Long Beach

Why it fishes

Long Beach sits behind the longest breakwater on the coast, which makes for calm, protected water and an easy launch. The breakwater rock itself holds calico and bass, so you can bend a rod without ever leaving the harbour complex — a great port for a quick trip or newer anglers.

Just outside, the Huntington Flats load up with barred sand bass on the summer spawn, and a run across to Catalina puts you on yellows, calico and seabass in the warm months. It’s the classic LA mixed-bag home port.

What you’ll chase

Leaving Long Beach, on any given week you could tangle with:

The grounds within range

• The breakwater

  Miles of rock right in the harbour — calico and bass close to the ramp, sheltered from the swell.

• Huntington Flats

  Broad sand — barred sand bass on the big summer spawn and halibut across the bottom.

• Catalina Island

  A run across for island kelp, calico, yellowtail and white seabass.

• Horseshoe Kelp

  A deeper hard-bottom grounds for bass and, when open, rockfish.

When it’s good

Long Beach is a summer port at heart — the sand bass pile onto the flats to spawn in the warm months, and bonito and calico show when the water warms. Catalina fishes best spring into fall. Winter is quieter, but the breakwater still gives up fish.

Warmer means better. A rough shape of the year, not a promise — the ocean writes its own calendar, which is exactly why you check the daily read.