Late Summer Bites in LA: Tides, Tactics, and Top Spots for Angling Action

Artificial Lure here with your Saturday, September 6th, 2025, Los Angeles area fishing report. Let’s get you dialed for what’s biting and where to toss a line today.

We kicked things off this morning with a crisp sunrise at 6:32 AM and we’ll lose the light at 7:07 PM—plenty of time to wet lines. The weather’s classic late summer LA: partly cloudy, temps pushing into the mid-70s, a light breeze from the west. This comfortable pattern should have the fish active in the usual haunts.

On the saltwater front, pay attention to the tides. According to Tide-Forecast, our first low tide rolled in early at 2:46 AM, followed by a solid high at 9:10 AM, and then dropping again to a late afternoon low. Fish those tide changes for your best shot at a bite window, especially if you’re targeting bass or halibut.

Recent counts from Davey’s Locker paint a good picture. Sand bass are still the bread and butter—over 100 landed per trip isn’t uncommon on the local half-day and twilight runs. Sculpin are thick, Calico bass are steady, and those hunting for excitement, there have even been decent numbers of Bluefin tuna popping up for the full-day crowd; for example, the Blackfish wrapped up six bluefin just yesterday. Freelance is still pulling sheephead, bonito, and the odd barracuda. Twilight trips, especially on the Western Pride, have been money for sand bass and even an occasional mako showing itself.

Inshore, your best lures for calicos and sand bass right now are the tried and true swimbaits in anchovy or sardine patterns, especially during water movement. Drop shotting small plastics works great if the bite is tentative. Sculpin will eagerly take a leadhead with a strip of squid or a Gulp! grub bounced near rocks. If you’re targeting halibut around the harbor mouths or sandy drops, toss a hard jerkbait like the Lucky Craft or slow-drift a live sardine if you get your hands on one.

Hot spots to check:
- Long Beach Breakwall: The outer wall’s producing both calico and sand bass, with the occasional barracuda. Try a 4-inch Big Hammer paddle tail in the calico hunter color.
- Santa Monica Bay reefs: Early mornings around the artificial reefs are holding bass and sheephead, especially on high tide swings.
- If it’s pelagic fever, look toward offshore paddies between Catalina and the mainland, where bluefin and even some yellowtail are being picked off with knife jigs and fly-lined sardines.

Freshwater action’s slower, but anglers at local lakes like Castaic and Puddingstone are still pulling in largemouth on early-morning topwater lures. Surface poppers and whopper ploppers are scoring before the sun gets high. Later in the morning, switch to drop shotting or a senko around shaded structure. Catfish are biting on cut mackerel at night, especially around park lakes.

To maximize success today, fish the high tide into the outgoing swing, work live bait if you can get it, and don’t shy away from natural colors in your plastics—water’s still got that late summer clarity.

Thanks for tuning in to your LA area fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for more local tips and in-depth updates!

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