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.