Spearfishing at Anacapa Island
A Guide to Diving, Spearfishing and Kayaking Off California’s Wildest Island
Spearfishing, Diving & Kayaking: How to Experience It All in Oxnard
When most people think of diving, they picture vibrant coral reefs and warm, turquoise waters. But just an hour off the coast of Oxnard, California lies a very different kind of underwater paradise – one that’s rugged, raw, and bursting with life. Welcome to Anacapa Island, part of Channel Islands National Park and one of the least-visited national parks in the U.S. Often referred to as California’s Galápagos, it’s a hidden gem for spearfishers, scuba divers, and nature lovers.
How to Get to Anacapa Island for Spearfishing
To reach Anacapa, most visitors depart from Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard. Island Packers is the official park concessionaire and offers regular boat trips to the island for both day-trippers and overnight campers. For those diving, Ventura Dive & Sport, The Spectre Dive Boat, and Peace Dive Boat offer chartered dive trips to the Channel Islands, including multi-day excursions.
Where to Dive & Spearfish
Anacapa Island is made up of three islets: East, Middle, and West Anacapa. Most recreational activity happens off East Anacapa, home to the iconic Arch Rock, the famous Anacapa lighthouse, and several dive sites.
- The southern side of Anacapa is open for spearfishing and recreational diving. Here, you’ll find abundant kelp forests, rocky reef structures, and strong fish populations thanks to years of conservation.
- The northern side is part of a fully protected Marine Protected Area (MPA), where no fishing or harvesting is allowed. These no-take zones are critical for conservation, helping regenerate reef life and increase the strength of the surrounding fishery.
Fish Species & Kelp Encounters
Diving in a kelp forest is unlike anything else. Diving in kelp is a surreal experience. Unlike coral reefs, where life generally exists beneath you, in a kelp forest you are surrounded on all sides – left, right, up and down – by an incredible reef environment. Giant strands sway like underwater palm trees. Garibaldi flash orange in the shadows. California Sea Lions dart past you, weaving through the kelp fronds. It feels like you're floating through a living cathedral.
Common target species for spearfishers include:
- California Sheephead – a favorite for ceviche
- Calico Sea Bass – very abundant but make sure they are a legal size!
- California Halibut – hiding camouflaged on the seabed
- White Sea Bass – lurking in the shadows otherwise known as “Ghost Fish” and a crown jewel of California spearfishers
- Yellowtail – more often found circling kelp paddies in deeper water
If you’re lucky, you might even spot a giant black sea bass – protected and rare (DO NOT SPEAR THEM), these submarine-sized fish can grow up to 7 feet and were nearly hunted to extinction before making a comeback in these waters.
Tips for First-Time Spearfishers
- Gear Up: You’ll need a 5mm or 7mm wetsuit (even in summer), weight belt, freediving fins, low-volume mask, a fishing license and a speargun. Make sure your boat has a dive flag and might want to bring a float line if you're venturing farther offshore for bigger fish.
- Check Conditions: Visibility can vary quickly and is impacted by factors such as swell, wind and tide. Use sites like Windy or Surfline to check marine forecasts. Avoid diving in heavy swell or poor viz for safety. The best conditions to dive are when there’s small swell, as little wind as possible and high tide.
- Permits: A California fishing license is required for spearfishing. Abide by all state and park fishing regulations.
- Respect the MPA boundaries – they’re clearly marked on NOAA charts and dive maps. GPS is helpful for staying legal and ethical.
- Practice Freediving Skills – Outfitters like Blue Tuna Spearfishing offer freediving classes and sell freediving & spearfishing equipment.
Beyond Spearfishing
After you land some fish, another fun way to explore the island is by kayak. You can paddle beneath Arch Rock, taking in swarms of seabirds, blowholes, and rugged cliffs. Depending on the size of the swell and wind, the difficulty of kayaking can vary, so make sure to check conditions ahead of time. Outfitters like Channel Islands Kayak Center rent kayaks and offer guided trips when conditions allow.
Paddling around Anacapa gives you a real sense of the island’s scale – jagged cliffs, swarms of seabirds flying overhead, and a shoreline teeming with reef life. Exploring Anacapa by kayak is one of the best ways to take in its raw beauty, offering a front-row seat to wildlife, sea caves, blowholes, and hidden coves you’d never see from land or by boat.
Tips for Kayakers
- Check Conditions: Heavy swell and strong wind can make kayaking around Anacapa difficult and potentially dangerous. If you are new to kayaking, it is best to go with a guided group.
- Be Prepared: Make sure you have a personal floatation device (PFD or life jacket) with you. It is also encouraged to wear a wetsuit, which will keep you warm and buoyant if you take an accidental swim.
Scuba Diving at Anacapa Island
Anacapa Island offers some of the most unique and awe-inspiring diving in North America, earning its nickname “The Galápagos of North America.” Anacapa boasts a diverse marine ecosystem shaped by both cold northern and warm southern currents. Divers of all levels can explore vibrant kelp forests, dramatic underwater rock walls and protected marine reserves teeming with Garibaldi, sea lions, giant sea bass and even shipwrecks. With excellent visibility, varied dive sites like Coral Reef and Cathedral Cove, Anacapa Island is an underwater photographer’s dream and you will be sure to come home with some amazing photos. Dive access is easy via full-service dive charters like Raptor Dive Boat, Spectre Dive Boat and Peace Dive Boat.
How to Cook Your Spearfishing Catch
If you do decide to fish or spearfish on the island, there’s no better way to end the day than bringing your catch back home and sharing it with friends. You can turn sheephead into an amazing ceviche with a few simple ingredients, grill up some white seabass and make the best fish tacos you’ve ever had, or break out the handrolls and a cold beer with your fresh caught yellowtail – no restaurants, no reservations, just the day’s catch, good friends and a shared appreciation for the sea.
There’s something deeply rewarding about harvesting your own food, sharing it with others and ending a day of adventure with a meal you earned. It grounds you. It connects you. You work for it, respect it and enjoy it so much more. And it turns a day on the water into a night you’ll remember. That’s what the Channel Islands give you – not just adventure, but something meaningful to bring back home.
Conclusion
If you live in Southern California and haven’t made it out to Channel Islands National Park, now’s the time. Whether you’re spearfishing, scuba diving or exploring by kayak, Anacapa Island offers one of the most vibrant, untouched marine experiences in the country – and it’s right in your backyard.
*Photography by Davis Huber