This is Artificial Lure with your Los Angeles area fishing report for Saturday, August 23, 2025.

Sunrise hit at 6:20 this morning, and anglers were quick to get lines wet before that real SoCal heat set in. The sun sets tonight at 7:33, but with high pressure parked overhead and a heat advisory stretching all the way through today, it's best to plan your fishing session for the early morning or late afternoon. Temperatures are running 85 to 95 degrees in coastal LA—plenty warm, so bring lots of water and keep cool in the shade whenever possible. The National Weather Service and local advisories say to watch out for heat illness, especially for folks fishing the piers or beaches. Today is sunny and clear, with barely any clouds or wind, making it classic “baking on the lake” weather.

Saltwater action is centered offshore and along the piers early. Out of Marina del Rey, the New Del Mar saw 151 sand bass, 12 bonito, and 15 calico bass on yesterday’s run, with some halibut mixed in. Sculpin are also in play with 140 brought in, and the Spitfire reported solid rockfish and more sand bass. Point Vicente and Redondo Beach piers have been fairly active at first and last light, especially for mackerel, small bass, and sculpin off cut squid and anchovies. According to Marina del Rey Sportfishing, morning bites have been best, and plenty of sand bass are taking live sardine, plastics, and small chrome jigs.

On the freshwater side, local lakes showed strong numbers. Castaic Lake has been especially hot for bass, with So Cal Fish Reports and Tackle and Rod noting “excellent” fishing this week. Surface-feeding bass have been up early, smashing topwater baits—think poppers, Spooks, and Whopper Ploppers—right up till 10am before they drop deeper. After that, shift to soft plastics like Senkos in green pumpkin or shad colors, or pick up a jig and fish the rocky points. For crappie fans, small hair jigs and live minnows are drawing strikes in shaded coves. Catfish continue to bite deep on cut mackerel and dip baits, especially after sundown.

The tidal setup today is classic for late summer: early-morning low tides make for good wading around structure and access to kelp beds that are otherwise too deep at high tide. Surf anglers at Dockweiler and El Segundo are picking up corbina and barred surf perch on sand crabs and bloodworms as the tide comes in through the afternoon.

Best bets for hot spots:
- **Castaic Lake:** Launch early and throw topwater over points and near submerged brush. Schooling bass are up shallow until the sun gets high.
- **Marina Del Rey:** Book a ¾ day or half-day and target sand bass with live sardine under light tackle rigs, or toss swimbaits at kelp edges for the calicos.
- **Redondo Pier:** For a mix of mackerel, short bass, and an occasional halibut at dawn and dusk, use a sabiki rig or cast small plastics with a slow retrieve.

Best lures and baits right now:
- **Topwater lures:** Whopper Plopper, Zara Spook, poppers for early-morning bass.
- **Senkos and drop-shot plastics:** Especially in green pumpkin, natural shad, and watermelon red flake for midday.
- **Cut squid, live sardines, or anchovies:** For pier and boat anglers chasing sand bass, sculpin, and halibut.
- **Mini jigs or live crickets:** For crappie and bluegill in the local park lakes.

A reminder: keep hydrated, handle your catch quick if you’re practicing catch-and-release, and pack out all your trash. With afternoon temps heading for 90+ even on the coast, the fish are feeling the pressure too.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Los Angeles fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for more local angling advice and hot bite news straight from the water. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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