LA's home water: a broad, sandy crescent from Malibu to the Palos Verdes kelp. The flats make it a premier halibut drift fishery, the summer 'Short Bank' barracuda bite is a local institution, and white seabass haunt the kelp edges for those who put in the time.
Region: California · CA. Coordinates 33.9600, -118.5500.
This zone reads from NOAA CO-OPS tide station 9410840 — Santa Monica, CA — for tide predictions and observed water level, with wind, gusts, air temperature and marine warnings from Open-Meteo and the National Weather Service. Water temperature comes from the same station's thermometer.
Every reading is fetched when you open the page, so nothing here is a published forecast: the tide timeline covers the next 48 hours with highs, lows and moon phase, and the bite outlook scores the current tide stage, water temperature, wind and pressure for the species you pick. Open the console to watch this water on one screen, or see it in context on the coastal map.
For recreation only — not for navigation. In an emergency call 911 or hail the Coast Guard on VHF 16.
Catalog species that hold in this zone: Calico Bass, California Halibut, California Yellowtail, Barred Sand Bass, White Seabass, Pacific Bonito, Rockfish.
| Season | Species present |
|---|---|
| spring | California Halibut, Rockfish |
| summer | Calico Bass, White Seabass, Pacific Bonito, California Halibut |
| fall | California Yellowtail, White Seabass, Pacific Bonito |
| winter | California Halibut, Barred Sand Bass |
Regional targets beyond the catalog: Barracuda (the Short Bank, summer).
What to tie on: 14 lures and baits in the lure & bait database are proven for the species that hold in Santa Monica Bay, and the smart lure tool narrows them to today's conditions on this water.
Spring pairs rockfish on the deeper reefs — seasonal closure applies, check current CA rules — with the first good halibut drifts of the year on the flats. Summer is the bay at full song: calicos in the kelp, white seabass for the dawn-patrol crowd, and the Short Bank barracuda bite that fills sportboat decks. Fall brings yellowtail through on the warm water and keeps the seabass honest. Winter slows to halibut and sand bass on the structure — pick your weather windows.
Base camps and launch areas inside this zone:
Running these waters? Pull the official NOAA chart before you go — it opens centered on this zone. Check the regulations for Santa Monica Bay for current size and bag limits, and run the launch-prep checklist before you leave the ramp.
No listed charter calls Santa Monica Bay home port yet — the charters & guides directory covers nearby waters, and captains who run this zone can list their business.
The what's-biting report and the angler reports on this page are sample content, clearly labeled as a demo in the app — posting and replies activate with the community account system. Live tide, water temperature, wind and warning data are real and pull from NOAA and Open-Meteo on every visit.