TCA PENETRATION OF CORRIDOR WITHOUT CLRNC.

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FILED IFR TO VFR ON TOP REQUEST TCA TRANSIT VNY 140 DEG R. TOLD ONLY WAY WAS TO CANCEL AND GO VFR. WX LOOKED OK; SO CANCELLED. CIRCLED (ARSA) WHILE MONITORING BUR APCH EXPECTING CLRNC. FINALLY TOLD TO HEAD TOWARD CORRIDOR. ASKED IF CLRED THROUGH TCA AND TOLD NO. HEADED TOWARD (S) LAX WHILE TALKING TO CTLR; NOTED ON TCA CHART. THE ONLY ROUTES NOTED ON TCA WERE OFF SHORE 1/2-1 MI. COULD NOT FIND AN ALT; BUT RECALLED READING 3500' S AND 4500 N. REAFFIRMED ALT WITH CTLR (LAX). THEY ALSO GAVE ME AN ADVISORY FREQ; 122.5. TURNED OUT TO BE A DISCRETE FREQ. BACK TO LA TO RECHK FREQ AND ADVISE AND WOOPS; WE WERE NOT CLRED TO BE IN OFF SHORE ROUTING (FREQ = 122.75!). SUBSEQUENTLY CHKED COMMERCIAL CHARTS AND; SURE ENOUGH; SHOULD HAVE BEEN OVER LAX; NOT 1/2-1 MI OFFSHORE. HELP! RE-REVIEWING THE TCA CHART REALLY DOESN'T HELP MUCH. THE EXPERIENCE SHOULD HELP ME EXPLAIN TO MANY OTHER PLTS THE CORRECT PROC; BUT THE CHARTS REALLY NEED A COLOR EMPHASIS OR CHANGE. OH YES--WHILE THRASHING ABOUT; I PASSED THE CHART OFF TO A VFR TYPE AND HAD HIM REVIEW IT TO MAKE SURE WE WERE CLR. HE HAD THE SAME PROB.