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155-acre Inner Harbor fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (99.81% measured, 99.87% assessed), source-traceable coastal structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 73 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
The outline encloses 155 acres, worked by 5.6 miles of shoreline, with 3 islands in the mix. The 3.2 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 1% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Figure 1.1 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.6 mi at the beam. If the bite dies, Middle Harbor is 1 mi to the south.
Come spring, look for california halibut tight to the bank in 5 to 30 ft. They move out to 8 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Long Beach Channel channel edge: a channel edge around 54 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning. A paddletail dragged on sand or a bucktail + strip is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 30 ft | midday & dawn | Long Beach Channel channel edge (54 ft) | Swimbait on 1/2-1 oz head (drifted), Hair raiser jig |
| Summer | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Long Beach Channel channel edge (54 ft) | Paddletail dragged on sand, Bucktail + strip |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | midday | Long Beach Channel channel edge (54 ft) | Heavier jig + swimbait (channels), Drifted bucktail |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | midday | Long Beach Channel channel edge (54 ft) | Slow-dragged swimbait in deep channels |
In spring, barred sand bass run shallow here, mostly 8 to 60 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 73 ft before dropping to 12 to 73 ft for winter. Fall barred sand bass concentrate at Surveyed channel edge, a prime-rated drop-off around 47 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a swimbait on 1/2–1 oz head or a vertical metal jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 60 ft | dawn | Long Beach Channel channel edge (54 ft) | 3-5 inch paddletail, Lead-head grub |
| Summer | 8 to 73 ft | dawn & dusk | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (33 ft) | Swimbait on 1/2-1 oz head, Vertical metal jig |
| Fall | 9 to 73 ft | midday & dawn | Surveyed channel edge (47 ft) | Heavy paddletail, Compact vertical jig |
| Winter | 12 to 73 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (33 ft) | Slow vertical jig, Bottom-crawled swimbait |
Early season spotted sand bass use the shallows, holding in 3 to 30 ft. Summer is a 3 to 40 ft game here, winter an 8 to 55 ft one. The chart's best answer is NOAA charted pier — dock line, 4 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a weedless swimbait or a small jerkbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted pier (4 ft) | 3 inch paddletail, Creature bait on a light jig |
| Summer | 3 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted pier (4 ft) | Weedless swimbait, Small jerkbait |
| Fall | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted pier (4 ft) | Paddletail, Suspending jerkbait |
| Winter | 8 to 55 ft | midday | NOAA charted pier (4 ft) | Slow-rolled paddletail, Drop-shot minnow |
Spring kelp bass on Inner Harbor hold shallow, usually 5 to 55 ft. They move out to 4 to 70 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 73 ft. Put NOAA charted pier first on the milk run — a dock line near 4 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a surface iron or a weedless paddletail.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 55 ft | dawn | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (33 ft) | Weedless swimbait, Baitfish jerkbait |
| Summer | 4 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted pier (4 ft) | Surface iron, Weedless paddletail |
| Fall | 5 to 73 ft | dawn | Surveyed channel edge (47 ft) | Paddletail, Compact surface iron |
| Winter | 9 to 73 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (33 ft) | Slow swimbait, Vertical jig |
Come spring, look for california scorpionfish tight to the bank in 9 to 73 ft. Through summer count on 6 to 73 ft; the winter hold is 10 to 73 ft. Start at Dangerous NOAA charted wreck. It's a wreck holding about 33 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in midday and the evening. A vertical metal jig or a heavy paddletail is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 9 to 73 ft | dusk | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (33 ft) | Small lead-head jig, Compact metal jig |
| Summer | 6 to 73 ft | midday & dusk | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (33 ft) | Vertical metal jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 8 to 73 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (33 ft) | Heavy vertical jig, Bucktail + squid |
| Winter | 10 to 73 ft | midday | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (33 ft) | Slow metal jig, Bottom jig + strip bait |
The chart marks 30 structure features on Inner Harbor; the deepest is Surveyed channel edge at about 47 ft.
Access data: City of Long Beach — Launch Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for California waters are set by the California DFW (Southern Region ocean fishing) — and special regulations can apply to Inner Harbor specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
Inner Harbor is about 73 ft (22 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target california halibut, barred sand bass, spotted sand bass, kelp bass, california scorpionfish on Inner Harbor.
NOAA charted pier is the top-rated area: a dock line in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for spotted sand bass in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For california halibut, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Inner Harbor is regulated by the California DFW (Southern Region ocean fishing). Check the official California regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Middle Harbor 1 mi · Queensway Bay 2 mi · San Pedro Bay 3 mi · Lake Hemet 88 mi · Isabella Lake 133 mi · Kern River 150 mi · Colorado River (Palo Verde / Cibola) 210 mi, AZ · Colorado River (Yuma Division) 219 mi, AZ · Colorado River (Imperial Division) 222 mi, AZ · Pine Flat Lake 223 mi · Colorado River (below Davis Dam) 224 mi, AZ · Colorado River (Laguna Division) 225 mi, AZ
See how Inner Harbor stacks up: best california halibut lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 100% measured, 0% source-interpolated). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.