Wow, this February and March are very much like last year and that’s rather unusual.   Warm water has invaded the coastline and fishing has been exceptionally good this year as it was last March.  Striper, huge barred surfperch, yellowfin croaker and many corbina have been caught in just the last week.

Winter storms often form in Alaska and come down the west coast like a freight train…bringing with them cold and turbid water.  This year, like last, is different.  We have had a series of storms, that rather than skirting the west coast have dropped directly south (to just above Hawaii) and them come directly into Southern California.  Combine this with a number or long-range ground swells from storms in the South Pacific and you have a “boxing” effect upon the CA bight that holds warm water near shore and boxes out the cold-water storm swells from the north.

Already we have been seeing sand crabs for weeks.  With reports of micro crabs in San Diego, dime-size in Orange County and the South Bay…and even bigger sand crabs to the north.  Ahead of us we have the scheduled grunion runs of March, but the truth be told…we have already had two grunion runs. with one happening just this weekend.  Spring, although it may be a false spring, is here already.

March is traditionally a slower month with numerous days of storms and wind to slow surf fishing.  I do expect to see more storm and wind activity this month. but because of the moderated water temperatures. I do expect the surf fishing to not only remain good but actually begin to improve.  Both grunion, sand crabs and some really great tide periods will help to make that a reality this month.

See everyone at the show!

Surf Fishing Seminar

Friday 5pm on the Main Stage

Come by the Your Saltwater Guide booth (912) and Visit

SEE YOU THERE!

Take care of these big, barred surfperch: Most of the largest barred surfperch are females and are now spawning. If you are not planning on keeping your perch and will be catch and releasing, please be sure to wet your hands, handle them carefully and place them (not throw them into the surf) back into the water carefully. If they do have their babies on the sand congratulations. Because barred surfperch give live birth. just pick up the baby fish and place them too, back into the water. This will ensure that those biggest females keep pumping out babies so we may catch them again.

Have a great month at the beach and please send me your fish reports to: fishthesurf@mail.com

Water Contact Advisory: Ash from the Palisades Fire (and others), as well as runoff, will increase the risk of contamination in the waters from El Segundo to Malibu.  Water contact in these areas is discouraged.

Santa Barbara:  Building swells have produced some dirty water in the SB bight but good perch fishing continues in Goleta from Campus point to Hope Ranch. The big news here is the sand crabs now showing on the beach and the sighting of several corbina along the East Beach area. Halibut fishing has picked up with a legal or two caught along Goleta on flukes, hardbaits and swimbaits.

Tackle/bait in SB: Hook, Line and Sinker

Ventura:  Carpinteria continues to kick out some big, barred surfperch. Successful anglers have been fishing south of the campground and down the coast past the oil pier with grubs, hardbaits and lug worms.  Look for sand crabs to begin to show up here along the main beach in front of the State Park campground.

Ventura continues to kick out barred surfperch along with a couple stripers near fresh water outlets using hardbaits like LC and BattleStar hardbaits.

Tackle/bait in Ventura:  Hyun’s Tackle

Malibu:  The open stretch of beach from Leo Carrillo to Pt. Mugu has produced more 15+ inch barred perch with anglers fishing mussel, worms and grubs near where rock structure meets sand. Calico bass fishing remains steady just south of Leo Carrillo with anglers using strip squid under a bobber, and on a short Carolina rig for bass in the rocks. Many anglers are taking advantage of astronomical low tides to fish the reefs.

South Bay: The South Bay has been the hot spot. Slow in the Redondo area but very active in the Hermosa, Manhattan, El Segundo area with a big showing of small sand crabs followed by 14” barred surfperch, walleye, YFC and several corbina, up to 24” caught in the last week. Perch grubs in rootbeer and motoroil have worked best for anglers.

Purchase Surf Fish Tackle HERE

Need advice or have questions:  Email Bill at: fishthesurf.com

LIVE SURF FISHING SHOW

Don’t forget to join us EVERY WEDNESDAY at noon on Facebook’s/Youtube’s, Your Saltwater Guide page, for a live podcast discussing tips, techniques and what’s biting in the surf.

Orange County:  Along the San Clemente coast and Newport’s Wedge to Huntington Harbor YFC, small corbina and perch to 14” continue to be caught along with an improving bite on Spotfin croaker using clams, ghost shrimp and blood worms.

Tackle/bait:  Big Fish Bait and Tackle

San Diego:   Fished San Diego just last week with great conditions for palm sized barred perch and both opaleye and buttermouth perch biting near most jetties in both Carlsbad, Ponto and Torrey Pines beaches. Tiny sand crabs have begun to show on the south beaches.  Carlsbad to Oceanside has some spots of sand but much is billions of perfect skipping rocks.

Tackle/bait: Pacific Coast Bait and Tackle/ Seaforth Landing