About 209 Bank

209 Bank is an outer-exposed drop-off off San Diego, where a mixed bottom falls away through depths of 180 to 300 feet. The structure draws warm-water pelagics through summer and fall, with dorado and yellowfin tuna peaking July through October and albacore running Jun through October. Pacific bluefin tuna hold from April through September, while yellowtail concentrate along the edges from July through September. Dorado respond to kelp paddy fishing with live sardines and anchovies or surface iron, and yellowfin come to live bait such as sardines, anchovies, and mackerel worked over the deeper water. For bluefin, kite fishing with flying fish or live mackerel covers the surface, while jigging with knife jigs and flat-fall jigs reaches fish holding down the drop.