Warm-water fish like yellowtail and bonito appear off Southern California coast

Fishermen operating out of Marina del Rey and Santa Monica have recently hauled unusually large yellowtail, bonito and dorado, species typically seen off Mexico, in record sizes up to nearly 30 pounds. Captains Tony Villanueva and Alex Garcia describe the catches as unprecedented for the area. Julia Coates of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife attributes the shift to a marine heatwave overlapping with El Niño, which raises local water temperatures to around 76 degrees Fahrenheit.

The warm influx draws tropical and deeper-water fish into Southern California’s coastal waters, creating a temporary boom for sport fishing. However, Coates cautions that past heat anomalies, such as the 2013-2016 “Blob,” caused major kelp loss and lasting ecosystem changes. Local operators plan to keep offering trips despite surf concerns, hoping to capitalize on the rare opportunity.