As the Southern California fishing scene cools into late fall and winter, savvy anglers shift their strategy. The surface bite slows, but the bottom fishing action is heating up — and the logs show it.
What’s Working Right Now
From November 1–9, the most dominant catches were:
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Rockfish: Over 2,200 caught across all trips.
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Sculpin: Reliable numbers, with 73 caught on 1/9/25.
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Sheephead & Whitefish: Both species showed steady catches on 3/4 and full day trips
Top Techniques
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Dropper Loop Rig: The king of cold-water rigs. Use 8–10 oz weights to stay near the bottom.
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Live or Cut Squid: Highly effective for targeting whitefish, sheephead, and rockfish.
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Jigs with Glow: Effective for lingcod or vermilion rockfish in deeper water.
Bonus Tip: Keep an eye on the full-day trips. These offer access to deeper reefs where fall/winter fish are more concentrated.