Creature Feature: Bat Ray

The bat ray is the only member of the eagle ray family to inhabit California’s coastal waters. It is found statewide along the open coast on flat rocky bottoms, in sand patches among rocks, and in kelp beds, but is more common in bays and sloughs. Adults tend to congregate

Creature Feature: California Halibut

California halibut may be found statewide in sandy and sand-mud environments. They have been found at depths of up to 300 ft., but are most abundant in waters less than 60 ft. deep. At times they are especially abundant in

Creature Feature: Starry Flounder

Starry flounder inhabit sand, mud, and gravel bottom habitat in coastal ocean waters, bays, sloughs, and even fresh water, from Santa Barbara northward off California. They may be found in extremely shallow water (only inches deep), to a maximum depth of 900 ft.

Creature Feature: Smelt

Surf smelt (or day smelt) and night smelt are members of the true smelt family. As their names imply, night smelt spawn at night, and surf (or day) smelt spawn during the day. Both are most common from Monterey Bay northward, and usually congregate near river mouths.

Creature Feature: Brown Smoothhound Shark

Off California, the brown smoothhound shark is commonly found from Humboldt Bay southward. It is often caught in bays from San Francisco to Point Conception, and prefers sandy, shallow environments, ranging from near shore to 360 ft. depths.