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9,344-acre San Pedro Bay fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (93.55% measured, 99.84% assessed), source-traceable coastal structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 94 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. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
On the chart, San Pedro Bay draws 9,352 acres inside 39.4 miles of shoreline, broken up by 6 islands. With a shoreline index of 2.9, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 3% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 9 mi of water from one end to the other, 4.2 mi at the beam. For a second option, Queensway Bay lies 2 mi north.
Spring puts california halibut in skinny water — 5 to 30 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 40 ft, wintering in 15 to 60 ft. Fall california halibut concentrate at Surveyed channel edge, a prime-rated drop-off around 49 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A paddletail dragged on sand or a bucktail + strip covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 30 ft | midday & dawn | Long Beach Channel channel edge (88 ft) | Swimbait on 1/2-1 oz head (drifted), Hair raiser jig |
| Summer | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Surveyed channel edge (49 ft) | Paddletail dragged on sand, Bucktail + strip |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (49 ft) | Heavier jig + swimbait (channels), Drifted bucktail |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | midday | Los Angeles Channel channel edge (53 ft) | Slow-dragged swimbait in deep channels |
Spring barred sand bass on San Pedro Bay hold shallow, usually 8 to 60 ft. They move out to 10 to 90 ft in summer and finish the year down in 16 to 94 ft. Put NOAA charted rock bottom first on the milk run — a hard bottom near 15 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a swimbait on 1/2–1 oz head or a vertical metal jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 60 ft | dawn | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | 3-5 inch paddletail, Lead-head grub |
| Summer | 10 to 90 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Swimbait on 1/2-1 oz head, Vertical metal jig |
| Fall | 11 to 94 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Heavy paddletail, Compact vertical jig |
| Winter | 16 to 94 ft | midday | NOAA charted rock bottom (23 ft) | Slow vertical jig, Bottom-crawled swimbait |
Spring puts spotted sand bass in skinny water — 3 to 30 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 40 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 55 ft. J is the standout, a dock line at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring spotted sand bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A weedless swimbait or a small jerkbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | J (4 ft) | 3 inch paddletail, Creature bait on a light jig |
| Summer | 3 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | J (4 ft) | Weedless swimbait, Small jerkbait |
| Fall | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | F (12 ft) | Paddletail, Suspending jerkbait |
| Winter | 8 to 55 ft | midday | F (12 ft) | Slow-rolled paddletail, Drop-shot minnow |
In spring, kelp bass run shallow here, mostly 5 to 55 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 4 to 70 ft before dropping to 11 to 94 ft for winter. Winter kelp bass concentrate at NOAA charted rock bottom, a prime-rated hard bottom around 15 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a surface iron or a weedless paddletail most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 55 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (31 ft) | Weedless swimbait, Baitfish jerkbait |
| Summer | 4 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted underwater rock (58 ft) | Surface iron, Weedless paddletail |
| Fall | 6 to 80 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (58 ft) | Paddletail, Compact surface iron |
| Winter | 11 to 94 ft | midday | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Slow swimbait, Vertical jig |
Start shallow in spring: california scorpionfish sit in 12 to 94 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 8 to 94 ft covers summer, 13 to 94 ft covers winter. The spot to know is NOAA charted rock bottom, a hard bottom in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for california scorpionfish in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around midday and the evening. Throw a vertical metal jig or a heavy paddletail until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 12 to 94 ft | dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Small lead-head jig, Compact metal jig |
| Summer | 8 to 94 ft | midday & dusk | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Vertical metal jig, Heavy paddletail |
| Fall | 11 to 94 ft | midday | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Heavy vertical jig, Bucktail + squid |
| Winter | 13 to 94 ft | midday | NOAA charted rock bottom (15 ft) | Slow metal jig, Bottom jig + strip bait |
Structure-wise the chart holds 259 features, led in depth by NOAA charted underwater rock at roughly 58 ft.
Access data: Port of Los Angeles — Boaters: Boat Launch Ramp. 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 San Pedro Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
San Pedro Bay is about 94 ft (29 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 San Pedro Bay.
NOAA charted rock bottom is the top-rated area: a hard bottom in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for barred 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 San Pedro Bay 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.
Queensway Bay 2 mi · Middle Harbor 2 mi · Inner Harbor 3 mi · Lake Hemet 87 mi · Isabella Lake 136 mi · Kern River 153 mi · Colorado River (Palo Verde / Cibola) 209 mi, AZ · Colorado River (Yuma Division) 218 mi, AZ · Colorado River (Imperial Division) 221 mi, AZ · Colorado River (Laguna Division) 223 mi, AZ · Colorado River (below Davis Dam) 224 mi, AZ · Pine Flat Lake 225 mi
See how San Pedro Bay stacks up: best california halibut lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 94% measured, 6% 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.