Winter is actually a good time for reservations because the kids are in school and the weather is either OK or BAD........but in reality, it isn't often bad.
This pic was from 2 weeks ago @ Pt Mugu (15 miles so of Ventura)
The sites are 65' long and from the road to the ocean (about 300'). Reservations are not site specific (they are all the same anyway).
Reservations are open (almost) any day during the winter (except possibly some holidays). Right now, there are 53 sites open for next weekend.
Refugio (just south of Santa Barbara is great and you can reserve a site #
There's a really nice CG just near there called Faria State Beach. 1st come 1st served (no reservations). Campsites are fairly small but right on the beach. It's a beautiful spot that mostly the locals know about. Weekdays are wide open.
South of Refugio is Carpenteria State Beach. They are a lot busier and the sites are smaller.........beautiful beach..
In Orange County, there is Doheny State Beach and the sites are expensive and some are small but not bad......we go there often too. I would recommend a beach front site, if you can get one.
Farther South is San Elijo. This is our 2nd favorite CG. The Southern most beach front site are the best. As the camp-sites progress north, the sites get higher on a bluff. We only camp here or Doheny if we can get right on the beach.
SoCal State CG are almost all "No hook-ups". If you want hook-ups, let me know and I can recommend the few that are available but I will tell you, they aren't the best sites and never beach front.
Check-out this website for pics of sites by CG name and site #.
http://www.campsitephotos.com/
My wife just reminded me that I forgot our favorite CG of all.
Jalama Beach County Park
http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/cas...jalamabeac.htm
It is very remote, right on the Beach and OK size sites. The only noise that you will hear is the train....it really isn't bad and I don't remember it ever waking me in the night. The draw-back......no reservations. However, if you get there on a Tuesday or Wednesday, you
shouldn't have a problem getting in.......especially in the winter months. I attached a few pics of it.