August 14th, 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

Brutal daytime temperatures kept many anglers home, but dedicated aqueduct anglers got out early to their favorite spots and found good fishing. Striped bass took white and shad patterened jerkbaits in the 128- to 140-mm sizes, but only at first light, after which anglers shifted to bottom-contact lures like tubes and Flukes. The cut-sardine crowd did well below check gates with Carolina rigs and bait rigs, while catfish also took those same rigs when paired with chicken liver or cut bait. Largemouth bass were a bit more lethargic, with the best results coming at night or early in the day. Topwater poppers produced fish, while black soft plastics fooled bass near structure after dark.

Castaic Lake’s water level sat at 93%, and fishing slowed a bit. Bass anglers worked harder for bites with Carolina rigs and drop-shot rigs, with most anglers connecting in the 15- to 20-foot zone, although bass were also located shallow and deeper. Small-profile plastics in purple, green, and shad colors remained the most effective. The topwater bite was available for the first hour or two of the day, with poppers and small walking baits producing the best results. Striped bass boiled in the middle of the lake, but anglers had to be quick with their topwater offerings, as the fish sank out fast. Striper anglers did well in the Ski Arm using fresh-cut sardine chunks in 50 to 90 feet of water. Catfishing remained consistent for anglers using cut bait and chicken liver, although most reports came as bycatch from striped bass anglers.

The lake remained at 93% of its storage capacity, while water clarity remained 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. The good news was that fishing pressure was light. Largemouth and smallmouth bass responded to finesse presentations and Senkos, while Texas rigs were effective around the heavy weed growth. Weightless Fluke-style baits also drew strikes from the weed beds. The topwater bite stalled during the week, but it was still worth trying until the morning shadows receded. Striped bass had been aggressively feeding on cut sardines, but that bite also took a hit. Anglers still caught plenty of five-pound striped bass while soaking baits, although the bite slowed as anglers backed off their limit-style fishing. Catfish took center stage as they greedily grabbed cut sardines intended for striped bass, while chicken liver and nightcrawlers also produced catfish in water as deep as 80 feet.

Water levels have dropped to around 35% of capacity, with releases remaining steady. Despite the continued drawdown, the bass bite remains strong. While plenty of smaller fish are still being caught, better-quality bass are showing up more consistently. Copes staffer David Childress landed a 10.8lbs largemouth Thursday with an A-rig. Topwater action has been good early and late on Spooks and poppers, with jerkbaits also producing. Around brush and structure in the North Fork, anglers are finding success Texas-rigging 8- to 10-inch Rusty’s Big Worms in purple, green pumpkin, and black/blue. Most bass are holding in 5 to 20 feet of water, with surface temperatures around 80 degrees. Other productive presentations include 4-inch Keitech swimbaits, drop-shot rigs, small finesse jigs, square-bills, and shallow-running crankbaits worked along rocky points and submerged structure. The crappie bite remains consistent, particularly around the marina, with anglers catching fish on small shad-pattern jigs such as Get Bent Baits and live shiners under floats. Early morning and late evening have been the best times in 15 to 20 feet of water. Trout fishing remains steady in the North Fork and around both dams, where boaters trolling leadcore with Needlefish, Tasmanian Devils, and Flicker Shads are picking up some of the better holdover trout. Catfish activity has also improved, with better numbers being reported during the evening and after dark on frozen shad, SSS Dip Bait, and nightcrawlers.

The Upper Kern flows are very low and hasn’t received a trout plant in over a month. Anglers are seeing a higher percentage of wild and native trout compared to hatchery holdovers. Throughout the popular 20-Mile stretch, trout are being caught on a variety of offerings, including artificials, minijigs, nightcrawlers, crickets, and salmon eggs. Fly anglers are also finding success with small nymphs and attractor dries worked through the riffles. On the Lower Kern, the smallmouth bass bite remains steady, with fish holding along rocky banks, current seams, and deeper pockets. Double-tail grubs on finesse jig heads and Roostertail spinners have been among the most consistent producers. Catfish are still showing in the deeper pools and slower-moving runs, especially during the evening hours, with nightcrawlers, chicken liver, and cut bait producing the best results. As of this report, flows are running at 250 CFS on the Upper Kern and 1,271 CFS on the Lower Kern.

Kaweah fell to 14% of its storage capacity, and anglers reported another week of finesse fishing for spotted bass. The best technique was dead-sticking small plastics in 10 to 30 feet of water near submerged rock piles. Weightless Senkos and topwater lures also produced bites. Crappie took small live minnows on points in 20 feet of water, and most anglers used electronics to locate schools before fishing. Catfish reports were sparse.

Success fell to 23% of its storage capacity, and anglers connected with largemouth bass while using drop shots, hula grubs, and Senkos. Some of the top-producing colors were Oxblood, Aaron’s Magic, and Margarita Mutilator. There was also a decent spinnerbait and topwater bite in the submerged trees. Crappie held near the docks, and mini jigs and small live minnows were the best ways to coax them out. Catfishing was good for anglers who set up after dark with nightcrawlers, dip bait, and chicken liver.

The extreme heat made fishing a little tougher this past week, but bass action at both the Main and Amphitheater lakes remains fair to good, with larger fish showing more frequently. During the early morning gray light, topwater frogs have been drawing some of the better strikes. As the day warms up, drop-shot rigs with shad-pattern finesse baits have been producing additional bites. The bluegill bite remains excellent, with anglers finding steady action on red worms and wax worms fished under a bobber or on a drop-shot rig.

The bass bite at Ming Lake remains solid, especially for anglers working flipping presentations around cover. Early mornings have been producing good action on topwater frogs, while the midday bite has been better on finesse techniques such as drop-shot rigs and Ned rigs. Crappie are being caught on minijigs and small crankbaits, with some of the better action coming along shaded banks. Bluegill fishing remains very good, with worms under a bobber producing steady catches throughout the day. Carp are also active and can be caught on a variety of dough baits.

Bass anglers reported decent fishing at BV, but it has been important to get your baits where the fish are holding. That has been tight to the cattails and reeds. Pitching, flipping, and weightless offerings all pulled largemouth from the heavy cover. Green Pumpkin was the favored color. Topwater frogs and crankbaits worked for bites as well. Catfish were reliable on dip baits, cut anchovies, and chicken liver, and crappie took small live minnows near the weed beds.

Hart Park anglers reported a tougher bite during daylight hours. Bass anglers caught decent numbers of largemouth while using weedless topwater frogs, punching gear, and black Senkos at night. Bluegill provided good action near the floating weed beds for anglers rigged up with a bobber and any live worm. Catfish anglers soaked nightcrawlers and chicken liver for a few whisker fish.

The lake fell to 45% of its storage capacity, and bass continued to take anything offered on the surface. Poppers, walking baits, and prop-style baits all produced plenty of spotted bass, with most fish in the one- to two-pound range, although some larger models also came out to play. Crankbaits worked for bites along bluff walls, while the usual finesse offerings fooled bass as deep as 30 feet. White bass also took topwater offerings, along with spoons and small swimbaits. Crappie were available for anglers using minijigs and small swimbaits in 15 to 20 feet of water, with some fish holding higher near docks. Catfishing was good for anyone willing to brave the heat, with both cut bait and dip bait fooling whiskerfish.

Around Dana Point, yellowtail have been the standout this week, with good numbers coming from the full-day and overnight boats. On Wednesday, the Dana Pride returned with 32 yellowtail and 4 halibut, while the Fury reported 19 yellowtail and a dorado on an overnight trip. Other boats also posted double-digit yellowtail counts, with bonito, calico bass, rockfish, and a few halibut mixed in. Farther north, the San Pedro and Long Beach boats are also seeing a strong yellowtail bite. The Freedom out of 22nd Street Landing returned Wednesday with 63 yellowtail, 95 bonito, and 55 calico bass, while the Native Sun had 47 yellowtail on its 3/4-day trip. The Amigo’s 1.5-day trip added 22 bluefin tuna, showing that tuna are also within reach on the longer runs. Long Beach Sportfishing’s Victory also put together a strong day with 31 yellowtail along with calico bass, bonito, barracuda, and other bottom species. Overall, yellowtail are providing the most consistent action from Dana Point through Long Beach and San Pedro right now, with bonito and calico bass filling out the counts and opportunities for bluefin on the longer offshore trips.

The Channel Islands, Ventura, and Santa Barbara fleets are seeing a pretty good mix right now, with calico bass, yellowtail, bonito, white seabass, halibut, lingcod, rockfish, and whitefish all showing in the counts. At Channel Islands Sportfishing, the Aloha Spirit had 89 calico bass, 71 rockfish, 4 bonito, and 3 yellowtail for 29 anglers on Wednesday, while the Gentleman added 105 rockfish, 80 whitefish, 70 bonito, 42 calico bass, and a yellowtail. The Graylight also found 30 calico bass and a yellowtail for just six anglers. Ventura has been producing a mixed bag as well, including some very noteworthy offshore action. Earlier this week the Endeavor returned from an overnight trip with 40 bluefin tuna, 2 yellowtail, a dorado, 180 calico bass, 230 rockfish, and 76 sheephead for 22 anglers. Santa Barbara continues to have excellent bottom fishing, with plenty of quality lingcod mixed in. On Wednesday, the Coral Sea put up 239 rockfish, 110 whitefish, 12 lingcod, and 3 halibut, while the Stardust returned with 241 rockfish, 300 whitefish, and 24 lingcod. White seabass and halibut have also been showing periodically in the Santa Barbara counts this week. Overall, the Channel Islands area is offering one of the more diverse bites right now, with good calico bass and bonito action, scattered yellowtail and white seabass, excellent rockfish and lingcod fishing, and even bluefin showing within range of the longer Ventura trips.

Port San Luis and Morro Bay continue to produce steady rockfish and lingcod action. On Wednesday, the Flying Fish out of Port San Luis had 142 rockfish, 5 lingcod, 2 bocaccio, 2 cabezon and a few copper and red rockfish for 15 anglers, while the Patriot returned with 108 rockfish, 11 bocaccio, 9 copper rockfish and 2 lingcod for 19 anglers. Morro Bay continues to see a mix of blue, gopher, vermilion, copper and yellowtail rockfish with lingcod mixed in, especially on the longer trips.