Capt. David Bacon-Charter Captain/PCS Senior Editor
Santa Barbara Channel Update
Aug. 25 2010, 10:25 PM
Aug. 25 2010, 10:25 PM
Santa Barbara Channel Update
Fluctuating water temps are presenting challenges, but ample rewards are in the mix, too. For example, each water temps bump up just a few degrees, halibut and calico bass both go wild, eating everything in sight. Halibut are biting for bounce-ballers and drifters alike, with slightly more fish coming from Channel Islands hotspots including Chinese Harbor, Christy's Ranch and Bechers Bay. Productive mainland spots are: beaches near Port Hueneme, off the Ventura River mouth, near Rock Island, Goleta, inside Naples Reef and near Gaviota.
Fluctuating water temps are presenting challenges, but ample rewards are in the mix, too. For example, each water temps bump up just a few degrees, halibut and calico bass both go wild, eating everything in sight. Halibut are biting for bounce-ballers and drifters alike, with slightly more fish coming from Channel Islands hotspots including Chinese Harbor, Christy's Ranch and Bechers Bay. Productive mainland spots are: beaches near Port Hueneme, off the Ventura River mouth, near Rock Island, Goleta, inside Naples Reef and near Gaviota.
Calico bass are blasting swimbaits and inhaling live baits at coastal kelp beds along the southern Ventura County coast, near Carpinteria, Ellwood and Tajiguas. At the Channel Islands (especially Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands), even small kelp spots are giving up the sportcoats. The best bass action however is coming from the boiler rocks where anglers with highly maneuverable boats are casting swimbaits to the rocks and reeling them slowly back to the boat.
White seabass are bending rods along the coast as well as at the islands. Along the coast the fish are chasing baitballs of finfish and can be encountered periodically at any of the local kelp spots. Recent catches have included some very impressive fish in the 40 pound class. At the islands, WSB are eating squid when spawns occur and chasing finfishes the rest of the time. The usual hotspots are hosting flurries of action… Eagles, Nest, Bechers Bay and Yellowbanks.
As for rockfish and lingcod… you want ‘em, we got ‘em. Local spots and island spots are all producing plenty of fish. In general, the bigger units come from island reef zones.
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