California halibut fishing in Southern California

In Southern California, California halibut peak April–August and are around year-round, spawning in May–June, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Drifting live anchovy or sardine over sand in 20–60 ft off Ventura and Malibu.

1. JanuaryAroundAround in the bays — slow drifts in Mission Bay and San Diego Bay.
2. FebruaryAroundSurf perch peak; halibut start moving shallow. Perch on every sandy beach; drift the bays for early halibut on a warm afternoon.
3. MarchArrivingHalibut move onto the shallow sand to spawn — Santa Monica Bay, Ventura flats.
4. AprilPeakDrifting live anchovy or sardine over sand in 20–60 ft off Ventura and Malibu.
5. MaySpawningSpawning on the shallow sand — swimbaits from the surf at dawn, the bays on the incoming.
6. JuneSpawningPeak shallow-water halibut; Huntington Flats and the San Diego bays.
7. JulyPeakStill shallow; drift live bait along the edges of the bay channels.
8. AugustPeakGood on the sand edges next to kelp.
9. SeptemberAroundMoving deeper.
10. OctoberAroundLast of the pelagics; calicos fat for the fall. Tuna until the first cold north swell; kelp bass and halibut on the warm days; rockfish still open.
11. NovemberAroundFall rockfish and lingcod; surf perch return to the troughs. Island rock piles for reds and lings before the winter closure; perch as the swells reshape the beaches.
12. DecemberAroundSurf perch peak; the bays for halibut; winter bluefin some years. Perch in the troughs; slow drifts in the bays; long-range boats if the bluefin stayed.

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.

• 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.

• Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
• Hook#1–4/0
• Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
• Braid10–30 lb

Feeds in 56–72°F water, best at 60–68°F.

All about California halibut · Southern California Bight, the whole year