What you'll find here
Boat destination from San Pedro, Long Beach, and Redondo. Confirm groundfish season and MPAs before you leave the dock.
Marine protected areas
Catalina has multiple state marine reserves and conservation areas. Boat skippers generally know the boxes; private boaters must plot them. Groundfish boat rules and the cowcod/groundfish exclusion areas also apply offshore.
Groundfish rules
CDFW's 2026 Southern Management Area table: closed January–March; all depths April–June; shoreward of 50 fathoms July–September; October 1–December 31 nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenlings closed, shelf/slope rockfish and lingcod only seaward of 50 fathoms. Descending device required.
Catalina MPAs
Catalina has several MPAs, including Casino Point SMCA, Lover's Cove SMCA, Long Point SMR, Blue Cavern SMCAs, Farnsworth SMCAs, Arrow Point to Lion Head Point SMCA and Cat Harbor SMCA. Each has its own rules; check CDFW's maps.
Target species
Yellowtail, white seabass, rockfish, lingcod, sheephead, ocean whitefish, scorpionfish, calico bass and thresher sharks.
Tips
- Bring a descending device.
- Know your depth for groundfish rules.
- Check MPA boundaries before anchoring.
Seasons and limits for the fish here
- Yellowtail: Year-round; best summer–fall. Limits: 24 inches fork length, except up to 5 fish under 24" fork may be possessed; 10 fish. Tip: Drop iron, crank it back on a fast yo-yo.
- White Seabass: Year-round; squid nights in spring. Limits: 28 inches total length; 3 fish, except only 1 fish south of Point Conception between March 15 and June 15. Tip: Drift live squid after dark on a spawn.
- Vermilion Rockfish: Boats Oct–Dec 2026: only seaward of 50 fathoms; shore open. Limits: No minimum; 2 vermilion and sunset rockfish combined, counting toward the 10-fish RCG bag. Tip: Fish the deep rock, not the sand.
- Bocaccio: Boats Oct–Dec 2026: only seaward of 50 fathoms; shore open. Limits: No minimum; Counts in the 10-fish RCG; no species sub-limit. Tip: Drop to marked rock in 150–400 ft.
- Copper Rockfish: Boats: closed Oct 1–Dec 31, 2026 (nearshore); shore/divers open. Limits: No minimum; 1 copper rockfish, counting toward the 10-fish RCG. Tip: Stop at one copper.
- Gopher Rockfish: Boats: closed Oct 1–Dec 31, 2026 (nearshore); shore/divers open. Limits: No minimum; Counts in the 10-fish RCG. Tip: Fish the reef cracks, not the sand.
- Lingcod: Boats Oct–Dec 2026: only seaward of 50 fathoms; shore open. Limits: 22 inches total length; 2 fish, separate from the 10-fish RCG. Tip: Fish the same rock as the rockfish drop.
- California Sheephead: Shore/dive year-round; boats Mar–Dec 2026. Limits: 12 inches total length; 2 fish. Tip: Drop to the rocks, not into the sand.
- Ocean Whitefish: Year-round, all depths (2026 SoCal summary). Limits: No minimum; 10 fish within the general 20-finfish bag. Tip: Same deep-rock drop as rockfish.
- California Scorpionfish (Sculpin): Year-round, all depths (2026 SoCal summary). Limits: No minimum; 5 fish. Tip: Fish the bottom and stay there.
- Common Thresher Shark: Year-round; boat fishery. Limits: No size limit; 2 fish per day for thresher, shortfin mako, or blue shark. Tip: Book a boat that actually runs a thresher program.
- Kelp Bass (Calico Bass): Year-round, best late spring–fall. Limits: 14 inches total length (10 inches alternate length); 5 kelp/barred/spotted sand bass in combination; no more than 4 barred sand bass. Tip: Cast to the kelp edge, sink, then hop the bait up.
Limits summarize CDFW rules as of October 2026; each species page links the official source.
Eating your catch
For fish caught here, OEHHA's statewide advisory for coastal locations without site-specific advice lists servings per week (women 18–49 and children 1–17, then women 50+ and men) as: vermilion rockfish 1 and 4; copper rockfish 0 and 1; gopher rockfish 0 and 1; lingcod 1 and 2; thresher shark 0 and 1; kelp (calico) bass 1 and 2. Yellowtail, seabass, bocaccio, sheephead, ocean-whitefish, scorpionfish are not named in this advisory. OEHHA also recommends eating skinless fillets and trimming fat.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Catalina groundfish rules in October 2026?
Nearshore rockfish closed to boats; shelf/slope rockfish and lingcod only seaward of 50 fathoms.
Are there MPAs at Catalina?
Yes, several, each with different rules.
What fish are caught near Catalina?
Yellowtail, white seabass, rockfish, lingcod, sheephead and calico bass.
Fish species at Catalina / San Pedro Channel (boats)
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
- Avalon Pier, Catalina Island — about 6 mi away (straight line)
- Cabrillo Mole, Catalina Island — about 6 mi away (straight line)
- Cabrillo Beach / Point Fermin, San Pedro — about 24 mi away (straight line)
- Cabrillo Beach Fishing Pier — about 24 mi away (straight line)
- 22nd St. Landing, San Pedro — about 25 mi away (straight line)
- Palos Verdes Kelp Beds — about 25 mi away (straight line)
- Machado Lake (Ken Malloy Harbor Park) (freshwater) — about 29 mi away
- El Dorado Park Lakes, Long Beach (freshwater) — about 35 mi away
Sources & official links
- CDFW — Groundfish regulations summary (Southern Management Area)
- CDFW — Marine Protected Areas maps and regulations
- CDFW — Southern region ocean sport fishing regulations
- OEHHA — Statewide advisory for coastal locations without site-specific advice
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules, stocking and access change; confirm with the agency linked above before you go.