Palos Verdes Kelp Beds

What you'll find here

Rocky reef and deep kelp. Point Vicente SMCA is no-take; Abalone Cove SMCA is highly restricted.

Marine protected areas

Point Vicente State Marine Conservation Area is no-take (all recreational fishing prohibited). Abalone Cove SMCA allows only recreational spearfishing of white seabass and pelagic finfish, plus market squid by hand-held dip net. Do not fish these boxes. Use the CDFW ocean sportfish / MPA map.

CDFW MPA maps and regulations →

Seasons and limits for the fish here

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Opaleye: Year-round on rocks and kelp. Limits: No species-specific minimum; General ocean finfish 20/10. Tip: Fish the white water on a rising tide.
• Halfmoon (Catalina Blue Perch): Year-round around kelp and rocks. Limits: No species-specific minimum; General ocean finfish 20/10. Tip: Fish the kelp canopy and the first 15 feet.
• 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.
• Cabezon: Boats: closed Oct 1–Dec 31, 2026 (nearshore); shore/divers open. Limits: No minimum on the 2026 CDFW RCG table; Counts in the 10-fish RCG with rockfish and greenling. Tip: Put the bait in the crack, not over it.
• 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.

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: kelp (calico) bass 1 and 1; opaleye 2 and 2; gopher rockfish 1 and 2. Seabass, sheephead, halfmoon, cabezon, yellowtail are not named in this advisory. OEHHA also recommends eating skinless fillets and trimming fat.

Fish species at Palos Verdes Kelp Beds

Kelp Bass (Calico Bass)

White Seabass

California Sheephead

Opaleye

Halfmoon (Catalina Blue Perch)

Gopher Rockfish

Cabezon

Yellowtail

Map

View larger map

Nearby waters

• 22nd St. Landing, San Pedro — about 6 mi away (straight line)
• Redondo Beach Pier — about 6 mi away (straight line)
• Cabrillo Beach Fishing Pier — about 7 mi away (straight line)
• Cabrillo Beach / Point Fermin, San Pedro — about 7 mi away (straight line)
• Redondo Beach / King Harbor — about 7 mi away (straight line)
• King Harbor Breakwater — about 7 mi away (straight line)
• Machado Lake (Ken Malloy Harbor Park) (freshwater) — about 7 mi away
• Alondra Park Lake (freshwater) — about 10 mi away