Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Los Angeles fishing report for Wednesday, May 7th, 2025.

The bite's been pretty solid around LA waters this past week. Let me break it down for you.

Weather's looking typical for early May - we've got morning temps in the low 60s warming up to the mid-70s by afternoon. Winds are moderate at 5-10 knots, which is manageable for most boats. Sunrise was at 5:58 AM and sunset will be at 7:42 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours on the water.

The rockfish action continues to be red hot! Marina Del Rey boats reported impressive hauls, with the New Del Mar bringing in 425 rockfish on a half-day trip with 76 anglers on May 4th. The Betty-O scored 120 rockfish with just 18 anglers. If you're looking to target halibut, the Spitfire out of Marina Del Rey landed 9 nice ones, plus some lingcod and whitefish.

Down in Long Beach, the Victory was crushing it with 330 rockfish, 165 sculpin, and a mix of sheephead and whitefish. San Pedro boats are also doing well with rockfish, red snapper, and even some calico bass.

For the inshore crowd, bass fishing has picked up as water temps increase. Jerkbaits are producing fish up to 3.5 pounds. Senkos and dropshot rigs with Roboworms are working well around structure.

Best baits right now? Can't go wrong with PowerBait or nightcrawlers for trout. For the rockfish and bottom species, squid and anchovies are your best bet. Artificial lure-wise (hey, that's me!), try swimbaits in the 5-7 inch range or iron jigs in blue/white or mint patterns for yellowtail if you're heading offshore.

Hot spots this week: Marina Del Rey is on fire for rockfish. For halibut, try the sandy areas just outside King Harbor. Bass anglers should check out the structure around Long Beach breakwall. If you're shore fishing, Cabrillo Pier has been producing decent catches of mackerel and the occasional halibut.

The tides this week are moderate with a high around 10:15 AM and a low at 4:30 PM. The best bite has been on the incoming tide, especially for halibut and bass.

One last tip from a local: With the wind picking up in the afternoons, get your fishing in early if you can. The morning bite has been stronger anyway, particularly for the rockfish crowd. And don't forget to stop by your local tackle shop for fresh bait - those guys always know what's working day to day.

Tight lines, folks! This is Artificial Lure signing off until next week. Remember - a bad day fishing is still better than a good day at work!

Howdy folks, Artificial Lure here with your Los Angeles fishing report for this fine Monday morning, May 5th, 2025.

The early bird gets the worm, and right now the sun's just peeking over the horizon at around 6:00 AM, with sunset expected about 7:30 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours to wet your lines.

Weather-wise, we're looking at mild conditions today, though we've been dealing with some murky water issues lately. That red tide that hit Oceanside last week has been affecting water clarity all along the coast, and the recent beach sand pumping operations aren't helping matters.

Despite these challenges, there's still action to be had! Just this past Saturday, May 3rd, we saw some decent catches on a 2-hour inshore charter out of LA. The sheepshead fishery, which reopened on March 1st, is starting to pick up after a slow start due to poor weather conditions earlier in the spring.

Speaking of recent catches, white seabass limits have been reported on SoCal Fish Reports, which is promising news. Bass fishing has been described as "prenominal" according to locals posting their catches online.

For you surfcasters, spotfin croaker numbers are down from their April peak around the piers, but they're still worth targeting in the cleaner water patches. Halibut are making occasional appearances mid-pier, so don't sleep on those flatties.

Bait has been scarce lately, with mackerel schools noticeably absent around the piers. My recommendation? Hit the bait shops before heading out, or better yet, bring your artificial arsenal. Slow-pitch jigging has been producing for the offshore crowd, especially for those targeting the trophy bluefin that have been hanging around.

Hot spots to consider: For inshore action, try Marina Del Rey or Redondo Beach where water clarity tends to be better. If you're looking to get offshore, boats out of San Pedro have been finding cleaner water and better action about 3-5 miles out.

For you pier rats, Oceanside has been slow with its rebuilding project and murky water, but Santa Monica Pier might be worth a shot as it's been less affected by the recent water conditions.

Tide-wise, we're looking at a moderate range today with high tide at mid-morning and again late evening, with a decent outgoing flow that should help clear some of the murk.

Remember folks, when the water's dirty, go with scented baits or lures in bright colors that push more water. Gulp! products have been outfishing live bait in these conditions.

That's all for now, anglers. This is Artificial Lure signing off until next time. Tight lines and bent rods to ya!

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Sunday morning fishing report for May 4th, 2025, around Los Angeles.

The sun's just coming up at 6:03 AM and we'll have daylight until about 7:42 PM tonight, giving you plenty of time on the water. Weather's looking mighty fine with temps in the mid-70s and a gentle breeze from the southwest around 5-7 knots. We've got a high tide at 10:23 AM reaching about 4.8 feet, followed by a low at 4:47 PM at 0.6 feet – perfect timing for those afternoon sessions.

Let me tell you, the inshore action has been steady this week, especially for the bass crowd. Sand bass and calicos are showing in good numbers around the marina jetties and rocky points. Most folks are scoring with swimbaits and dropshots, but if you're looking for quality fish, jerkbaits have been the ticket lately. Those 3-4 pounders seem to be hitting them hard.

The striper bite is absolutely rolling right now! Night fishing from shore has been particularly productive, with anglers throwing jerkbaits, swimbaits and even using cut bait. Most fish are running 3-4 pounds, but some bigger models are in the mix. After dark, there's been some violent topwater action too – nothing like that explosion in the darkness!

If you're a sharker, things have been a bit slow at Oceanside due to some murky water conditions and red tide. They're even pumping sand onto the beach which has affected water clarity. Most catches have been limited to bat rays, thornbacks, and a few shovelnose guitarfish. The prime shark spots at the end remain closed during rebuilding.

Hot spots this weekend? Marina del Rey jetties are firing for the bass crew. The dam area at Silverwood is seeing good surface boils for stripers. Cleghorn's still producing some stocked rainbows if you're targeting trout – Micetails and PowerBait are your friends there.

Bait-wise, the usual suspects are working: live anchovies for the bass, cut mackerel for the bigger predators. For the artificial crowd, 4-inch swimbaits in anchovy patterns have been deadly, along with dropshot rigs using 4-inch worms in watermelon or brown. Those hunting bigger fish should stick with the jerkbaits – they're consistently producing quality bites.

One last tip from your pal Artificial Lure – with the water warming up, start thinking about dawn and dusk sessions. The bite's been noticeably better during these transition periods.

Tight lines, Los Angeles! See you on the water!

Artificial Lure here with your Los Angeles fishing report for Saturday, May 3, 2025.

The weather around Los Angeles this morning is shaping up fair after a run of unsettled days last week. Expect mild temperatures in the mid-60s to low 70s with some patchy marine layer early, burning off to sunshine by late morning. Winds are light, picking up slightly in the afternoon. Sunrise was at 5:54 AM and sunset is set for 7:43 PM, giving you a long window for a bite.

Tidal conditions are in our favor today with a moderate morning high tide peaking mid-morning, easing off toward a lower tide into the early afternoon. That means an early start should put you right on the fish during the best part of the tide swing.

Inshore has been steady, with a strong showing from sand bass and calico bass, especially around the marina jetties and rocky points. Anglers are reporting excellent action on both plastics and live bait, with swimbaits and jerkbaits in green and brown patterns doing the trick. For bait, live anchovies and sardines have been the top producers, and cut squid is a solid backup.

Over on the piers, surfperch are keeping folks busy. Bloodworms and sand crabs are the go-to baits, and light gear gets the most bites. There’s also been a modest run of halibut, with some up to 24 pounds caught recently around sandy holes and near river mouths. Fish slow with a Carolina rig and a live smelt for your best shot at a flattie.

Hot news from the islands: yellowtail are active, especially on Catalina and the nearby kelp beds. Most fish are coming in around 15 to 25 pounds, with a few larger models in the mix. Surface irons in mint or blue/white patterns are working, as well as live mackerel slow-trolled near the kelp lines. If you can get out there, this is the ticket for a real tug-of-war.

Trout remain a target in local lakes, especially after recent stockings. The bite has been solid on dough baits and small Kastmasters, and a few browns over 6 pounds were reported this past week, caught on scatter raps and spoons.

For hotspots today, try the Cabrillo Beach jetty for bass and halibut action, or head to Venice Pier for a shot at perch and some incidental croaker. If you can make the run, Catalina Island is your best bet for big yellowtail right now.

Remember to check regulations if you’re targeting rockfish or sheephead, as closures and limits shift in spring. Tight lines and good luck out there—today’s shaping up to be a classic SoCal fishing day!

Artificial Lure, signing off.

Artificial Lure here with your Friday fishing report from Los Angeles, May 2nd, 2025.

We’re rolling into early May with a light marine layer sticking around, giving us that classic SoCal morning haze. Today’s sunrise hit around 5:57 AM and sunset will fall just after 7:41 PM, so you’ve got solid hours of daylight to work with. Weather is mild, hovering in the low 60s at dawn, warming to mid-70s by the afternoon, and gentle onshore breezes keeping it comfortable. The tide’s on a good cycle—a mid-morning high followed by a slow outgoing, meaning prime fishing windows are early morning and late afternoon.

Fish activity is picking up after a slow patch through April. Reports from local boats and the piers say halibut are making an appearance again. Most caught have been undersized, but a couple of legals came in around Redondo and Marina del Rey just yesterday. Bass fishing has turned on, especially around structure—spotted bay bass and sand bass are biting well, particularly on plastics.

Rockfish and ocean whitefish counts remain solid out of local landings, with boats heading out to deeper reefs pulling up a mixed bag. Inshore, perch are still on the chew close to the surf line, though the water’s a bit murky from recent run-off. Mackerel action is slow, and the big sharks and rays that wintered here are tapering off. If you’re soaking bait at night, expect mostly bat rays and the odd shovelnose guitarfish[1][2][3].

Best lures for the bay and harbors are paddle-tail swimbaits in natural baitfish colors, and drop-shot rigs with small plastics for bass. For halibut, white or pearl flukes and small jerkbaits are producing. Anglers bottom fishing have luck drifting cut squid and sardine strips. Fresh mussel or bloodworms are turning up surf perch. If you’re targeting rockfish offshore, nothing beats strips of squid or gulp grubs bounced along the bottom[1][3].

For those looking for hot spots, check out the breakwall and kelp lines near Cabrillo Beach for bass and occasional halibut, or hop on one of the local sport boats out of San Pedro or Marina del Rey for a crack at rockfish and whitefish. Shore anglers, don’t overlook Dockweiler State Beach for perch and halibut on the morning high tide[1][2].

That’s the scoop for today—tight lines out there, and I’ll see you on the water.

Good morning, anglers. This is Artificial Lure with your Los Angeles area fishing report for April 30, 2025. We have a classic SoCal spring day ahead—skies are mostly clear, with high temps pushing to the upper 60s, and a gentle onshore breeze picking up through the afternoon. Sunrise hit us at 6:01 am and sunset tonight is at 7:37 pm.

Looking at the tide, we’re seeing a moderate swing today. The early morning low was around 2:30 am, and we have a solid mid-morning incoming tide peaking just after 8:30 am. Afternoon brings a slow-moving ebb that should produce good fishing right through the early evening. That incoming tide window this morning is usually prime time for surf species and inshore gamefish.

Inshore, the action has held steady. Anglers working from Santa Monica down to Dockweiler are reporting a strong bite on barred surfperch, especially near structure. On the artificial front, 110-size jerkbaits in baitfish and glow patterns have been top picks, especially for anglers targeting halibut. If you’re running bait, lugworms and sand crabs are classic choices, but nothing beats a small live smelt or an anchovy if you can net one right on the sand. Halibut have been coming up more often in the past week, with a few legal-sized catches reported each morning on artificials clipped to a 3-4 foot fluorocarbon topshot. Stripers have been a rarer catch but keep your eyes peeled, especially during low light periods[4].

Up in the Marina del Rey area, spotted bay bass have been active. Local regulars have been getting them to bite on 3 to 4 inch soft plastics. Try a Zoom Fluke or Dimiki micro bait rigged weedless on a Texas rig or wobble head. Work it slowly with occasional pops and long pauses—a method that’s been slaying them lately. Ultralight spinning setups with 8 to 10 pound fluorocarbon leaders work best[3].

If you’re feeling like going bigger, leopard shark fishing has picked up along the sandy stretches near El Segundo and Manhattan Beach. Night sessions on fresh-cut mackerel or surf perch chunks on a Carolina rig with wire leader have been pulling in some solid fish[4].

Hot spots for today: El Porto Beach is hot for surfperch and the odd halibut, and the north Jetty at Marina del Rey is holding good numbers of spotted bay bass. Both spots fish best on the incoming tide.

For lures, stick to natural colors—MM1, oxblood, and anything resembling local baitfish have been getting the most bites lately. Bring a mix of jerkbaits and soft plastics, and don’t be afraid to fish slow in the morning chill[2][3][4].

That’s the bite for today. Stay safe, tighten those knots, and may your next cast hook a personal best.

This is Artificial Lure with today’s Los Angeles fishing report, fresh for April 23, 2025.

We’re finally shaking off those late-spring winds, with today’s weather forecast calling for mild breezes and a high around the mid-70s. Skies are mostly clear, making it a perfect day to hit the water. Sunrise came at 6:13 AM, and sunset will be at 7:34 PM, so there’s plenty of daylight for both the early risers and the folks who like to fish into the evening. As for tides, we started the morning on a low but incoming tide, with the bigger push happening midday, which should get the fish moving and feeding.

The past few days have seen good activity out of the local landings. The boats fishing out of San Pedro and Long Beach are reporting solid action on bottom species, with rockfish, sculpin, sheepshead, and whitefish making up the bulk of catches. Party boats like the Pursuit are finding steady success at Catalina Island, with bonus halibut and the odd yellowtail showing up for lucky anglers. The Monte Carlo's half-day trips have been stacking up sacks with mostly quality rockfish and the occasional bass when they move inshore[5][1].

Closer to shore, the inshore bite has picked up with the warmer water. Calico and sand bass are biting in the kelp beds, especially around Palos Verdes and Point Fermin. Sculpin and a few keeper halibut are coming on squid or sardine near structure and sandy pockets.

Offshore, the yellowtail have been elusive but not impossible. Your best shot is still around Catalina and occasionally on the deeper flats and rock piles if you’re willing to put in the time. The surface bite is spotty, but if you find birds working, get a surface iron or yoyo iron in the water quick. For the rockfish and heavier species, dropper loop rigs with squid or sardines are the ticket. For bass and shallow water, stick to leadheads with plastics in natural baitfish colors or try a slow-rolled swimbait along the bottom.

Top baits right now are live or fresh-dead squid, sardines, and mackerel. For artificial lures, yoyo irons in blue and chrome, or plastics in brown or rootbeer, have been producing.

For hot spots, check out the western edge of the Horseshoe Kelp for bass and sculpin action, and the east end of Catalina for a shot at yellowtail and halibut, especially as that tide fills in midday.

If you’re heading out, bring a variety of tackle, as conditions are changing and the fish are spread across the water column. Stay mobile, pay attention to the tidal swings, and you’ll have a great shot at an early season mixed bag.

Tight lines,
Artificial Lure

Name’s Artificial Lure and here’s today’s fishing report from Los Angeles, Monday, April 21, 2025.

The weather is setting up nicely for fishing today. Overnight lows were in the mid-50s, climbing up to about 71 degrees later in the afternoon. Skies are mostly sunny, with some high clouds moving in. Light westerly breeze near the coast will keep things comfortable, but pay attention to the afternoon winds if you’re planning to stay out late.

First light hit at 6:13 AM and sunset will be at 7:32 PM, so there’s a long window to get after it on the water.

The tidal swing is mellow today. We saw an early morning low and it’ll be climbing to a mid-morning high right around 10, then dropping off again in the afternoon. These medium tides are prime for surf and harbor action—fish tend to feed hard on the move.

Fish activity in the region has been solid. Inshore, halibut are being caught fairly close to the beaches, especially around Dockweiler and Playa del Rey. Keep an eye out for calico and sand bass lurking around the rocky spots in the breakwaters and kelp edges. A few striped bass reports have trickled in from Long Beach Harbor as well.

For surf fishing, perch are showing up in good numbers, especially during the morning high tide. And for the shark folks, leopard sharks have been active in the sandy stretches near Redondo, with a few nice catches reported recently.

Anglers are scoring halibut and bass using jerkbaits rigged with 3-4 foot fluorocarbon leaders directly to their main line. The Daiwa Salt Pro Minnow and Yo-Zuri Hydro Monster Shot in patterns that match local baitfish (think green mackerel and yellowfin croaker) are top producers right now. For bait, live or fresh dead anchovy, smelt, and small sardine fished on sliding rigs are taking most of the halibut from the beach and jetties. Perch are hitting sand crabs or Gulp! camo worms, and for the sharks, nothing beats a fresh mackerel chunk on a Carolina or wire leader rig[2][4].

Bass guys fishing the harbor mouths are doing well with 4 inch Senkos in oxblood and Aaron’s Magic colors, either weightless or with light Texas rigs[1]. Grab a few of these colors if you’re working the rocks or eelgrass.

Hot spots to check today: Dockweiler and Playa del Rey beaches for surf perch and halibut early, and the Long Beach breakwall and Cabrillo Mole for calico and sand bass as the tide fills in.

That’s your April 21 report. Good luck, tight lines, and if you catch a big one—send in the photo. This is Artificial Lure, signing out.

Artificial Lure here with your Los Angeles fishing report for Sunday April 20th 2025. We’ve got a beautiful spring day shaping up along the SoCal coast. The weather this morning is cool with light breezes, and highs should reach into the mid 60s by afternoon. Sunrise was at 6:15am with sunset coming in at 7:35pm, so you’ve got plenty of daylight to chase that trophy.

Tides are moderate for LA today. The morning high peaked around 5:30am, dropping to a minus low near noon. Early risers working the dropping tide had the edge, especially for surf and pier action.

Fish activity has been picking up with the warming water. Inshore, anglers are reporting good catches of California halibut, barred surfperch, yellowfin croaker, and the occasional legal white seabass. The halibut bite has been solid especially near the mouths of Ballona Creek and the jetty at Playa del Rey. Much of the action is coming on artificials. If you’re tossing lures, jerkbaits and hardbaits like the Daiwa Salt Pro Minnow and Yo-Zuri Hydro Monster Shot in baitfish colors—think green mackerel or yellowfin croaker—are scoring well when worked slow and close to the sand near structure or troughs. For plastics, motor oil and oxblood colored grubs and swimbaits are staples for perch and croaker, fished on a drop shot or Carolina rig. Local anglers also still swear by MM1-3 Arron Magic and oxblood soft plastics for bass and perch, especially in deeper troughs or around jetties.

If you like fresh bait or want to increase your odds for halibut, go with live smelt or cut sardine. For surfperch, sand crabs, bloodworms, or gulp camo sandworms do the trick. For leopard sharks after dark, chunk mackerel or croaker is the ticket—rig on heavy wire with circle hooks for easy release.

Hot spots today include Dockweiler and Venice beaches for surfperch and halibut, and the Santa Monica Pier for croaker, perch, and the chance at halibut as well. Early morning and last light into the evening will be the best bite windows with the changing tide.

In short, the bite is on the upswing, and this is classic spring fishing in Los Angeles. Travel light, match the hatch with your lures, and don’t be afraid to move until you find feeding fish. Tight lines from Artificial Lure—I’ll catch you out there.

Artificial Lure here with your Los Angeles fishing report for Saturday, April 19, 2025. Spring has definitely found its groove in SoCal, and the bite is looking up just in time for the weekend. Light winds and favorable tides should have anglers eager to hit the water, whether you’re heading out from the piers or taking the boat offshore. Expect mostly clear skies, with temps rising into the mid to upper 70s by midday. Sunrise was at 6:17 AM with sunset coming at 7:32 PM, giving us a nice long window for all types of fishing action today[5][1].

Tidal action is solid this morning, with an early high tide rolling in just after sunup. We’ll see a slow drop through the late morning, which should keep the inshore waters active and the bait moving. That’s prime time for surf fishing and for hitting the local harbors.

Let’s talk fish. Inshore, the focus is on calico and sand bass, with some nice halibut reported both in the bays and along sandy stretches from Dockweiler down to Long Beach. Kelp bed edges and structure around Palos Verdes have been the ticket for quality bass, and the halibut bite is picking up closer to the beaches, especially on the outgoing tide[1][5].

On the bait front, anchovy and sardine have been the go-to, especially for drift rigs and drop-shotting. If you’re working artificials, swimbaits in sardine patterns and 4-inch plastics in motor oil or watermelon colors have been productive for both bass and halibut. For the surf crowd, Carolina rigs with sand crabs or cut squid are getting spotted bay bass and the odd corbina.

There’s been some chatter about early-season barracuda showing closer to shore, particularly around the Redondo Harbor wall and below the PV cliffs, so keep a chrome or white jerkbait handy. For the pier folks, mackerel are cruising in good numbers, and soaking a chunk of cut bait or tossing small metal jigs should keep you busy.

If freshwater is more your style, local lakes like Castaic and Pyramid have been recently stocked with trout and are also producing some solid largemouth action on soft plastics[4]. Lake Casitas and Lake Jennings are also holding trout and panfish close to the banks.

Hot spots for today: try the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier for a mix of bass, halibut, and mackerel, or make the run to King Harbor in Redondo for a little bit of everything. For a quieter scene, the back bays near Cabrillo or the mouth of Ballona Creek are sleeper picks, especially for flatfish.

That’s the bite for today in LA. Keep an eye on those tides, switch up your baits if things slow down, and enjoy a beautiful day on the water. Tight lines!