Everything You Need to Hook Up and Head Out… for the most part.
Before you dive into this article, understand this is a blog post, not a textbook. There are entire volumes written on offshore fishing in Southern California, each dissecting regional nuances, fishing techniques, and gear preferences. This isn’t that. This is your crash course to get you up to speed; the gear checklist to get you offshore-ready with confidence. This article covers recreational saltwater fishing basics for Southern California offshore trips, making it a helpful starting point for beginners, experienced, professional, and recreational anglers alike.
We’ve organized this article into categorized essentials and tips, highlighting must-have gear and product recommendations from Melton Tackle. Use this guide to learn what you need for a successful offshore trip, and adjust based on your preferred brands, species targets, and style of fishing.
Southern California Offshore: Know Before You Go
SoCal’s offshore waters, from the 9 Mile Bank to Tanner, Cortez, and La Jolla Canyon, are loaded with opportunity. These rich marine fisheries, including local bays and coastlines, offer a variety of saltwater fish species for anglers to target. You could be fly lining sardines for yellowtail one moment and bouncing for lingcod the next. With fish under constant pressure, having dialed-in gear isn’t optional, it’s your competitive advantage. Anglers can find productive fishing spots by researching local marine resources and identifying key areas.
Melton Tackle has equipped generations of West Coast anglers with the gear suited to thrive in these demanding marine fisheries. Here’s everything you need, broken down by category.
Rod & Reel Combos: Build Your Core Arsenal
Live Bait Setup
The two-speed Talica gives you fast pickup and torque for hard-pulling fish like yellowtail and tuna. Paired with the Seeker Super Seeker Live Bait Rod, this setup is ideal for fly lining sardines or anchovies near paddies or in open water.
Surface Iron Setup
Reel: SHIMANO Trinidad 20A
The Seeker Ulua may seem like a monster rod, but once you’ve thrown with it, it’s hard to get off it. It loads beautifully on the cast and offers the parabolic bend needed to keep fish pinned on long runs. Combine it with the smooth retrieve of the proven Trinidad 20A for fishing irons like the Tady 45.
Bottom Rig Setup
This setup is your go-to for deep water structure fishing. Perfect for bounce ball or dropper loop fishing for rockfish and lingcod.
Line & Leaders: Where Stealth Meets Strength
Braid (Mainline)
- PowerPro Maxcuatro 65lb: Thinner diameter means more line capacity and better depth control. This braided line is suitable across all three setups.
Fluorocarbon Leaders
- Seaguar Blue Label Fluorocarbon Leader 25-50lb: This leader material is nearly invisible underwater and critical for getting bit in clear conditions. Adjust the pound test based on target species and structure. Blue label is the go-to all-around for Seaguar, the workhorse of their Braid line, if you will.
Hooks, Swivels & Terminal Essentials: Your Toolkit
Hooks, sinkers, swivels, these are your most-swapped items, and forgetting them can kill a trip. Make sure to bring plenty of each type of terminal tackle, and keep track of the number of hooks, sinkers, and swivels you pack. Having a list of terminal essentials helps ensure nothing is forgotten before heading offshore.
Hooks
- Owner Mutu Circle Hooks: Great for live bait, self-setting in the corner of the mouth. You’ll want an assortment of sizes #4,#2, 1/0, 3/0, which should do the trick for most saltwater species you’ll encounter.
Sinkers
- Lead Masters Rock Cod Sinkers (6-12oz): Necessary for bottom fishing or when the current is strong. If you prefer a different shape, like a torpedo sinker, that’s entirely up to you. The main component is to get to the bottom and get there quickly.
- Lead Masters Egg Sinkers: Used for live bait presentations to drift bait naturally.
Other Must-Haves
- Rubber Bands
- Diamond Fishing Glow Beads and rubber stoppers for bottom rigs.
Lures: Match the Hatch, Trigger the Strike
Fishing Lures allow you to cover water and trigger aggressive reaction strikes, key when the fish are moving fast or not responding to bait.
- Tady 45 Irons(Mint/White or shiny greenback): A SoCal classic for yellowtail and bonito. Slow, steady retrieve over paddies, boilers, or working birds.
- Salas 6X Iron(Scrambled Egg): Drop it to the bottom, crank it up fast. Deadly for yellowtail, especially in winter months. When you’re marking fish and squid have been in the reports, there are few lures that outfish this one.
Vertical Jigs
- Nomad Design Streaker Jigs(120g): Excellent when fish are suspended or on meter marks. Works in both drift and current for bluefin and yellowtail.
- Hookup Baits Jigs: Pre-rigged and versatile. Cast-and-drop technique for sand bass, rockfish, and even yellowtail. I know what you’re thinking: how could this lure be in the recommendations? They are just so simple. I know, but facts are facts, and just trust me, they WORK! Get different sizes and weights for different applications, from bouncing on the bottom for rock cod to slow-twitch retrieve for white sea bass.
Storage, Safety & Support Gear
Offshore saltwater fishing can go from calm to chaos fast, plan ahead. Before departure, check that all required safety gear and documentation, including your fishing permit, are on board.
- Reliable Fishing Products Insulated Kill Bags: One of the best innovations for the skiff fisherman. This cooler does the trick in keeping your catch cold and full of ice. The nice thing is the ability to mold to just about any spot in the boat, maximizing space.
- Melton Tackle Fillet Knives: Stainless blade with just the right flex for tuna, yellowtail, or rockfish.
- Mercer Sport BPX 5.9" Skinning Knife: When it comes to gutting and gilling large fish like tuna and yellowtail, you need a sharp, stout knife to get it done. The choice of veteran anglers.
- Accurate APXL Split Tip Piranha Pliers: Cut braid, crimp leaders, and remove hooks. Corrosion resistant and ergonomic.
- Shimano Baltica Tackle Bags: Perfect size for single day or multiday, personal craft or sport boat.
The Southern California sun is relentless. Protect yourself so you can stay focused on fishing.
- AFTCO Samurai Hooded Performance Long Sleeve Shirts: UPF-rated, moisture-wicking, and vented.
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AFTCO Samurai Hooded Performance Long Sleeve ShirtsFrom: $27.30
Was: $39.00
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Final Pre-Trip Checklist
- Rods and reels for bait, iron, and bottom
- Braid, fluoro leaders, top shots
- Hooks, sinkers, jigs, and swivels
- Soft plastics and surface irons
- Cooler, knife, pliers, gloves
- Sun gear, hydration, and snacks
- Valid saltwater fishing license & local regs printed
Southern California marine fisheries offer endless opportunity, but it's the prepared saltwater angler who cashes in. Conditions change, bite windows close quickly, and gear failures aren’t an option 20 miles offshore.
At Melton Tackle, we've curated the best gear in the game to help you stack the odds in your favor. Whether you're an old salt or new to the saltwater fishing scene, investing in quality tackle pays off in the form of more bites, fewer headaches, and epic days on the water.
Remember, researching and reviewing available data in your state can increase your chances of success on deep-sea or shore fishing trips. So spool up, gear up, and load up, the banks are calling.
