Shipwrecks & Artificial Reef Fishing

The California Department of Fish and Game has been building and maintaining artificial reefs since the 1960s and their efforts have been nothing short of fantasic in developing havens for game fish. Add to this, quite a number of ships sunk both accidentally and intentionally, and you have an abundance of excellent fishing holes, some well known and heavily fished and some others very rarely fished. Whenever I’m out fishing and the usual spots just aren’t producing, the first thing I do is call up the waypoint for the nearest wreck or artificial reef and set a course. I’m very rarely disappointed.

Submerged structure serves as a hideout for many small species of marine animals serve as prey for small bait fish. Wherever bait fish are, of course, game fish won’t be far behind. Down in the wrecks and reefs, structure loving fish like Calico Bass, Sheepshead, Whitefish, Halfmoon, Blacksmith, Shallow water Rockfish, Ling Cod (seasonally) and many others. In the flats around the wrecks and reefs, you find many flats fish including Sand Bass, Sculpin, and Halibut. In addition surface fish like Yellowtail, Barracuda and Bonito also are attracted to the abundance of food around wrecks.

Map of California Shipwrecks and Artificial Reefs with GPS Coordinates

Following is a chart of the artificial reefs and main fishable shipwrecks along the Southern California coastline:

The following table shows the approximate center of the main wreck and artificial reef fishing spots. Many of these cover fairly wide areas, and often the best fishing areas may be entirely different from one day to the next. This means that some trial and error may be needed to find a productive parts of the reefs on any given day.

Best Times of Year for California Shipwerck and Artificial Reef Fishing

Following is a chart of the commonly caught wreck and reef fish, along with the time of year you’re likely to catch them, and the preferred depths. Be SURE to check with the California Department of Fish and Game for the latest regulations on closed seasons, closed areas, minimum size and maximum bag limits on any fish you plan to take. The regulations change often. This information is available on-line on the Cal DF&G; website at: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/

The Best Techniques to Fish the California Shipwrecks and Artificial Reefs

Shipwrecks and artificial reefs are usually fished by anchoring up so that the boat settles over the target. Then baited hooks are sent down into the obstructions. These are generally spotted using a good video fish finder. Usually the wrecks or reefs appear as sudden changes in bottom shape when moving across flat bottomed areas.

The preferred rig in reefs and wrecks areas is the Carolina rig, that is, a 3/4 to 1-1/2 oz sliding egg sinker held 24-36″ above the bait hook with a split shot, swivel, or “Carolina Keeper” plastic bead. In deeper water, a reverse dropper loop is often the hot ticket. Attach a 2-4 oz torpedo sinker on a dropper loop 24-36″ above the bait hook, and send her down baited with a live bait or piece of cut squid. If using live bait, keep changing the bait so it’s lively for best results. Also nose hooking a bait is usually better than gill hooking when fishing the flats. the bait swim more naturally and seem to survive better.

Artificial lures are also useful in the reefs. When Sand Bass and Barracuda are around, a hard metal jig, allowed to sink then yoyo’ed up and down makes an enticing target. Calicos will also hit a hard jig. Rubber swim baits fished bare, or sweetened with a thin strip of cut squid can really knock dead the Bass, Halibut or sometimes Yellowtail, when other techniques aren’t working.