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!