Is Catalina Island good for fishing?
Catalina Island Fishing is legendary Catalina Island’s many coves, beaches, and reefs offer an incredible array of fishing habitat. Schools of mackerel, sardines and smelt are abundant around the island and attract larger sport fish, like Yellowtail and White Sea Bass.
What type of fish are around Catalina Island?

Schools of mackerel, sardines and smelt are abundant around the island and attract larger sport fish, like Yellowtail and White Sea Bass. When pier fishing, be sure to stay clear of the Garibaldi, the bright orange fish that’s visible around the harbor, it has protected status and is California’s State Marine Fish.
Can you fish from shore at Catalina Island?
Catalina Island Shore Fishing Avalon Harbor is a great spot to cast from, too. Most anglers shore fishing in Catalina come here for Calico Bass. Given that there’s kelp all over the island, this should come as no surprise. Blue Perch, Halibut, Sheephead, and even Yellowtail are in the cards too.
What is the best bait for yellowtail snapper?
Small pilchards, chunks of bonito, or silversides are the best baits but just about anything will work if they are chummed up. If there is a strong current, jig heads or split shots can be employed to get baits down to the strike zone.

What are the orange fish off Catalina Island?
Garibaldi
The Garibaldi, known historically also as the Catalina goldfish and marine goldfish and now commonly as the Garibaldi damselfish (Hypsypops rubicundus) is a species of bright orange fish in the damselfish family. It occurs in the subtropical northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean.
How deep does a yellowtail snapper go?
50 to 80 feet
The general depth for yellowtail fishing is usually 50 to 80 feet of water, depending on the wind, current and the location you’re fishing.
What is the biggest yellowtail snapper ever caught?
10 pounds 9 ounces
Jeffrey Bowles now holds the Florida State Record for the largest yellowtail snapper! The fish was caught about 100 miles off Naples in the Gulf of Mexico and weighed 10 pounds 9 ounces.
Why is garibaldi illegal?
One reason the garibaldi is protected in California is its popularity as a salt water aquarium fish, for which a law was passed to make it illegal to remove them from their habitat. The male garibaldi is the housemaker of a mating pair.