Artificial Lure here with your California Pacific Coast fishing report for November 1st, 2025—a big day as Dungeness crab season is finally open south of the Sonoma/Mendocino line. Anglers, grab those hoop nets and crab snares—no traps yet due to whale entanglement concerns, but there’s already buzz about quick limits on fresh, meaty crab from Monterey Bay to Half Moon Bay, especially working rocky points and reef edges according to Nor Cal Fish Reports.

Today’s tides are mellow: low tide hit around 6:30 a.m., rolling into a midday high just before 1 p.m. according to Tide-Forecast.com. Sunrise landed at 7:32 a.m., and sunset is right around 6:05 p.m.—so there’s a long window with prime daylight and gentle tidal current changes for both surf and boat fishing.

Weather is classic SoCal autumn: cool fog mornings burning off to clear and breezy—comfortable jacket weather, with water temps hanging near the low sixties. That means rockfish are still pushing shallow, and recent SportfishingReport.com landings show boats like the Dolphin and Tomahawk putting up big numbers—trips last week saw 150 rockfish with heaps of lingcod and ocean whitefish mixed in from kelp lines and deep reefs off Santa Cruz and San Diego.

Long-range boats, like the Pacific Queen, are still finding great bluefin action offshore: this past week, they racked up limits of bluefin tuna, plus a smattering of yellowtail and yellowfin, with big fish pushing over 100 pounds. Fisherman’s Landing urges—if you’re heading out for tuna, bring 80- to 100-pound gear, plus a mix of knife jigs, flat fall jigs, and live bait rigs.

Back inshore, rocky structure is producing with classic gear: dropper loops tipped with squid strips or live anchovies if you can net ‘em, and a 6-ounce leadhead with Gulp! grubs is a local favorite for vermilion and olive rockfish. Around kelp beds, try twitching swimbaits or the reliable Rebel Deep Wee Crawfish crankbait when targeting calico and sand bass.

Surf anglers, don’t overlook corbina and barred surfperch feeding during the incoming tide at beaches like Pacifica and Sunset State Beach. Sand crabs and gulp sandworms are the baits to beat, but a Carolina-rigged motor oil grubs flat out gets bites on light line.Dungeness crab are packed into rocky pockets early season—tie up some chicken legs in a hoop net and check every 20 minutes.

Up in the bays and marinas, spotted bay bass and halibut are still chewing—especially where tidal current sweeps bait near eelgrass beds. Drop shotting a Berkley Gulp! Minnow or working a hammered chrome spoon are top options for picky biters.

Hot lures this month? Chatterbaits in green pumpkin or bluegill patterns, black buzzing frogs over thick mats, and deeper running crankbaits imitating craws—all reported strong on the California Delta this past week, per Major League Fishing’s wrap-up.

For hotspots:
- **Santa Cruz Harbor jetty and Capitola Wharf** for early Dungeness and mixed rockfish.
- **La Jolla kelp beds and Shelter Island pier** in San Diego are still drawing solid bass, sheephead, and the occasional late-season yellowtail.

Remember, the Dungeness opener tends to get crowded—be courteous at the launch ramps, and double-check size and bag limits since regulations can change quickly.

Thanks for tuning in to this Coastal California fishing report. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next update with the inside scoop on seasonal changes and what’s biting by the hour.

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