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April Fishing Update

a person holding a fish in the water

April has been an outstanding month for fishing out of Dana Point! As spring continues to warm up the coastal waters, anglers have been treated to steady action, huge rockfish counts, and a great variety of bottom species. Whether you joined us for a half-day, three-quarter day, or twilight trip, chances are you went home with some great catches and even better memories.

Here’s a full recap of the incredible fishing we’ve had this April so far:

a person holding a fish in the water

Rockfish, Rockfish, and More Rockfish

Rockfish have been the stars of the show all month long, with limits or near-limits reported on many trips. Some of the highlights include:

  • April 5: 785 rockfish landed across 4 boats, along with 201 whitefish

  • April 13: 504 rockfish landed by 5 boats

  • April 16: 318 rockfish landed by 4 boats, plus lots of vermilion rockfish and whitefish

  • April 22: 277 rockfish hauled in by 3 boats

In addition to sheer numbers, we’ve seen excellent quality fish, with a solid mix of vermilion rockfish (reds), boccacio, and big whitefish making their way into coolers.

a man holding a fish a man standing next to a body of water

Other Notable Catches

While rockfish ruled the day, anglers also caught a wide variety of other prized species:

  • Whitefish: Caught consistently alongside rockfish, providing plenty of fillets for the table.

  • Sculpin: A steady secondary catch, known for being great eating—just leave the handling to the deckhands!

  • Sanddabs: These tasty flatfish have been filling out bags on many trips, perfect for a fish fry.

  • Sheephead: Colorful and hard-fighting, sheephead showed up frequently, especially around rocky bottom spots.

  • Lingcod: Several lingcod were landed this month, giving a few lucky anglers the fight (and fillet) they were hoping for.

  • Halibut: A halibut was caught on April 12, always a prized bonus for springtime trips.

Bass Action Heating Up

While bottom fishing has been the main event, there’s been signs that calico bass and sand bass are starting to wake up too:

  • Calico Bass: Caught in good numbers on several trips, especially on April 24, with 13 calicos landed.

  • Sand Bass: A few sand bass also showed up, signaling that summer bass fishing is just around the corner.

Many bass were released to ensure healthy populations as the season ramps up.

Looking Ahead

April fishing has been nothing short of excellent, and we expect the action to continue into May. As water temperatures rise, surface species like barracuda, bonito, yellowtail, and bass should become more active, while bottom fishing will remain strong.

a man holding a fish

If you haven’t booked your trip yet, now’s the time! Whether you’re looking for steady action with rockfish and whitefish, or hoping to hook into something bigger, Dana Wharf Sportfishing has a trip for you.

Come fish with us this spring and see why Dana Point is one of the best year-round fishing destinations in Southern California!

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