A heavier croaker with a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. The spot is the ID, not a guess from color.
Sandy bays, harbor mouths, and surf troughs — Alamitos, Long Beach, and the South Bay beaches in late summer.
Same general 20/10 bag, no species minimum. CDFW lists July–September as the SoCal peak. They push into Alamitos Bay and the Long Beach surf on a strong incoming. A Carolina-rigged shrimp or a sand crab in the hole behind the first bar is the usual.
Identify before you keep a mix of croakers from LA Harbor.
CDFW beach fishing — spotfin croaker →
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.
