tuna
Size: 15–60 lbs
Where/how: offshore warm-water pushes — flylined sardine, trolling
Best season: late summer into fall
Bonito
Size: 2–8 lbs
Where/how: inshore edges and island fronts — trolled feathers, small live bait
Best season: summer and fall
California Spiny Lobster
Size: legal minimum 3¼″ carapace
Where/how: bays, harbor mouths and kelp edges — hoop nets at night
Best season: winter — season typically early Oct to mid-Mar
Calico Bass — 1–5 lbs. Kelp beds and boiler rocks, year-round (summer peak). Swimbaits and live anchovy. Species explorer →
White Seabass — 20–60 lbs. Kelp beds and island fronts, spring peak. Live squid is the ticket. White seabass guide →
California Halibut — 5–40 lbs. Sandy bottom near structure, spring–summer. Live bait or bounce-ball trolling. Halibut guide →
Barracuda — 3–10 lbs. Nearshore waters, spring–summer. Iron jigs and bait. Species explorer →
Rockfish — 1–8 lbs. Deep rockpiles, winter–spring. Shrimp flies and jigs. Rock cod tips →
Lingcod — 5–25 lbs. Rocky bottom, winter–spring. Big jigs and live bait. Species explorer →
Sheephead — 3–12 lbs. Rocky reefs and kelp, year-round. Shrimp and crab baits. Species explorer →
Ocean Whitefish \u2014 1\u20133 lbs. Rocky bottom around the Channel Islands, year-round. Squid strips and shrimp. Species explorer \u2192
Photos are real catches from Southern California waters. Size ranges are typical sport-caught fish; regulations change — confirm current CDFW rules before your trip.
Know what you want to chase? Plan a Trip and tell us your target species.
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