Fall Fishing Forecast: Tides, Bites, and Hot Spots for LA's Coastal Angling

Artificial Lure here. Monday, October 20th, and it’s a picture-perfect fall morning for fishing in Los Angeles. First light hit at 7:02 am and you’ve got until 6:12 pm to soak up the action. Conditions are prime with a big morning high tide peaking at 9:02 am—pushing salt and bait up near piers and inshore reefs. By mid-afternoon, the water drops to a skinny low around 3:34 pm before bouncing back for a 9:40 pm high. That early morning push and sunset rise should be your golden windows, according to Tide-Forecast’s latest chart. Weather’s a classic October coastal deal—expect clear skies, a light west breeze, and just enough warmth to keep the jackets off ‘til dusk. Water temps are still hovering in the upper 60s, keeping the bite lively. Now let’s talk what’s been hot: Reports out of Marina Del Rey Sportfishing yesterday show heavy sacks of sculpin (223 landed!), a strong whitefish count (62), along with good numbers of sand bass (47) and calico bass (13). Sheephead are moving up on the chew too, with 8 hitting the deck, and there’s even a trio of halibut knocking around. Head a little south to Pierpoint Landing and it’s been a rockfish bonanza—16 anglers boxed 160 rockfish in just a single run, best bite well inside structure and drops. San Pedro’s 22nd Street Landing checked in 29 calico bass, 18 bonito, 17 barracuda, 10 yellowtail, and a smattering of whitefish and rockfish among 34 anglers. The yellowtail aren’t giants, but they’re scrappy and hunting under birds and kelp edges—surface irons and live sardine have been the ticket. What’s hot for bait and lures: For bass (calico and sand), nothing beats a 5-inch swimbait in sardine or anchovy flash—work ‘em slow and let ‘em swing through structure. Fresh dead squid is a killer for whitefish and sheephead, especially on slider rigs or dropper loops. Bonito are flying out on feathered jigs and hard-thumping Kastmasters, and if you’re working live bait, try nose-hooking a sardine and floating it back with minimal weight during the tide change. If you’re taking a run out to Catalina with the full-day boats—the Pursuit and Native Sun out of San Pedro are both turning full loads today. Yellowtail, bonito, and bass are still up on the chew. On the west side, focus around Farnsworth Bank and Italian Gardens, where kelp paddies and rocky ledges hold the best action. For shore anglers, Venice Pier and Redondo Beach have been giving up a mixed bag. With the high tide just after sunrise, surf perch and croaker are digging in close—bloodworms and sand crabs on Carolina rigs will do the trick. Spoons and jerkbaits are finding a few late-season halibut staging outside the troughs. A couple hot spots for you this Monday: - **Marina Del Rey breakwall:** For steady bass, sculpin, and some halibut at dawn and dusk. - **22nd Street Landing’s local artificial reefs:** For surface fishing with a real shot at late-season yellowtail, calicos, and the odd bonito flush. Whether you’re headed out on a party boa This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.