Home/All species
Field guide

All species

45 fish pages covering the saltwater and freshwater species Los Angeles anglers actually catch — each with unique copy, CDFW-linked size and bag notes, and links to the waters that hold them. Regulations change; confirm with CDFW before you keep a fish.

SALTWATER

Fish of the LA coastline

Surf, harbor, kelp, and boat species from Santa Monica Bay through Catalina.

California Halibut
Saltwater

California Halibut

Paralichthys californicus
22" minYear-round
Kelp Bass (Calico Bass)
Saltwater

Kelp Bass (Calico Bass)

Paralabrax clathratus
14" minYear-round, best late spring–fall
Barred Sand Bass
Saltwater

Barred Sand Bass

Paralabrax nebulifer
14" minSummer peak
Spotted Sand Bass
Saltwater

Spotted Sand Bass

Paralabrax maculatofasciatus
14" minWarm months in bays
Yellowtail
Saltwater

Yellowtail

Seriola dorsalis
24" forkYear-round; best summer–fall
White Seabass
Saltwater

White Seabass

Atractoscion nobilis
28" minYear-round; squid nights in spring
Pacific Bonito
Saltwater

Pacific Bonito

Sarda chiliensis
24" fork or 5 lbSummer–fall schools
California Barracuda
Saltwater

California Barracuda

Sphyraena argentea
28" minWarm water, late spring–fall
California Corbina
Saltwater

California Corbina

Menticirrhus undulatus
No minSummer, calm surf
Yellowfin Croaker
Saltwater

Yellowfin Croaker

Umbrina roncador
No minSummer nights, June–September
Spotfin Croaker
Saltwater

Spotfin Croaker

Roncador stearnsii
No minJuly–September surf
White Croaker (Kingfish)
Saltwater

White Croaker (Kingfish)

Genyonemus lineatus
No minYear-round on piers
Barred Surfperch
Saltwater

Barred Surfperch

Amphistichus argenteus
No minYear-round; CDFW lists Sep–May peak
Pile Perch
Saltwater

Pile Perch

Rhacochilus vacca
No minYear-round around pilings
Walleye Surfperch
Saltwater

Walleye Surfperch

Hyperprosopon argenteum
No minYear-round, often in large schools
Pacific Mackerel
Saltwater

Pacific Mackerel

Scomber japonicus
No minYear-round on piers
Queenfish (Herring)
Saltwater

Queenfish (Herring)

Seriphus politus
No minYear-round under piers
Jacksmelt
Saltwater

Jacksmelt

Atherinopsis californiensis
No minYear-round, often winter–spring piers
Opaleye
Saltwater

Opaleye

Girella nigricans
No minYear-round on rocks and kelp
Halfmoon (Catalina Blue Perch)
Saltwater

Halfmoon (Catalina Blue Perch)

Medialuna californiensis
No minYear-round around kelp and rocks
California Sheephead
Saltwater

California Sheephead

Semicossyphus pulcher
12" minShore/dive year-round; boats Mar–Dec 2026
California Scorpionfish (Sculpin)
Saltwater

California Scorpionfish (Sculpin)

Scorpaena guttata
No minYear-round, all depths (2026 SoCal summary)
Rockfish (SoCal hub)
Saltwater · Hub

Rockfish (SoCal hub)

Sebastes spp.
RCG bag 10 comboBoat season set annually; shore often more open
Vermilion Rockfish
Saltwater

Vermilion Rockfish

Sebastes miniatus
No minFollows boat rockfish season
Bocaccio
Saltwater

Bocaccio

Sebastes paucispinis
No minFollows boat rockfish season
Gopher Rockfish
Saltwater

Gopher Rockfish

Sebastes carnatus
No minNearshore; still follow area boat/shore rules
Copper Rockfish
Saltwater

Copper Rockfish

Sebastes caurinus
No minFollows rockfish season
Cabezon
Saltwater

Cabezon

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus
No min (2026 table)Follows groundfish table
Lingcod
Saltwater

Lingcod

Ophiodon elongatus
22" minFollows groundfish table
Ocean Whitefish
Saltwater

Ocean Whitefish

Caulolatilus princeps
No minYear-round, all depths (2026 SoCal summary)
Leopard Shark
Saltwater

Leopard Shark

Triakis semifasciata
36" minYear-round, all depths
Bat Ray
Saltwater

Bat Ray

Myliobatis californica
Confirm booklet before keepingYear-round in bays and surf
Shovelnose Guitarfish
Saltwater

Shovelnose Guitarfish

Pseudobatos productus
Confirm booklet before keepingYear-round in the surf
Common Thresher Shark
Saltwater

Common Thresher Shark

Alopias vulpinus
No minYear-round; boat fishery
California Grunion
Saltwater

California Grunion

Leuresthes tenuis
No minOpen Jul 1, 2026–Mar 31, 2027
FRESHWATER

Fish of LA lakes and reservoirs

Stocked trout, bass, striper, cats, and urban panfish.