FFO Video Library
Species-specific fishing videos from real anglers. Watch, learn, and get on the water.
Species Spotlight
One of Southern California's most popular sport fish. Watch our calico bass fishing techniques, spots, and tips.
Watch how we target calico bass around the kelp beds and rocky structure off the islands.
Hooking into quality calico bass on light tackle — the way it's meant to be done.
Species Spotlight
California halibut — one of the most sought-after flatfish on the coast. Master the drift, the presentation, and the hookset.
Start with 30 lb test for your leader — that's the sweet spot for most halibut. If the fish are running bigger in your area, bump up to 40 lb. Keep it simple and strong.
Live sardines are the gold standard. A big mackerel is a close second and can be absolutely deadly. If you can keep them lively, do it — halibut respond to natural movement more than anything.
Covering ground is everything with halibut. If you can, slow troll with a bouncer rig — heavyweight, long leader, cruise at a crawl until you locate a concentration of fish. No troll motor? Use the wind to drift. Once you find an area holding halibut, keep repeating that drift over and over — they tend to stack together, so work that zone hard. You're mostly fishing over sand or transitional areas leading into rocky structure.
Get there at first light. Halibut are most active right at dawn — that's when you want your bait in the water. You can catch them throughout the day, but the morning bite is consistently the best. Tides matter too: slack tide and max high tide both tend to turn the fish on. Plan your drift around the tide schedule.
Right now (early June), the halibut are spread across the beaches and islands. Along the beach, target 65 to 80 feet of water — anywhere near squid beds is productive. For island fishing, focus on the sandy areas along rocky structure at any of the Channel Islands. Santa Rosa Island has been biting hard when the wind cooperates. Santa Barbara Island is starting to come alive. Down at Catalina, off the V's, there's been a solid halibut bite too.
During a full moon when grunion are running, fish even shallower along the beaches at night. Halibut stage in the shallows to feed on grunion — it's one of the most underrated opportunities of the season. Watch the grunion run schedule and be ready.
Before you head out, check the fish reports. Look online for recent catches — anglers post areas and conditions all the time. The intel is out there; use it. Also check our in the Resources tab for local tips from the FFO community.
Species Spotlight
Yellowtail are the bread and butter of SoCal offshore fishing. Fast, powerful, and always hungry. Here's how we target them.
Breaking down yellowtail season — timing, tackle, and the best techniques to put fish on the deck.
Nothing beats hooking a yellowtail on surface iron. Watch the technique in action.
Species Spotlight
The ghost of the kelp. White seabass are one of the most challenging and rewarding fish to target in Southern California waters.
Targeting WSB in the kelp — patience, stealth, and the right presentation are everything.
How to present live squid and sardines for white seabass success.
Species Spotlight
The big game. Blue fin and yellowfin tuna demand respect, heavy tackle, and serious skill. These are the fish that test everything you've got.
Chasing blue fin tuna offshore. From the sonar to the gaff, this is what it takes.
Kite fishing for yellowfin tuna — an incredible technique that produces big results.
Species Spotlight
The king of the ocean. Marlin fishing is the pinnacle of sportfishing — raw power, incredible jumps, and a fight you'll never forget.
Hooking into marlin on the open ocean. The tackle, the technique, the fight of a lifetime.
Setting the spread, running lures, and targeting marlin on the troll.
Species Spotlight
Unique encounters on the water — seahorses and the incredible marine life we encounter while fishing.
The ocean is full of incredible creatures. Here are some of our most memorable encounters on the water.
