California · Southern California
STRIPED MARLIN FISHING
IN LONG BEACH
Long Beach is a solid destination for striped marlin fishing, with peak season in October and good catches in September, November. Book a charter and target striped marlin with local experts.
About Striped Marlin Fishing in Long Beach
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 — Long Beach
Month-by-month availability for striped marlin in Long Beach, CA.
How to Catch Striped Marlin in Long Beach
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 Long Beach
Top spots where local captains target striped marlin and other deep sea fishing species.
Catalina Island
Catalina Island lies 22 miles off Long Beach and its rocky reefs, kelp forests, and deep banks hold trophy calico bass, yellowtail, white seabass, giant sea bass, and bluefin tuna. The island's clear water and diverse structure provide world-class fishing on day and overnight trips from Long Beach.
14-Mile Bank
The 14-Mile Bank is an offshore underwater ridge roughly 14 miles from the Long Beach coast where bluefin tuna, yellowtail, barracuda, and bonito concentrate over structure in the San Pedro Channel. The bank is a premier destination for pelagic fishing during warm-water months when tuna push through.
Horseshoe Bank
Horseshoe Bank is an offshore structure in the San Pedro Channel where yellowtail, barracuda, and bonito congregate over underwater ridges and depth transitions. Charter boats from Long Beach troll and drift the bank during summer for quality pelagic catches within reasonable range.
San Pedro Channel Deep
The deep waters of the San Pedro Channel between Long Beach and Catalina hold bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, and swordfish during warm-water events, with the channel's depth exceeding 2,500 feet. Long-range charter boats work the channel's structure and current edges for trophy pelagic species.
Other Species in Long Beach
More fish you can target while visiting Long Beach.
Rockfish
Yellowtail
White Seabass
Lingcod
Yellowfin Tuna
Pacific Bluefin Tuna
Mahi Mahi
Albacore Tuna
Striped Marlin Fishing in Long Beach — FAQ
The peak months for Striped Marlin fishing in Long Beach are October. During these months, Striped Marlin are most active and abundant in the Long Beach area.
Striped Marlin fishing charters in Long Beach 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 Long Beach, 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 Long Beach, you may also catch Rockfish, Yellowtail, White Seabass, Lingcod, Yellowfin Tuna. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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