August 21st, 2026

We have the best charter giveaways for our anglers! We give away a raffle rod and Cope's Tackle gift card to every fisherman and bring sponsor prizes/giveaways on all our charters! PLUS!! All anglers on Cope's Tackle sponsored trips are automatically entered into our BIG LING OF THE YEAR CONTEST!

August 15th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

September 12th (Departs Friday 9/11), 2026 - Overnight Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

October 10th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

November 14th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

December 12th, 2026 - 12 Hour Charter w/Black Pearl Sportfishing

Reports indicated increased angling in the southern aqueduct, with decent numbers of smaller striped bass being taken on cut sardines, jumbo live minnows, and lures. The artificial-bait crowd did best by getting out at first light and throwing topwater lures, jerkbaits, white tubes, and Flukes on jig heads. The best places to fish remained the areas after the checkgates. Catfish were as reliable as ever for anglers using both Carolina rigs and bait rigs in slower-moving water before and after the gates. Chicken liver, cut bait, and fresh shrimp all produced bites. Largemouth bass went after topwater lures tossed along the aqueduct edges, while Whopper Ploppers cast upstream by anglers walking the duct produced consistent results. Drop-shot rigs were another top producer, along with A-rigs.

Fishing was decent at Castaic, with all species readily available. Bass took topwater poppers and Zara Puppies in bone until about 8 a.m. After that, drop-shot rigs were the top producers in about 20 feet of water, with main and secondary points holding the most fish. The top colors remained shad, baby bass, and purple, while some jerkbait fish were still available along the mudlines. Striped bass boiled sporadically around Center Point and the west ramp, with Riser Baits and Espetites proving to be the best options for hooking up. Otherwise, soaking bait in 50 to 90 feet of water in the ski arm produced 5-pound linesides.

The lake remained at 93% of its storage capacity, and water clarity was poor. The lake was closed to skiing due to an algae bloom, and anglers were cautioned not to eat fish from the lake until further notice. Fishing remained decent overall, with some great days and some not-so-great days. When striped bass boiled, they provided good action for anglers throwing walking topwater baits, bubble rigs, spoons, and flukes, although the fish were finicky at times. Bait anglers continued to catch five-pound linesides near the dam and at Yellowbar on cut sardines, with the freshest frozen bait producing the best results. Trolling Umbrella rigs and A-rigs in 30 to 50 feet of water also landed fish. Largemouth and smallmouth bass took Senkos and Texas rigs along bluff walls and in the holes and pockets of the weed beds, while soft jerkbaits were also effective near the weed beds. Poppers and Espetites worked well until about 8 a.m. for bass. Catfish were readily available for anglers who could get baits into areas without weeds, which generally meant using a boat and fishing cut sardines or chicken liver.

Lake Isabella has dropped to about 33% of capacity and continues to release water, but fishing remains very good throughout the lake. Bass action has been excellent, especially from the shoreline and throughout the North Fork around rocks and trees. Plenty of smaller fish are being caught, but more quality bass are starting to show. Four-inch Keitechs, drop shots, small jigs, squarebills, shallow crankbaits, Flukes, spinnerbaits, and Senkos in shad patterns are all producing, while larger 8- to 11-inch worms in darker colors have also been effective. Oxblood and purple drop-shot worms worked down points to around 20 feet are getting bites as well. The early-morning topwater bite remains solid, with Rocky Point producing some of the better fish. Crappie fishing continues to be steady around the marina on small shad jigs and live shiners, while trout are being caught in the North Fork and around both dams. Boaters trolling leadcore are finding better-quality trout on Needlefish, Tasmanian Devils, and Flicker Shads. Catfish activity has also picked up, with the best action coming during the evening and nighttime hours on frozen shad, SSS Dip Bait, and nightcrawlers.

The Upper Kern has not been stocked for the past couple of months, and anglers are beginning to see more native trout in the mix compared to holdovers. Throughout the popular 20-mile stretch, trout are being caught on artificials, mini jigs, worms, crickets, and salmon eggs. Fly anglers are also doing well with attractor nymphs, bead-head Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, Parachute Adams, and small streamers worked through deeper pockets and behind boulders. On the Lower Kern, the smallmouth bass bite remains steady, with double-tail grubs on finesse jig heads and Roostertails producing fish. Catfish action is also consistent on worms, chicken liver, and cut bait. As of this report, flows are running around 196 CFS on the Upper Kern and 1,106 CFS on the Lower Kern.

Kaweah remained steady at 14% of its storage capacity, and fishing was fair. Bass anglers used small finesse baits on drop-shot rigs, Ned rigs, and mini jigs to coax bites from lethargic spotted bass, with a slow presentation proving key to success. Topwater was also effective during the cooler parts of the day. A standout six-pound bass was reported on a six-inch glide bait. Crappie anglers found biting fish in 15 feet of water over submerged rocks and brush piles. Catfish took cut mackerel and garlic-scented nightcrawlers.

The lake dropped to 22% of its storage capacity, and fishing remained decent for bass anglers using finesse techniques such as drop-shot and split-shot rigs and Senkos. Submerged trees, main-lake points, and the dam held the most biting largemouth bass, with some anglers finding easy limits once they identified the right pattern. Fishing during the early morning and late evening hours proved effective for boating more bass. Catfishing was also good after dark for anglers using cut bait, chicken liver, and dip bait. Crappie reports were sparse, but anglers found biting fish while using small live minnows and mini jigs near submerged trees.

The bass bite at both lakes has been fair to good, with some of the better-quality fish showing up recently. Early mornings have produced strikes on topwater frogs during the gray light hours, while drop-shotted shad-patterned baits and other finesse tactics are picking up a few more fish as the day goes on. The bluegill action remains excellent, with anglers finding steady success on red worms or wax worms fished under a bobber or on a drop shot.

At Ming Lake, the bass flip bite remains productive. Anglers are picking up fish on topwater frogs during the early morning hours, while finesse presentations like drop-shots and Ned rigs have been working well through the day. Crappie are hitting mini jigs and small crankbaits, and the bluegill bite is excellent on worms suspended under a bobber. Carp are also active and can be taken on dough baits.

Largemouth anglers worked their baits close to the cattails using flipping and pitching techniques. Anglers who preferred to avoid heavy cover enticed bass with weightless Green Pumpkin Senkos and topwater frogs along weed lines. Crankbaits produced near rocky cover, and spinnerbaits provided another option close to the weed beds. Crappie anglers did well with small live shiners and minijigs tipped with crappie nibbles. Catfish anglers Carolina rigged fresh shrimp, dip bait, and cut sardines for smaller grade whisker fish.

Bass anglers reported a decent bite at Hart Park, with Texas-rigged six-inch plastic worms in purple, brown, and dark green producing bites. Most of the bites came from beneath the floating weeds, and weedless rigging techniques proved helpful. Topwater frogs and poppers fooled fish first thing in the mornings. Bluegill ate redworms and waxworms, while catfish anglers soaked dip bait on Carolina rigs.

Nacimiento fell to 43% of its storage capacity, while cooler weather made for great spotted bass fishing. Anglers continued to clobber them on poppers, walking baits, and Whopper Plopper-style baits, while weightless Flukes, Kastmasters, and swimbaits also produced when bass pushed baitfish to the surface. Bass took Ned rigs, drop-shot rigs, and hula grubs on main and secondary points in 10 to 20 feet of water, while weightless wacky-rigged Senkos connected in shallower water. Crankbaits produced some of the bigger bass along bluffs and rocky shorelines. White bass played up top, with any topwater lure doing the trick, while spoons and swimbaits also worked. Crappie anglers used minijigs tipped with crappie nibbles to boat plenty of eating-size panfish, and catfish were readily available for anglers using chicken liver, mackerel, and hot dog chunks.

Dana Point, Newport, and the San Pedro/Long Beach fleet continue to see a good mix of yellowtail, bonito, calico bass, and some offshore tuna. Dana Wharf has been seeing steady bonito and bass action, with yellowtail mixed in on the longer trips; on August 16, the Current returned from a full-day trip with 3 yellowtail and a yellowfin tuna for just 6 anglers, while the Clemente had 49 bonito and 8 calico bass on a 3/4-day trip. Newport has also been producing good numbers of yellowtail, with overnight and island trips providing some of the better action. Recent Newport Landing counts included 6 yellowtail, 25 bonito, 30 whitefish, and 15 calico bass for 14 anglers aboard the Aggressor, while other August trips have also seen bluefin tuna showing offshore. Up around San Pedro and Long Beach, anglers are finding yellowtail, calico bass, whitefish, bonito, and sculpin around Catalina and the local banks. A recent 22nd Street Landing half-day trip produced 6 yellowtail, 38 calico bass, and 148 whitefish for 80 anglers. Overall, the best opportunities continue to be yellowtail around the islands, solid bonito and bass action along the coast, and a chance at tuna when the longer-range boats push offshore.

The Channel Islands, Ventura, and Santa Barbara fleets are seeing a good mix of surface action and bottom fishing this week. Around the Channel Islands, calico bass and yellowtail have been the main draw, with some dorado and bonito also showing. On August 17, the Aloha Spirit out of Channel Islands Sportfishing returned with 105 calico bass, 5 yellowtail, and 1 dorado for 30 anglers. Santa Barbara has been seeing very good bonito fishing, with the Coral Sea posting 115 bonito, 23 rockfish, and 22 whitefish for 23 anglers on August 17, while the Stardust had 70 bonito, 41 rockfish, and 22 whitefish for 14 anglers that same day. Rockfish, whitefish, lingcod, halibut, and occasional white seabass continue to round out the catch, while anglers targeting the islands should also be prepared for yellowtail and calico bass around kelp and structure.

Port San Luis and Morro Bay are seeing very good bottom fishing this week, with rockfish and lingcod making up the bulk of the catch and a few quality bonus fish showing. Out of Morro Bay, the Starfire returned August 17 with 170 rockfish, 30 red rockfish, 10 copper rockfish, and 10 lingcod for 21 anglers. A few days earlier, the Endeavor put together an excellent full-day trip with 180 rockfish, 60 bocaccio, 45 red rockfish, and 13 lingcod to 19 pounds for 30 anglers. At Port San Luis, Patriot Sportfishing has also been producing solid rockfish and lingcod counts, with an August 16 trip aboard the Patriot returning with 199 bolina, 14 red rockcod, 10 rockcod, 8 lingcod, and a 25-pound white seabass for 23 anglers. Overall, limits or near-limits of mixed rockfish remain common, lingcod are providing steady opportunities, and the occasional halibut or white seabass is adding some variety to the Central Coast bite.