California · named fishing ground
Cortez Bank
A remote seamount that nearly breaks the surface off Southern California — yellowtail, white seabass and tuna over the pinnacles.
What's biting here — right now
California Yellowtail100
In season (Jul)
SST 67°F in the prime band (64–73°F prime)
Charted 180 ft suits this species (49–295 ft ideal)
Temperature break nearby (1.4°C across ~15 nm)
Better near kelp paddies offshore, high spots and island ridges if you can find it
Surface iron or live sardines at kelp paddies and high spots.
White Seabass91
In season (Jul)
SST 67°F in the prime band (57–68°F prime)
Charted 180 ft suits this species (33–164 ft ideal)
Better near structure or edges if you can find it
Live squid over squid nests and kelp edges; dawn and grey light.
California Halibut72
In season (Jul)
SST 67°F in the prime band (57–68°F prime)
Charted 180 ft suits this species (16–131 ft ideal)
Drift live bait or swimbaits over sand flats adjacent to structure.
Pacific Bluefin Tuna16
In season (Jul)
SST 67°F in the prime band (61–70°F prime)
Charted 180 ft marginal for this species (328–6560 ft ideal)
Temperature break nearby (1.4°C across ~15 nm)
Glide the boat to foamers and sonar marks; flat-falls at night.
Albacore14
In season (Jul)
SST 67°F workable (59–66°F prime)
Charted 180 ft marginal for this species (328–6560 ft ideal)
Temperature break nearby (1.4°C across ~15 nm)
In NOAA-designated Essential Fish Habitat
Troll jigs at 6-8 kt on the warm side of clear blue-water breaks.
Chinook (King) Salmon6
In season (Jul)
SST 67°F outside preference (48–57°F prime)
Charted 180 ft suits this species (66–295 ft ideal)
Temperature break nearby (1.4°C across ~15 nm)
Downrigger flasher + spoon near bait balls along current seams and rips.
Calico Bass (Kelp Bass)5
In season (Jul)
SST 67°F in the prime band (59–72°F prime)
Charted 180 ft marginal for this species (13–82 ft ideal)
No charted structure within 250 m — scored cautiously (charts don't mark all hard bottom)
Swimbaits and weedless plastics through kelp stringers and boiler rocks.
Lingcod5
In season (Jul)
SST 67°F outside preference (45–55°F prime)
Charted 180 ft suits this species (66–361 ft ideal)
No charted structure within 250 m — scored cautiously (charts don't mark all hard bottom)
Large jigs or swimbaits pounded on rockpiles and pinnacles.
Rockfish (complex)5
In season (Jul)
SST 67°F outside preference (45–57°F prime)
Charted 180 ft suits this species (66–492 ft ideal)
No charted structure within 250 m — scored cautiously (charts don't mark all hard bottom)
Shrimp flies or jigs over rocky reefs; check depth limits for the complex.
Live habitat-envelope scoring at this exact cell — SST, charted depth, charted structure and seabed, NOAA-designated habitat. The same engine and cards as tapping the spot in Fish mode.
Water temperature — last 10 weeks
2026-05-13 → 2026-07-22 · 62–67°F
Best months here
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Species in season by month for California (from the knowledge base). In season now: Albacore, California Halibut, White Seabass, California Yellowtail, Calico Bass (Kelp Bass), Lingcod, Rockfish (complex), Pacific Bluefin Tuna, Chinook (King) Salmon.
Other grounds in California
Tanner Bank
California Yellowtail · Rockfish (complex) · Calico Bass (Kelp Bass)
Nine Mile Bank
California Yellowtail · Calico Bass (Kelp Bass) · Yellowfin Tuna
The Farallon Islands
Rockfish (complex) · Lingcod · Chinook (King) Salmon
Monterey Submarine Canyon
Chinook (King) Salmon · Rockfish (complex) · Albacore
Reuse welcome with attribution. Weekly regional report: California · Feed: RSS · all US grounds: /fishing.