Summer Sizzle: LA's Epic Bite from Barracuda to Bonito

August 9th, 2025. This is Artificial Lure with your Los Angeles fishing report, and folks, it’s that heart-of-summer bite around the Southland.

Let’s kick it off with the **tides**. We saw a low tide just after 4:00am running about 0.3 feet, rolling into a solid high tide at 10:45am peaking above 5.5 feet. There’s a secondary low at 3:42pm and a strong high late tonight around 9:50pm, cresting over 7.5 feet. For the early birds, **sunrise was 6:10am**, and the sun’ll ride till **7:45pm**. Plenty of daylight for double sessions out there, and these tide swings are ideal for both onshore and offshore action according to the Marina del Rey tide tables.

**Weather’s** classic mild L.A.—mid 60s in the morning, topping out in the low 70s, with only a gentle 9 mph breeze through the harbor. Surface temps are reported at 62 degrees off San Pedro, ideal for both bass and the pelagic crowd. Only thing to keep one eye on is the air; while we’re all good right along the coast, some communities north are seeing issues from the Canyon Fire. Double-check those smoke advisories if you’re heading inland or up toward the valley.

Now on to **what’s biting:** Offshore and breakwall anglers continue to see stellar action from **barracuda, sand bass, and calico bass**. Local charters and private boaters are pulling up pockets of yellowtail around Palos Verdes and the Catalina front side. Charter captains from 976-TUNA report yellowtail up to 18 pounds, most fish in the 8-12 pound range. Best catches have come at first light and just before dusk, especially as that tide swings high and the bait pushes in tight. There’s even talk of some late-season bonito and a couple dorado showing on kelp paddies, especially for those running out west past the Breakwater.

From the piers and jetties, **halibut** are making their annual August push. Most legal fish are coming on live smelt or anchovy—those who drag swimbaits like a 5-inch Big Hammer in smelt or chartreuse pattern early in the morning are putting fish on deck. Summer **spotted bay bass** and the reliable **croaker** bite have been heads-down steady in the harbors and back channels; natural baits like lugworm or mussel are working, but a smoke gold Gulp! Swimming Mullet will outfish bait at times.

**Hot spots:**
- **King Harbor breakwall** is hot for sand bass and the occasional legal halibut at dawn.
- **Cabrillo Pier** is all about the mixed bag: mackerel, big perch, and plenty of chance at a halibut with a well-placed bait.
- Out at **Rocky Point** off Palos Verdes, private boaters and kayakers are getting limits on bass and the odd yellowtail when the current’s pumping.

**Best baits:** For surface and aggressive fish, toss flashy metal jigs like Colt Snipers and Kastmasters, or try a blue-and-white Tady 45 for yellowtail chase. For the bottom bite—halibut or deep bass—live anchovy is king, but a 4-6” swimbait in natural or sardine pattern on a ½ oz leadhead gets the job done.

Freshwater? Not to be left behind: Bass at Castaic and Piru are harassing topwater lures at first light, with finesse plastics on shaded points working mid-morning. Live nightcrawlers and cut mackerel are pulling catfish from the downtown lakes and regional parks.

Final tip from local legends on the “Reel Talk: Daily Catch Report” podcast: **Low light and the turn of the tide** are your magic windows, and stay tight to structure—rocks, kelp edges, and pier pilings are holding the best fish right now.

Thanks for tuning in to the report. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a bite update through the summer!

This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
August ninth, twoenty twenty five. This is artificial ore with
your Los Angeles fishing report and folks, it's that heart
of summer bite around the southland. Let's kick it off
with the tides. We saw a low tide just after
four o'clock and running about zero point three feet, rolling
into a solid high tide at ten forty five am,

(00:21):
peaking above five point five feet. There's a secondary low
at three forty two pm and a strong high late
tonight around nine to fifty pm, cresting over seven point
five feet For the early birds. Sunrise was six ten
am and the sun will ride till seven forty five pm.
Plenty of daylight for double sessions out there, and these

(00:42):
tideswings are ideal for both on shore and offshore action.
According to the Marina del Rey Tide Tables, Weather's classic
mild la mid sixties in the morning, topping out in
the low seventies with only a gentle nine millimeters through
the harbor. Surface temps are reported at sixty two degrees

(01:02):
off San Pedro, ideal for both bass and the pelagic crowd.
Only thing to keep one eye on is the air.
While we're all good right along the coast. Some communities
north are seeing issues from the Canyon fire. Double check
those smoke advisories if you're heading inland or up toward
the valley. Now on to off what's biting Offshore and

(01:25):
breakwall anglers continue to see stellar action from Barracuda sand
bass and Calico bass. Local charters and private boaters are
pulling up pockets of yellowtail around Polo's Verdice and the
Catalina front side. Charter captains from nine to seven to
six dash tun a report yellowtail up to eighteen pounds,

(01:46):
most fish in the eight twelve pound range. Best catches
have come at first light and just before dusk, especially
as that tide swings high and the bait pushes in tight.
There's even talk of some weight seasoned benita and a
couple dorado showing on celt patties, especially for those running
out west past the breakwater from the piers and jetties.

(02:08):
Halibit are making their annual August push. Most legal fish
are coming on live smelt or anchovy. Those who drag
swim baits like a five inch big hammer in smelt
or chartreuse pattern early in the morning are putting fish
on deck summer, spotted bay bass and the reliable scroker
bite have been heads down steady in the harbors and

(02:30):
back channels. Natural baits like lugworm or mussel are working,
but a smoke old gope swimming mule will outfish bait
at times. Pot spots, King Harbor breakwall is hot for
sand bass and the occasional legal halibit at dawn. Cabrillo
Pier is all about the mixed bag mackerel, big perch,

(02:53):
and plenty of chance at a halibit with a well
placed bait out at Rocky Point off Palos Verdes, private
boaters and kayakers are getting limits on bass and the
odd yellowtail when the current's pump in. Best baits for
surface and aggressive fish toss flashy metal jigs like Colt
Snipers and Castmaster, or try a blue and white Tady

(03:15):
forty five for yellowtail. Chase. For the bottom bite halibit
or deep bass, live anchovie is king, but a four
to six inch swin date in natural or sardine pattern
on a half hour's lead heead gets the job done.
Fresh water not to be left behind. Bassic, castaic and
pure are harassing topwater lores at first light with finesse

(03:37):
plastics on shaded points, working mid morning, Live nightcrawlers and
cut mackerel are pulling catfish from the downtown lakes and
regional parks. Final tip from local legends on the Real
Talk Daily Catch Report podcast. Low Light and the Turn
of the Tide are your magic windows and stay tight
to structure rocks, kelp edges and peer pilings are holding

(03:59):
the best fish right now. Thanks for tuning in to
the report. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss
a bite update through the summer. This has been a
quiet please production. For more check out Quiet please dot
ai