I live in Redondo Beach which is the South Bay of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the fishing in January and February is not very good in Southern California. Rock fishing is closed from January 1st- March 1st every year. This includes Snapper, salmon grouper, sheepshead, LingCod, chucklehead, barber poles etc. The White Sea Bass and Yellowtail are also still a few months from biting in earnest. What is left are Sculpin/Sand Bass, very picky Halibut fishing(3-5 per day for (whole party boat) and Humboldt Squid. The majority of boats go in for maintenance during this time, but there are a few still running. The closest ports to downtown Los Angeles are Marina Del Rey, Redondo Beach, 22nd street in San Pedro and Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach. Out of Marina Del Ray you have the spitfire and the New Del Mar. The New Del mar loads up with people, but they catch fish. The Spitfire is a smaller boat and does 3/4 days trips. Out here 3/4 day trips are longer then the one's back in New Jersey. Check out the following links and you should do fine. Hopefully they will load up on sculpin quick and you can try rocks and reefs for sand bass. I would compare a Sculpin to a Sea Robin. Except these sob's will sting you as bad or worse then a wasp. Brutal. Sand Bas you will fish a leadhead and whole squid. Sand Bass fight real good, kind of like tog. They are about the size of sea bass...a real good one is 6 plus lbs. check fish counts on both landings. I would try the spitfire if you go to marina...the New Hustler if you fish Redondo. Of note is that Mackerel are always in abundance. They look exactly like oru boston mackerel in NJ. I see no difference at all. Nobody fishes for them out here, but you can catch them by the dozens. bring some mackerel rigs from the east coast. if you feel some swats as your rig is dropping these are most likely mackerel.
http://www.marinadelreysportfishing.com/
www.redondosportfishing.com
If you freshwater fish you can get a bass guide and fish the reservoirs for monster largemouth and big striped bass that feed on stocked trout. They throw 10 inch swimbaits and do well. Google southern california bass guides.
feel free to ask more questions. If you ski, golf or surf you will be in heaven out here in the Winter. Fishing is kind of in the winter doldrums without the winter. Enjoy.
