Dana Point fishing spots and seasons

Closest OC ramp to the offshore game

Dana Point sits at the south end of Orange County, and that puts it a little closer to the blue than the LA ports. When the paddies and tuna show, Dana Point boats get one of the shorter OC runs offshore, plus a straight shot at San Clemente Island for yellows and seabass.

Closer in, the kelp beds off Dana and San Onofre hold calico, barracuda and bass, and the headland itself is famous, the tall bluffs and the whale grounds just outside the harbor. It's a port built for a quick launch toward deeper water.

Dana Point fish species

Leaving Dana Point, on any given week you could tangle with:

Fishing spots within range of Dana Point

• SAN CLEMENTE ISLANDA run offshore to island kelp and boilers: yellowtail, white seabass and calico.
• THE OFFSHORE BANKSBlue water and paddies off the point where tuna and dorado show on a warm push.
• DANA & SAN ONOFRE KELPClose-in kelp and reef: calico, barracuda and bass for a short-range morning.
• LOCAL HARD BOTTOMReef and structure for rockfish when the season is open.

Which ground holds which fish

The grounds above, grouped the other way round. Where to go is the part that does not move; what you may keep, and when, is not, so read the note at the foot of this page and check the current CDFW rules before you run.

• Yellowtail

  • SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND

• Yellowfin

  • THE OFFSHORE BANKS

• Dorado

  • THE OFFSHORE BANKS

• Calico Bass

  • SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND
  • DANA & SAN ONOFRE KELP

• Rockfish

  • LOCAL HARD BOTTOM

• Marlin

  • THE OFFSHORE BANKS

• Barracuda

  • DANA & SAN ONOFRE KELP

• Sheephead

  • SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND
  • DANA & SAN ONOFRE KELP

• Whitefish

  • SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND

• Sculpin

  • LOCAL HARD BOTTOM

• Mako

  • THE OFFSHORE BANKS

• Skipjack

  • THE OFFSHORE BANKS

Best time to fish out of Dana Point

Dana Point is a warm-season port. Calico and barracuda work the local kelp through the warm months, yellowtail show at the island spring into fall, and the offshore tuna-and-dorado run peaks in summer and fall. Winter is quieter close to home.

Warmer = redder. A rough shape of the year, not a promise: the ocean writes its own calendar, which is exactly why you check the daily read.