Halibut, White Sea Bass, and Monsters! Full Moon CA Surf Fishing Tour on VINCE GOES FISHING
- Vincent Alexander
- Jan 6
- 8 min read
Halibut, Calico Bass, Angel Sharks & the California Surf Fishing Tour Continues
Summer surf fishing in Southern California is always a grind — but when the full moon lines up with warm water, clear conditions, and enough time to cover ground, things can finally click.
These next two episodes of VINCE GOES FISHING'S California Surf Fishing Tour take place across Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties, centered around two key stops: Hook Line & Sinker and Santa Barbara Landing.
What started as a familiar full-moon mission turned into a deeper look at how I approach summer surf fishing, why I keep returning to Santa Barbara, and how persistence eventually pays off — even when the conditions aren’t perfect.
This trip was all about covering water, fishing with intention, and staying flexible as the surf changed day by day.
Why I Fish the Full Moon in Summer
July and August are prime months for me in the surf. The water is warm, bait is present, and the full moon consistently creates movement — especially for halibut and calico bass tight to structure.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Summer surf fishing often means:
Dirty water which requires weedless rigs.
Long stretches without bites.
Learning to fish snagless in heavy kelp, and rock structure.
Fish that show up or bite only in short windows.
But when it works, it really works.
The goal on this trip was simple: fish smart, fish mobile, and trust the process.
Santa Barbara County: FINDING Clear Water and FOLLOWING INTUITION
I kicked things off in Santa Barbara County, where I had to search a few beaches to find clear water. Once I got my bait into high visibility water, it wasn't long before I got my first couple bites. A Halibut and Calico Bass.
Instead of camping on one spot, I focused on covering ground:
Walking and combing long stretches of beach.
Presenting my baits just once, then moving on.
Making fan casts.
Working edges, drop offs, and transitions.
Halibut and calicos in summer are often not where you think they are — But if you keep moving in search of clear, clean water, and keep casting and slowly retrieving your bait, you'll probably find one along the way.
Hook Line & Sinker – A True Santa Barbara Staple
Any time I’m fishing this area, Hook Line & Sinker is a must-stop. The shop isn’t just about gear — it’s about local knowledge and community.
Spending time there helped reinforce what I was already looking for:
Clear water.
Prominent structure.
Sandy bottom drop offs near rocks and vegetation.
It’s always valuable to check your own assumptions against people who fish these waters every single week.
Fishing With Friends & Covering Ground
This stretch of the trip included time fishing with friends — Gary, Kaspar, and Jason — and those sessions reinforced one major lesson:
👉 Summer surf success comes from movement.
We weren’t soaking baits or waiting on one magic cast. We were:
Moving, presenting our bait into fresh water over and over.
Working structure methodically.
Mixing a slow steady retrieve, with intermittent pops of the rod tip.
The fish were there — but they made us earn every bite.
Techniques That Made the Difference
As the trip progressed, success once again depended on strict adherence to proven patterns.
Weedless Swimbaits & Modified Rigs
With grass and structure in play, weedless presentations became critical. Traditional exposed hooks just weren’t viable in many zones.
Running:
Weedless swimbaits
Modified Texas-style rigs
allowed me to fish areas that would otherwise be unfishable — and that’s where the better bites came from.
SLOW, LOW, STEADY. With intermittent upward pops.
Stay slow and low in the water column, offering an easy meal. But pop it up in the water column to reintroduce it occasionally:
Upper column reintroduction of your bait, makes it more visible to a wider radius of fish laying on bottom.
Also helps prevent snags.
Also helps shake off any grass that has fouled your bait.
But try to keep your bait in the strike zone as long as possible. Pausing the bait on a slightly bowed line is a primary technique, for the slow sink effect.
Halibut and White Sea Bass especially respond to lures that stay in the strike zone just a little longer.
The Xtra Long Shank (XLS) Weighted Swimbait Hook by Battlestar Tackle, balances the weight back on the hook, which allows the bait to sink more horizontal, and allows a slower steady sink to the bottom, or swim through the water column. This design also does an extraordinary job of preventing snags.
Santa Barbara Landing
The second half of this two-episode run brought me to Santa Barbara Landing, Where I met Jaime Diamond and learned more about what they are doing to expand the Surf Fishing selection at their shop in the Santa Barbara Harbor. This shop now carries a selection of Battlestar Tackle Co products, including the jerkbaits, swimbaits, and weighted hooks. Stop by soon to check it out.
The Halibut Jungle & a True Sea Monster
The next morning, fishing the kelp structure felt like working through a halibut jungle — endless ambush points, kelp edges, and blind spots where anything can eat your lure.
And then… something did.
But one of the wildest moments of the trip came with a massive angel shark, a true sea monster that reminded me why I respect these waters so much. Encounters like that don’t happen every trip — but when they do, they stay with you.
The Grind, the Misses, and the Payoff
Not everything went according to plan.
There were:
Missed opportunities
Lost fish
Slow stretches that tested confidence
But that’s the reality of surf fishing. The payoff isn’t just the fish you land, it’s the lessons you carry forward. Fish are a bonus.
Every session adds another piece to the puzzle.
Why I Keep Coming Back
Santa Barbara continues to deliver for one reason: it forces you to become a better angler.
You can’t rely on luck here. You can’t force bites. You have to read water, adapt, and stay mobile. I push myself to the limit to make the most of these opportunities. And when I reflect on my experience and share them with you, the reward is multiplied.
That’s exactly what the California Surf Fishing Tour is about.
Watch the Episodes
These two episodes capture the full arc of the trip — from clear-water frustration to hard-earned success:
🎥 Episode 1: Hook Line & Sinker, Full Moon Surf Fishing & Santa Barbara County
🎥 Episode 2: Santa Barbara Landing, Harbor Halibut & an Angel Shark Encounter
Both episodes are now live on VINCE GOES FISHING.
What’s Next on the California Surf Fishing Tour
The tour continues — new counties, new conditions, and new challenges ahead. Every stop adds another layer to the bigger picture, and every lesson carries forward.
If you’re fishing the summer surf, stay patient, stay mobile, and trust the grind.
The bites always come to those who put in the time. 🎣
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Shop at https://www.casurffishing.com/shopall and use code VINCEGOESFISHING for 10% off your entire order and to support Vince Goes Fishing!
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Featured Gear:Â
Daiwa North Coast MH, 9 (NC902MHFS)
Shimano Vanford C5000XG Spinning Reel
Pelican Marine, Waterproof iPhone Case
Join the Community:
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Thanks for watching! As always, fish safe, fish legal, and fish hard. Good luck, and chase your dreams.