The most commonly hooked shark in LA County water, and one of the few sharks with a clear size/bag in the Southern ocean summary.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sandy bays, harbor mouths, and the surf — Marina del Rey, Alamitos, and the South Bay beaches on a moving tide.
Three fish, 36-inch total length, year-round, all depths. A lot of surf-caught leopards are short. Use a tape. Cut bait on a sliding sinker in the bay or the outer trough. White sharks are no-take. If it is not a leopard, do not guess.
Leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) are slender, grey sharks with dark saddle marks and spots along the back. They are harmless to people.
Leopard sharks feed on the bottom in bays, harbors and sandy surf. Marina del Rey, Alamitos Bay, Belmont Pier, Pier J, Venice and Dockweiler are LA-area spots where they are caught.
Open year-round. They often move into warm, shallow water in summer.
OEHHA's statewide coastal advisory, which applies to coastal locations without site-specific advice such as Catalina, advises women 18–49 and children not to eat sharks, and women 50+ and men to eat no more than 1 serving a week, because sharks tend to have higher mercury. The LA mainland advisories do not list sharks, so the same caution is sensible.
Minimum size 36 inches total length; daily bag 3 fish. Open year-round at all depths.
White sharks may not be taken. Mako/thresher/blue are 2 fish; sixgill/sevengill are 1.
CDFW Southern ocean regs — leopard shark →
Independent-site disclaimer: this summary is for orientation only and can change in-season. Confirm with CDFW before you keep a fish. Fish in LA is not affiliated with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
36 inches total length, with a 3-fish daily bag.
No. They are harmless bottom feeders.
OEHHA's statewide coastal advice recommends women 18–49 and children not eat sharks and others limit to 1 serving a week.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules, stocking and access change; confirm with the agency linked above before you go.
