California · Southern California
STRIPED MARLIN FISHING
IN CATALINA ISLAND
Catalina Island is an excellent destination for striped marlin fishing, with peak season in September, October and good catches in November. Book a charter and target striped marlin with local experts.
About Striped Marlin Fishing in Catalina Island
The striped marlin is the premier Pacific billfish, found in the warm waters off Southern California and Hawaii. These electric-blue acrobats are one of the most beautiful fish in the ocean, known for their spectacular tail-walking jumps and aggressive strikes on trolled lures and live bait.
Striped Marlin are arguably the most beautiful billfish in the ocean, with an electric lavender-blue body crossed by vivid neon-blue vertical stripes that light up during feeding. Found in the warm waters off Southern California (September-November) and year-round in Hawaiian waters, striped marlin are famous for their spectacular aerial displays — tail-walking, greyhounding, and cartwheeling across the surface during the fight. They are the most commonly caught billfish in the Pacific and are the primary target of Hawaii's winter billfish season.
Scientific name: Kajikia audax
Striped Marlin Seasonal Calendar — Catalina Island
Month-by-month availability for striped marlin in Catalina Island, CA.
How to Catch Striped Marlin in Catalina Island
Techniques & Bait
Trolling rigged ballyhoo, trolling lures (Moldcraft, Black Bart), or live mackerel at 7-9 knots is the standard technique. In Southern California, kite fishing with live mackerel suspended near the surface is deadly. When fish are found free-jumping or tailing on the surface, switching to pitch baits (live mackerel or sardines cast to a sighted fish) produces exciting, visual hookups. Fly fishing for striped marlin — teasing fish to the boat with hookless lures, then presenting a large fly — is considered one of fly fishing's ultimate challenges.
Recommended Tackle
Stand-up: 5'6"-6'6" 30-50 lb class rod, lever-drag reel (Shimano Tiagra, Penn International), 30-50 lb line. Light tackle enthusiasts use 20 lb class gear for an extreme fight. Fly: 14-16 weight rod with 400+ yards of backing.
Best Deep Sea Fishing Fishing Spots in Catalina Island
Top spots where local captains target striped marlin and other deep sea fishing species.
Farnsworth Bank
Farnsworth Bank is a submerged seamount two miles off Catalina's leeward coast that rises from 300 feet to within 55 feet of the surface, creating one of the premier fishing destinations in Southern California. Trophy yellowtail, giant black sea bass, white seabass, and calico bass concentrate over the bank's rocky pinnacles and purple hydrocoral gardens.
Catalina's East End
Catalina's East End features deep rock walls and pinnacles that drop into the San Pedro Channel, holding yellowtail, white seabass, bluefin tuna, and calico bass. The east end's currents push baitfish along the rocky coastline, creating feeding lanes that charter boats intercept with live bait.
China Point
China Point on Catalina's windward side features exposed deep-water structure where yellowtail, barracuda, bonito, and white seabass patrol the current-swept rocky coast. The point's position in the prevailing current means it consistently holds baitfish concentrations that attract pelagic predators.
Ben Weston Point
Ben Weston Point on Catalina's south shore faces the open Pacific where deep water comes close to shore, attracting yellowtail, white seabass, and bluefin tuna along the rocky coast. The point's exposure to open-ocean currents brings in pelagic species not commonly found on the island's sheltered leeward side.
Other Species in Catalina Island
More fish you can target while visiting Catalina Island.
Striped Marlin Fishing in Catalina Island — FAQ
The peak months for Striped Marlin fishing in Catalina Island are September, October. During these months, Striped Marlin are most active and abundant in the Catalina Island area.
Striped Marlin fishing charters in Catalina Island are typically deep sea fishing trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Trolling rigged ballyhoo, trolling lures (Moldcraft, Black Bart), or live mackerel at 7-9 knots is the standard technique. In Southern California, kite fishing with live mackerel suspended near the surface is deadly. When fish are found free-jumping or tailing on the surface, switching to pitch baits (live mackerel or sardines cast to a sighted fish) produces exciting, visual hookups. Fly fishing for striped marlin — teasing fish to the boat with hookless lures, then presenting a large fly — is considered one of fly fishing's ultimate challenges.
No — when you book a charter in Catalina Island, your captain provides all required California fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Striped Marlin regulations in California include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Striped Marlin in Catalina Island, you may also catch Rockfish, Yellowtail, White Seabass, Yellowfin Tuna, Pacific Bluefin Tuna. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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