In contrast to most artificial reefs which are placed at relatively deep depths so as not to interfere with shipping, rocky breakwaters provide important habitat in the intertidal-shallow subtidal zone. This zone is especially preferred for recruitment by many rocky shore fishes. The breakwaters of King Harbor, Redondo Beach, California enhance this zone. Further, the lee of the outer breakwater provides a stable, quiet water area for numerous Young-of-Year (YOY) fishes. By means of SCUBA we monitored YOY abundance from 1986-1990. During these five years there were dramatic natural and anthropogenic disturbances of the habitat. With little inter-annual variation of upwelling or temperature, fluctuations were found in YOY abundances. Five species, Hypsypops rubicundus, Chromis punctipinnis, Girella nigricans, Heterostichus rostratus and Paralabrax clathratus are rocky reef species which exhibit inter-annual variations of YOY abundance corresponding to the various disturbances. The effects of episodic effects on YOY abundances around a temperate artificial reef are discussed.