What Yellowtail Means Out of Santa Cruz
A yellowtail on a Santa Cruz report is a different fishery from the one in Southern California. Here the fish come up on bottom trips over deep rockfish ground, not on the surface around kelp.
The local fish
Yellowtail show up on deep-sea cod trips out of Santa Cruz Harbor. Boats fish about 375 ft, high off the bottom, alongside chilipepper and bocaccio. It is a deep rockfish-ground fishery with little in common with the kelp-paddy jack fishing of Southern California.
For the jack’s range and habits, see the California yellowtail species guide. For the Southern California fishery, see the Pacific Southwest yellowtail guide (see also the Pacific Southwest fishing guide).
No set season
No source defines a yellowtail season out of Santa Cruz. Yellowtail turn up in deep-sea cod trip reports, so those reports are what to watch.
| What to watch | Where it shows up |
|---|---|
| Yellowtail named on a trip | Deep-sea cod trip reports |
| Trip length | 5 to 7 hours |
| Fishing depth | About 375 ft |
Where Santa Cruz Yellowtail Boats Run and How Deep
Boats run to the deep rockfish grounds off Santa Cruz. Reports give a depth but no run distance or bearing. For harbor, launch ramp and conditions, see the Santa Cruz port guide.
Depths fished
The fish come at about 375 ft. Chartle’s Santa Cruz fishing report sends trips to 375 to 400 ft and advises fishing high off the bottom for yellowtail, chilipepper and bocaccio.
Our Chart Contours layer shows the 170, 240 and 375 ft bands. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Grounds and Structure Near Santa Cruz
The table lists named local grounds. Only the deep rockfish grounds near 375 ft are tied to yellowtail in reports.
| Ground | Depth | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mile Buoy reef | – | Off the harbor |
| Soquel Hole | 170 ft | Offshore trench off Capitola |
| 3 Trees | 240 ft | Salmon ground |
| South Rock | – | Local ground |
| Four Mile (4 Mile) | – | North of Santa Cruz |
| Davenport Fingers | – | Up the coast near Davenport |
| 601 weather buoy area | – | Bluefin ground offshore |
| Monterey Canyon edge | – | Bluefin area |
Soquel Hole at 170 ft and 3 Trees at 240 ft are well shallower than the roughly 375 ft where cod trips fish for yellowtail. The 601 buoy area and Monterey Canyon edge are bluefin grounds, covered in the offshore gamefish guides.
How Yellowtail Are Fished Locally
Locally, yellowtail are caught on short bottom trips fished high in the water column. Several deep-ground species come up on the same drift.
Deep-sea cod trips
Local yellowtail come on 5 to 7 hour deep-sea cod trips. Stagnaro deep-sea cod reports list yellowtail, and the Velocity runs the trips.
Fishing high off the bottom
Boats fish high off the bottom for yellowtail, chilipepper and bocaccio, which means the fish sit up off the bottom instead of tight to it.
- Trip format: 5 to 7 hours on deep rockfish ground
- Depth: about 375 ft
- Position in the water: high off the bottom
- Companion species: chilipepper and bocaccio
FAQ: Santa Cruz Yellowtail
Is there a yellowtail season in Monterey Bay?
No source defines one. Yellowtail appear on deep-sea cod trips at about 375 ft, and trip reports are the thing to watch rather than a calendar.
How deep do Santa Cruz boats fish for yellowtail?
About 375 ft. Chartle trips fish 375 to 400 ft, high off the bottom, with chilipepper and bocaccio coming up on the same trips.
Is this the same fish as Southern California yellowtail?
The species is the same, but the fishery is not. The local fish come from deep rockfish grounds on cod trips, while the Southern California jack fishery centers on kelp paddies. For the jack, see the species guide above.
Which charter out of Santa Cruz lists yellowtail?
Stagnaro Sport Fishing lists yellowtail. The Velocity runs 5 to 7 hour deep-sea cod trips out of Santa Cruz Harbor.
Do yellowtail hold at Soquel Hole or 3 Trees?
Soquel Hole is 170 ft and 3 Trees is 240 ft, both shallower than the roughly 375 ft where cod trips fish yellowtail. 3 Trees is a named salmon ground.
