Species guide · California
Barred sand bass fishing in California
Paralabrax nebulifer, a nearshore species also called sand bass and sandies. Listed for the Southern California region. Shoulder season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in East Santa Barbara Channel from Pt. Conception to Pt. Mugu CA including Santa Cruz Island at 46, one of 4 California bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Southern California
Shoulder season, about 1 more week- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Off season
- Apr: Off season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Off season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: Jun to Aug. In season (shoulder or peak): May to Sep, Jan to Feb.
Research notes, Southern California region
CPFV landings 2013-2023: July 28%, August 17%, June 15%, January 10%, February 6%, 5% or less other months. Most catch comes from summer spawning aggregations over sand at 60 to 120 feet (June to August, peak July) on Huntington Flats, Silver Strand, Del Mar, San Onofre, Santa Monica Bay and Ventura Flats. The January-February bump likely reflects party boats targeting bass during the winter rockfish closure. Rare north of Point Conception. Regulatory note: from June 1, 2025 a 4 fish barred sand bass sub-limit inside the 5 fish aggregate bass limit, 14 inch minimum, sunset June 1, 2028.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 4
California bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's barred sand bass score this hour.
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (58) · Best day Wed, Sep 23 at 11 PM (66) · 17 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (60) · Best day Wed, Sep 23 at 11 PM (61) · 117 named spots
Best window today 3-7 PM (55) · Best day Thu, Sep 24 at 5 AM (66) · 9 named spots
Best window today 4-7 PM (50) · Best day Thu, Sep 24 at 7 AM (62) · 61 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 59°F to 76°F, best between 63°F and 72°F.
- Water depth
- 15 to 130 ft of water.
- Structure
- Reef, flat, wreck, jetty, bay, pier and bridge, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with moderate current.Boats anchor or drift up-current of aggregations and chum so baits and plastics carry into the school. A sudden upwelling drop in surface temperature (to about 61 F in a 2010 Huntington Flats survey) depressed catches; current preference is guide consensus.
- Light
- Some lift around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 18 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Barred sand bass hold on the sand and rock edge of reefs, artificial reefs, breakwaters and bays, mostly in less than 90 feet of water. In summer they stack up over sand flats in 60 to 120 feet to spawn, and a plastic or live anchovy bounced on the bottom under the boat will catch them. A sudden drop in water temperature from upwelling can shut the bite off for a day or two.
- Methods
- bottom fishing, dropper loop, jigging plastics, drifting live bait
- Lures
- swimbaits on leadheads, plastic grubs, Carolina-rigged plastics, spoons
- Bait
- live anchovy, live sardine, squid strips, mackerel strips
Regulations
California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with CDFW Sep 22, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
4 per day (5 kelp bass, barred sand bass and spotted sand bass combined) · Minimum 14 in, total length. Or 10 inches alternate length.
Season: No closed season on file
Fillets must be at least 7.5 inches long with a one-inch square patch of skin. No more than 4 of the 5 bass may be barred sand bass. This sub-limit is set to end June 1, 2028.
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026