UTERPacific yellowtail fishing in Central California Coast
In Central California Coast, Pacific yellowtail are around July–October but never at the peak of their run, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Warm-water years only — Monterey Bay and Morro Bay see yellowtail in El Niño summers.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Pacific yellowtail in Central California Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyAroundWarm-water years only — Monterey Bay and Morro Bay see yellowtail in El Niño summers.
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAroundWarm years: a few on the Monterey kelp.
- OctoberAround
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Pacific yellowtail near Morro Bay, Monterey, Santa Cruz
A rugged, cold coast of kelp and granite — Big Sur, Monterey Bay's submarine canyon, Half Moon Bay, the Farallones — and San Francisco Bay, San Pablo and Suisun Bays running up into the Delta.
Fish Scouter charts 1 ledge / hard bottom, 1 artificial reef spots in the Central Coast & San Francisco Bay map area — the kinds Pacific yellowtail hold on.
What to use for Pacific yellowtail
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Sardines (Pacific)Collar- or nose-hooked on a 1/0 to 3/0 hook and fly-lined for yellowtail, white seabass and calico bass; a sinker a few feet up to get it under the bait ball.
- Anchovies (Pacific)Nose- or collar-hooked on a #4 to 1/0 hook and fly-lined with no weight, or on a dropper loop; a dozen tossed over the side as chum keeps the bass and bonito up.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 60–76°F water, best at 64–72°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Pacific yellowtail in Central California Coast?
Pacific yellowtail are in Central California Coast July–October, but the calendar never marks a peak here. July: Warm-water years only — Monterey Bay and Morro Bay see yellowtail in El Niño summers.
Where do Pacific yellowtail hold in Central California Coast?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom — around Morro Bay, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Berkeley.
What is the best bait for Pacific yellowtail in Central California Coast?
Live bait: squid, sardines (pacific), anchovies (pacific). Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for Pacific yellowtail in Central California Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.
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All about Pacific yellowtail · Central Coast & San Francisco Bay, the whole year