What you'll find here
Sheltered bay flats. Jetties are a separate public-pier listing.
Overview
Alamitos Bay is a sheltered bay in Long Beach with sand, mud, eelgrass and docks. It is good for kayaks and small boats.
License rules
A license is required except on the CDFW-listed public-pier jetties at the bay entrance.
What you can catch
Halibut, barred and spotted sand bass, leopard sharks, bat rays and spotfin croaker.
Tips
- Small plastics on light heads for spotted bass.
- Drift live bait for halibut.
- Watch boat traffic in channels.
Seasons and limits for the fish here
- California Halibut: Year-round. Limits: 22 inches total length; 5 fish south of Point Sur (Monterey County); LA County is in this zone. Tip: Drift the sand-to-kelp transition, bouncing just off bottom.
- Barred Sand Bass: Summer peak. Limits: 14 inches total length; Part of the 5-fish kelp/barred/spotted combo; no more than 4 barred sand bass. Tip: Slow drift across open sand/mud, jig near bottom.
- Spotted Sand Bass: Warm months in bays. Limits: 14 inches total length; Part of the 5-fish kelp/barred/spotted combo. Tip: Work eelgrass edges on a moving tide.
- Leopard Shark: Year-round, all depths. Limits: 36 inches total length; 3 fish. Tip: Fish a moving tide at harbor mouths.
- Bat Ray: Year-round in bays and surf. Limits: No species-specific minimum; General ocean bag: 20 finfish combined, no more than 10 of one species (T14 CCR §27.60(a); finfish include rays). Tip: Heavy surf or boat tackle — they are strong.
- Spotfin Croaker: July–September surf. Limits: No species-specific minimum; General ocean finfish 20/10. Tip: Fish the hole behind the first sandbar.
Limits summarize CDFW rules as of October 2026; each species page links the official source.
Eating your catch
For fish caught here, OEHHA's Santa Monica Beach south of the Santa Monica Pier to Seal Beach Pier advisory lists servings per week (women 18–49 and children 1–17, then women 50+ and men) as: California halibut 1 and 2. OEHHA advises everyone not to eat barred sand bass from this area. Spottedbass, leopard shark, bat-ray, spotfin-croaker are not named in this advisory. OEHHA also recommends eating skinless fillets and trimming fat.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Alamitos Bay?
Halibut, sand bass, spotted bass, leopard sharks, bat rays and spotfin croaker.
Do you need a license in Alamitos Bay?
Yes, except on the CDFW public-pier jetties.
Best lure for spotted bay bass?
Small plastics on light lead heads.
Fish species at Alamitos Bay, Long Beach
Map
Regulations reminder
Size limits, bag limits, seasons, and MPA rules are set by CDFW and can change in-season. Public-pier license exceptions (CCR 1.88) apply only on qualifying structures — not on the beach next to them. This is an independent site and is not affiliated with CDFW.
Nearby waters
- Alamitos Bay Jetties — about under 1 mi away (straight line)
- Belmont Pier / Long Beach — about 2 mi away (straight line)
- Pier J Fishing Piers, Long Beach — about 4 mi away (straight line)
- Shoreline Village Piers, Long Beach — about 4 mi away (straight line)
- Cabrillo Beach Fishing Pier — about 10 mi away (straight line)
- Cabrillo Beach / Point Fermin, San Pedro — about 10 mi away (straight line)
- El Dorado Park Lakes, Long Beach (freshwater) — about 5 mi away
- Cerritos / Don Knabe Park Lake (freshwater) — about 9 mi away
Sources & official links
- CDFW — Beach fishing and public piers in Southern California
- OEHHA — Fish advisory: Santa Monica Beach south of the pier to Seal Beach Pier
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules, stocking and access change; confirm with the agency linked above before you go.