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.