Bait Sources — Southern California
Published · Researched 2026-09-20
Research date: 2026-09-20. Workstream: Phase 2 bait guide. Status key: Verified = corroborated by primary or multiple community sources. UNVERIFIED = current operating details (hours, phone, inventory) not rechecked in 2026 — call before going.
Live-bait barges / receivers (finbait & squid)
| Region | Operator | Detail | Status | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Bay | Everingham Brothers Bait Co. | Bait barge serving SD Bay; admin warehouse at 1411 Harding Ave, National City (not the angler-facing receiver) | Verified | baitbarge.com; mylocalservices.com listing; CA State Lands Commission lease PDF (2014); sandiego.gov Mission Bay doc |
| Mission Bay | Everingham Brothers Bait Co. | Bait barge serving Mission Bay | Verified | sandiego.gov Park & Rec doc; baitbarge.com |
| Dana Point Harbor | Everingham Brothers Bait Co. | Barge serving Dana Point Harbor | Verified (presence); current ops UNVERIFIED | Everingham site; BDoutdoors Dana Point threads |
| Long Beach / Alamitos Bay | Long Beach Bait Co. ("Nacho's" barge) | Receiver outside Alamitos Bay; sardines/anchovies, sometimes live squid | Verified (presence); current ops UNVERIFIED | 976-tuna.com post 265030 (May 22, 2026: medium/large sardines); 976-tuna.com (Dec 16, 2021: live squid + 5–6" sardines); jesseshunting.com thread |
| San Pedro (Port of LA) | San Pedro Bait Co. | Barge in Outer Harbor near Cabrillo Marina; historically also operated Newport barge | Verified (presence); current ops UNVERIFIED | freightwaves.com ("Switch and Bait in Los Angeles Port"); sportfishingreport.com fish update |
| Newport Harbor | Newport Bait Barge | Receiver in Newport Harbor; community reports of anchovies/sardines | Presence verified; operator/phone/hours UNVERIFIED | instagram.com/explore/locations/147707002027050; BDoutdoors "Newport bait barge?" (Sep 2025) |
| Oceanside Harbor | Oceanside bait receiver | Bait dock/receiver confirmed by multiple community sources | Operator/hours/address UNVERIFIED | BDoutdoors threads ("oceanside-bait-barge", "oceanside-harbor-input-needed"); bigwatersedge.com thread |
| Ventura Harbor | The Traveler (boat) → receivers | Anchovy/sardine supplied by the bait boat The Traveler; no live squid in ~10–15 yrs | Supply chain verified via community; retail details UNVERIFIED | BDoutdoors "Ventura Bait" thread |
| Channel Islands Harbor (Oxnard) | Cisco's (bait receiver) | Receiver at/near Cisco's; "call for availability" | Presence verified via community; current ops UNVERIFIED | BDoutdoors "Bait Reciever in Oxnard?" |
| Ventura (shore) | Hyun's Tackle Shop | 3695 Harbor Blvd, Ventura — lists live bait | Address verified via shop site; receiver-grade inventory UNVERIFIED | shop.fisherman-hyun.com |
| Ventura (shore) | Mavcco Market Fuel and Bait | 1404 Anchors Way, Ventura — listed by CA State Parks boating facilities | Listing verified; current status UNVERIFIED | parks.ca.gov Ventura Harbor page |
Tackle shops named for worms & specialty bait (community mentions — confirm stock by phone)
| Shop | Area | Named for | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Fish | Seal Beach | Lugworms | BDoutdoors "Lug worms?" |
| Hogan's | Dana Point | Lugworms | BDoutdoors "Lug worms?" |
| Wylie's | Malibu | Lugworms | BDoutdoors "Lug worms?" |
| Bob Sands | (SoCal) | Blood worms ("smellier and stay on a hook") | BDoutdoors "Lug worms?" |
| Turner's Outdoorsman | (SoCal) | Promar Ahi ghost-shrimp pump (29") | Facebook reel / Promar demo |
Key supply facts (verified)
- Everingham's 1411 Harding Ave (National City) is an admin/maintenance warehouse, not a retail bait barge. Do not send anglers there for bait.
- Ventura/Channel Islands receivers: no live squid in roughly 10–15 years (community consensus) — plan finbait only, or catch squid at night yourself.
- Bait barges do not sell "fresh dead" squid — buy a live scoop and freeze it yourself (Bloodydecks consensus).
- Sardine vs anchovy dominance swings with water temperature (wonews.com); receivers cure bait in boxes before sale (BigFishTackle).
- Private boats: 1–3 scoops is the practical range (BigFishTackle).
UNVERIFIED register (bait sources)
- Current operating hours, phone numbers, and scoop prices for every barge — not rechecked in 2026.
- Newport Bait Barge's present operator and seasonal status.
- Oceanside receiver's operator, hours, and exact location.
- Cisco's (Oxnard) receiver's current availability.
- Whether Hyun's / Mavcco function as receiver-grade live-bait sources for boatloads.
- Worm stock/prices at Big Fish, Hogan's, Wylie's, Bob Sands (single community mentions).
- Which barges currently hold live squid (changes weekly — check 976-TUNA bait reports or call).