This guide to California yellowtail fishing out of Santa Barbara covers when to go, which islands the boats reach, the named grounds, and the local boats that list the fish. Yellowtail can show up here year-round, and they become a target when water temperature and bait allow. It is written for anglers running a boat out of Santa Barbara Harbor and focuses on where to look; for the fish itself, see the species guide.
When yellowtail are around Santa Barbara
Timing here depends on water temperature and bait. Check both before you leave the slip, and read them as numbers. For the wider seasonal picture, see the regional guide (see also the wider Pacific Southwest guide).
Year-round, on temperature and bait
Santa Barbara Sea Charters lists yellowtail as possible year-round. The Log reports that yellowtail become a target when water temperature and bait allow. Expect the fish to be present some days and absent others, depending on the water.
Reading buoy 46053
NOAA NDBC station 46053, East Santa Barbara, is the nearest buoy. Pull water temperature, wind, wave height and wave period from NDBC station 46053 data, then compare against the NWS coastal marine forecast and judge the day from the numbers.
- Water temperature: the first filter on whether yellowtail are a target.
- Wind: speed and direction from the buoy and the forecast.
- Wave height and period: read both together.
Where boats run from Santa Barbara
According to The Log, Stardust’s 3/4-day island trips reach Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. Those two islands mark the range of the fishery from Santa Barbara Harbor. For harbor, launch and conditions context, see the Santa Barbara port page.
Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz is one of the two islands the 3/4-day trips reach.
Santa Rosa Island
Santa Rosa is the other island the trips reach, and most of the named grounds below sit here.
Grounds and structure that hold yellowtail
These are the named grounds and structure near Santa Barbara, with the published depth for each spot. Listed depths run from 10 to 40 ft.
| Ground | Listed depth (ft) | Location note |
|---|---|---|
| Talcott Shoal | 20 | None listed |
| Aggi wreck | 20 | In the Talcott Shoal area off Santa Rosa Island |
| Carrington Point reef | 20 | North side of Santa Rosa Island, east of Brockway Point |
| East End Pinnacles | 40 | East end of Santa Rosa Island |
| Bee Rock | 20 | None listed |
| Rhodes Reef | 20 | None listed |
| Chickasaw wreck | 10 | None listed |
| The Dome | None given | No depth or bearing given |
Chart layers are not for navigation.
Santa Rosa Island grounds
Talcott Shoal works as a cluster, with the Aggi wreck inside it. Carrington Point reef sits on the north side of the island, east of Brockway Point. East End Pinnacles sits at the east end of the island, at 40 ft. Bee Rock and Rhodes Reef have published depths of 20 ft but no location notes.
Wrecks
- Aggi wreck: 20 ft, in the Talcott Shoal area.
- Chickasaw wreck: 10 ft, with no location given.
The Dome
The Dome has no published depth or bearing, so ask local boats about it rather than treating it as a waypoint.
How it is fished here and who fishes for them
Fish are worked at about 80 ft here, a figure separate from the listed ground depths in the table above.
Working depth
Use 80 ft as the working depth, and keep it apart from the 10 to 40 ft figures published for the individual grounds.
Local charters
Three local operations list California yellowtail:
- Stardust Sportfishing open-party trips: boats Stardust and Coral Sea.
- Santa Barbara Sea Charters: Finaddict, a 41-ft sportfisher.
- True Blue Adventures charters: Captain Darryl Spivey.
FAQ
When is yellowtail season in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara Sea Charters lists yellowtail as possible year-round. The Log reports they become a target when water temperature and bait allow. Check water temperature on buoy 46053 before you go.
Where do Santa Barbara boats fish for yellowtail?
Boats on 3/4-day island trips reach Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. Named grounds include Talcott Shoal and East End Pinnacles, both off Santa Rosa Island.
How deep are the yellowtail grounds off Santa Rosa Island?
Listed depths run from 10 ft at the Chickasaw wreck to 40 ft at East End Pinnacles. The local working depth is about 80 ft, which is a separate figure.
What is The Dome?
The Dome is a named ground with no published depth or bearing. Ask local boats about it rather than treating it as a waypoint.
Which charters out of Santa Barbara list yellowtail?
Stardust Sportfishing runs Stardust and Coral Sea. Santa Barbara Sea Charters runs Finaddict, a 41-ft sportfisher. True Blue Adventures runs with Captain Darryl Spivey.
What other offshore gamefish are covered for this coast?
See the coastal and offshore gamefish guides.
