A schooling flats bass. Once you pin a school on a summer drift, the next dozen casts can all be fish — until they move.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sand and mud flats next to structure, bay entrances, and the open flats between reefs in Santa Monica Bay and Long Beach Harbor.
Same Paralabrax bag as calicos: 14 inches, five combined, max four barred. Summer drifts across Santa Monica Bay and the Belmont/Alamitos flats are an LA rite. A 3–4 inch curl-tail on a 3/8 oz head, bounced on the sand, is still the local default.
Barred sand bass (Paralabrax nebulifer) are grey-brown with faint vertical bars along the sides. The quickest field check is the dorsal fin: the third spine is much longer than the ones behind it. Kelp bass have spines of similar length and pale blotches instead of bars. Neither should be confused with giant sea bass, which is closed to take.
As the name suggests, barred sand bass are tied to sand bottom near structure. In the LA area they are caught in harbors and bays, over sand around artificial reefs and breakwaters, and in Santa Monica Bay. Harbor anglers in Long Beach, Los Angeles Harbor and Marina del Rey regularly encounter them.
Barred sand bass are open year-round, but the summer months bring the most activity, when the fish gather to spawn and become far more willing to bite.
Because they are a combination species, keep track of which bass is which as you fill a bag.
This is one species where location makes a big difference. OEHHA's advisory for Santa Monica Beach south of the Santa Monica Pier to Seal Beach Pier says no one should eat barred sand bass from that stretch, which includes the South Bay, LA and Long Beach harbors. North of the pier to Ventura Harbor, the advice is 1 serving a week for women 18–49 and children and 2 servings a week for women 50+ and men. Releasing fish from the southern zone is the simplest choice.
Minimum size is 14 inches total length (10 inches alternate length). Barred sand bass count toward the 5-fish combined bag for kelp, barred and spotted sand bass, and no more than 4 of the 5 may be barred sand bass. The season is open all year.
Do not confuse with prohibited giant sea bass.
CDFW Southern ocean regs — barred sand bass →
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.
OEHHA advises everyone not to eat barred sand bass from Santa Monica Beach south of the pier to Seal Beach Pier, which includes the LA and Long Beach harbor areas.
No more than 4 barred sand bass within a 5-fish combined bass bag, each at least 14 inches total length.
Summer, when the fish gather to spawn. They can be caught all year, but are less concentrated in winter.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules, stocking and access change; confirm with the agency linked above before you go.
