UTERBarred sand bass fishing in Southern California
In Southern California, barred sand bass peak May–September and are around year-round, spawning in June–August, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: First schools on Huntington Flats and the Silver Strand.
Moving deeper.
Barred sand bass in Southern California, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilArrivingSand bass move up onto the flats.
- MayPeakFirst schools on Huntington Flats and the Silver Strand.
- JuneSpawningSpawning aggregations on the sand flats — Huntington Flats, Silver Strand, Long Beach breakwater; plastics on a dart head bounced on the bottom.
- JulySpawningPeak spawn — the classic summer half-day boat fishery.
- AugustSpawningStill on the flats; the breakwaters at night.
- SeptemberPeakPost-spawn fish scatter onto structure.
- OctoberLeavingMoving deeper.
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish barred sand bass near San Diego, Dana Point, Long Beach
A sheltered bight of kelp forests, sand flats and harbors, with the Channel Islands, Catalina and San Clemente 20–60 miles out and the offshore banks (Tanner, Cortes, the 9-Mile, the 43) beyond. The long-range sportboat fleet out of San Diego is its heart.
Fish Scouter charts 227 wreck, 76 artificial reef spots in the Southern California Bight map area — the kinds barred sand bass hold on.
What to use for barred sand bass
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- 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.
- 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.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 58–74°F water, best at 64–72°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch barred sand bass in Southern California?
Peak season is May–September, with fish spawning in June–August (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Barred sand bass are here year-round. May: First schools on Huntington Flats and the Silver Strand.
Where do barred sand bass hold in Southern California?
Look on grass flat, artificial reef, channel edge, fishing pier, wreck, dock / pilings — around San Diego, Dana Point, Long Beach, Marina del Rey, Oxnard, Santa Barbara.
What is the best bait for barred sand bass in Southern California?
Live bait: squid, anchovies (pacific), sardines (pacific). Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for barred sand bass in Southern California?
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 barred sand bass · Southern California Bight, the whole year