Southern California anglers are catching large and rare fish species due to rising ocean temperatures linked to El Niño and marine heatwaves. Fishermen in Marina del Rey and Santa Monica have reported unusually large catches of yellowtail, bonito, and dorado, with some species reaching up to 25 pounds. Dr. Julia Coates, an environmental scientist, attributes the changes to warmer ocean conditions driven by a marine heatwave overlapping with El Niño conditions. The influx of tropical and pelagic species may temporarily boost fishing opportunities but could have serious environmental consequences if it persists.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Southern California anglers are catching unusually large and rare fish, including yellowtail and bonito, which are typically found in warmer waters off Mexico. The fish are being caught in areas such as Marina del Rey and Santa Monica, with some fishermen reporting the largest catches they've ever seen. According to boat captains Tony Villanueva and Alex Garcia, the abundance of these species is unprecedented, with many anglers catching large numbers of big bonito. The unusual catch is attributed to rising ocean temperatures due to a marine heatwave overlapping with El Niño conditions, which are bringing warmer-water fish into the area. Dr. Julia Coates, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, notes that this phenomenon may have economic implications for local fishing industries, as anglers can catch these species in their own backyard rather than traveling to more distant waters. The rise in ocean temperatures has pushed sea surface temperature above normal, allowing warmer-water fish to thrive in areas where they are not typically found.
Written for “Rare Fish Landed in Socal” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Southern California anglers are seeing an unusual number of warm-water fish as rising ocean temperatures linked to El Niño and marine heatwaves bring species typically found farther south into local waters.
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temperatures → see → waters
Fishermen working in Marina del Rey and Santa Monica are catching fish species, in larger sizes, that are rarely seen in the area.
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that → work → area
Tony Villanueva, a boat captain who has been operating out of the area for years, describes the haul as unprecedented.
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who → operate → haul
“Biggest yellowtail I've ever seen up here,” Villanueva told ABC 7.
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Villanueva → see → ABC
Another captain, Alex Garcia, also said that anglers have been getting unusually large catches.
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anglers → say → catches
“We've been catching a bunch of big bonito,” Garcia said.
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Garcia → catch → bonito
These species of fish are often seen in waters off Mexico, but now they are appearing along the Southern California coast.
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they → see → coast
“People go on overnight trips and pay big money to go catch the fish that we're catching right here, right in our backyard,” Garcia added.
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Garcia → go → backyard
Ocean temperatures off Southern California have risen well above normal due to a marine heatwave overlapping with El Niño conditions.
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temperatures → rise → conditions
Dr Julia Coates, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told the broadcaster that warmer ocean conditions are driving these changes.
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conditions → tell → changes
“Right now we're experiencing warm water due to what's called a marine heatwave,” the scientist told the outlet.
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scientist → experience → outlet
She explained that the marine heatwave is bringing unusually warm water to Southern California, drawing tropical and pelagic species that typically inhabit deeper waters.
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that → explain → waters
These unusual conditions have resulted in these rare sightings for local anglers.
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conditions → result → anglers
“To see a hammerhead shark with yellowtails swimming around it was pretty cool.”
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shark → see → it
Boat captains who have spent decades fishing in the local waters have called it a rare event.
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who → spend → it
“We had fish up to, like, 25, almost pushing 30 pounds.
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Dorado, catching dorado on the anchor right off Santa Monica,” Villanueva said.
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Villanueva → catch → Monica
Garcia observed that water temperatures are significantly higher than normal.
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temperatures → observe → ?
The temporary abundance is exciting; however, it may upend local fishing economics.
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it → upend → economics
Coates added that warmer waters have boosted fishing opportunities; similar conditions in the past have had serious environmental consequences.
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conditions → add → consequences
“We saw a dramatic loss of kelp and kelp forests in Northern CA, that ecosystem was dramatically changed and has not yet recovered,” Coates explained, referring to the previous thermal anomaly.
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Coates → see → anomaly
Villanueva also commented on the effects of unusually warm water farther south.
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Villanueva → comment → water
“Down south, the water's so warm that it's actually killing off some fish because the water's too warm.”
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water → kill → fish
Coates also cautioned against viewing the fish boom as simple good fortune.
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Between 2013 and 2016, Southern California experienced a similar collision of El Niño and extended marine heatwaves during an event called ‘The Blob’.
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California → experience → event
Local fishing operators have plans to continue running trips despite expectations for high surf.
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operators → have → surf
“The fish are out there, it's a really cool time to get out on the water,” Garcia said.
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Garcia → get → water
