Best Time to Fish San Diego

When to fish San Diego

Each row is shaded against that species' own best month here, so a dark cell means a good month for that fish rather than a comparison between them.

Yellowtail: January none, February poor, March fair, April good, May good, June excellent, July peak, August peak, September peak, October good, November poor, December none. White Seabass: January poor, February fair, March peak, April peak, May peak, June peak, July excellent, August fair, September poor, October poor, November poor, December poor. Kelp Bass: January poor, February fair, March good, April good, May excellent, June good, July good, August good, September good, October fair, November fair, December fair. California Halibut: January poor, February fair, March peak, April peak, May peak, June peak, July good, August good, September fair, October poor, November poor, December poor. bluefin tuna: January none, February none, March poor, April good, May peak, June peak, July peak, August peak, September peak, October excellent, November poor, December none. Yellowfin tuna: January none, February none, March none, April none, May poor, June good, July peak, August peak, September peak, October peak, November poor, December none. Dorado: January none, February none, March none, April none, May none, June none, July peak, August peak, September peak, October good, November none, December none. Rockfish (Aggregate): January fair, February fair, March fair, April good, May good, June good, July good, August good, September good, October fair, November fair, December good. California Sheephead: January fair, February fair, March fair, April good, May good, June good, July good, August excellent, September excellent, October good, November fair, December poor. Lingcod: January excellent, February good, March fair, April fair, May fair, June fair, July fair, August fair, September fair, October good, November good, December good. Bonito: January none, February poor, March fair, April good, May excellent, June peak, July peak, August excellent, September good, October fair, November poor, December poor. Albacore tuna: January none, February none, March none, April none, May none, June poor, July peak, August peak, September peak, October fair, November none, December none. Barred Sand Bass: January poor, February fair, March good, April fair, May good, June peak, July peak, August excellent, September fair, October fair, November poor, December poor. Bluefin tuna: January none, February none, March fair, April good, May excellent, June peak, July peak, August peak, September excellent, October good, November poor, December none. Cabezon: January good, February good, March fair, April fair, May fair, June fair, July fair, August fair, September fair, October fair, November good, December good. Calico Bass: January poor, February fair, March good, April good, May good, June excellent, July excellent, August good, September good, October fair, November poor, December poor. California Barracuda: January none, February poor, March fair, April excellent, May peak, June peak, July peak, August peak, September good, October poor, November none, December none. Canary Rockfish: January good, February good, March fair, April fair, May fair, June fair, July good, August good, September good, October fair, November good, December good. Chinook Salmon: January poor, February peak, March peak, April peak, May good, June none, July none, August none, September none, October none, November none, December none. Coho Salmon: January none, February none, March none, April none, May none, June none, July none, August none, September none, October none, November none, December none. Copper Rockfish: January good, February fair, March fair, April fair, May good, June good, July fair, August fair, September good, October good, November good, December good. Cowcod: January good, February good, March good, April good, May good, June fair, July fair, August fair, September fair, October fair, November fair, December fair. Halibut: January poor, February good, March excellent, April excellent, May excellent, June excellent, July good, August good, September fair, October poor, November poor, December poor. Kelp Greenling: January good, February good, March good, April good, May fair, June fair, July fair, August fair, September fair, October good, November good, December good. Leopard Shark: January poor, February fair, March good, April good, May good, June excellent, July peak, August peak, September excellent, October fair, November poor, December poor. Mackerel: January fair, February fair, March good, April good, May good, June good, July excellent, August excellent, September good, October good, November fair, December poor. Nearshore Rockfish: January fair, February fair, March fair, April good, May good, June good, July good, August good, September fair, October fair, November fair, December fair. Ocean Whitefish: January fair, February fair, March good, April good, May good, June good, July good, August good, September good, October good, November fair, December fair. Sablefish: January good, February fair, March fair, April fair, May fair, June fair, July fair, August fair, September good, October good, November good, December good. Sculpin: January fair, February fair, March poor, April fair, May good, June excellent, July excellent, August excellent, September good, October fair, November fair, December fair. Shark - Blue: January poor, February poor, March good, April excellent, May excellent, June excellent, July excellent, August excellent, September good, October fair, November poor, December poor. Shiner Perch: January fair, February good, March good, April good, May good, June good, July good, August fair, September fair, October fair, November fair, December fair. Skipjack tuna: January none, February none, March poor, April good, May excellent, June peak, July peak, August peak, September peak, October good, November none, December none. Striped marlin: January none, February none, March none, April none, May poor, June fair, July peak, August peak, September peak, October peak, November none, December none. Surfperch: January fair, February good, March good, April fair, May good, June good, July good, August fair, September fair, October fair, November fair, December fair. Swordfish: January none, February none, March poor, April fair, May good, June peak, July peak, August peak, September peak, October excellent, November fair, December poor. Wahoo: January none, February none, March none, April none, May none, June none, July poor, August peak, September peak, October peak, November poor, December none.

• Yellowtail. San Diego yellowtail show a strong spring push (April–June) as warming water and squid spawns draw fish to the Coronado Islands and local kelp beds, plus a robust late-summer/early-fall peak (Aug–Sep) when warm water and bait migrate north. Winter presence persists at reduced levels since resident and southern-holding fish never fully vacate, especially in warm ENSO years, so the curve dips but never hits zero.
• White Seabass. White seabass show a strong spring spawning aggregation off La Jolla and kelp beds peaking March–May as water warms and squid spawns draw fish in, with a secondary late-summer bump (July–August) tied to warm currents and bait; winter presence is lowest but they remain resident year-round in San Diego waters, never fully absent.
• Kelp Bass. Kelp bass are resident year-round in San Diego's kelp and reef structure, so the curve never hits zero. Abundance concentrates fish onto shallow reefs during the late-spring/early-summer spawn (May–July) when they aggregate and warm water peaks activity, with a secondary bump in early fall; winter cold pushes them deeper and disperses them, lowering catchable density.
• California Halibut. San Diego California halibut are present year-round but concentrate inshore on sand flats and bay mouths during the spring-summer spawn when water warms into the 60s. A secondary late-summer push (Aug) follows grunion and anchovy spawns, with abundance tapering through fall as fish disperse to deeper offshore sand.
• bluefin tuna. Pacific Bluefin have shifted to a near year-round presence off San Diego since ~2014, but biomass still peaks late spring through early summer (May–June) as schools push north into the Bight, with a secondary fall peak (Sept–Oct) before fish drift offshore/south. Mid-winter shows the lowest abundance as the bulk of fish hold further south and offshore in warmer water.
• Yellowfin tuna. Yellowfin are warm-water migrants tied to SST above ~65-68°F, so they're biologically scarce off San Diego in the cold winter/spring and build through summer as the water warms. Peak abundance runs roughly late July through September when warm water and bait push fish within range, then tapers through fall as water cools and fish move offshore/south.
• Dorado. Dorado are a warm-water pelagic absent from San Diego waters most of the year, arriving as the kelp paddies and 70°F+ water push north in mid-to-late June. Peak abundance hits August through early September when SST is highest and paddies are stacked, then fades sharply through October as water cools and fish retreat south.
• Rockfish (Aggregate). San Diego rockfish (vermilion, reds, bocaccio, chuckleheads, etc.) are resident, structure-oriented fish present year-round on local banks and the 9-Mile, 43-Fathom, and 60-Mile. Biological abundance is fairly flat with a modest summer-fall peak as warmer water pushes schools shallower and recruitment of young-of-year boosts numbers; winter sees fish deeper and slightly more dispersed but never absent.
• California Sheephead. California sheephead are resident reef fish present year-round on San Diego's rocky structure and kelp beds, so abundance never drops to zero. Peak biological presence occurs late summer into early fall (Aug–Sep) when warm water concentrates fish on shallow reefs and spawning aggregations form, with a mild winter lull as larger males move deeper.
• Lingcod. San Diego sits at the southern edge of lingcod range, so they're resident year-round on offshore reefs and banks (Coronados, 9-Mile Bank) but never super abundant. Late fall through early spring (Oct–Mar) shows the strongest presence as cooler water pulls fish shallower and pre-spawn/spawning aggregations concentrate on rocky structure, with a slight dip in summer when warm surface water pushes them deeper and more dispersed.
• Bonito. Pacific Bonito are resident year-round in San Diego waters (especially the bays and kelp edges) but abundance swells dramatically with warming water. Twin peaks reflect the spring push (late April–May) as schools move inshore and the late-summer/early-fall peak (Aug–Sep) when warm water and bait concentrations maximize numbers, with a winter low when many fish move offshore or south.
• Albacore tuna. Albacore historically appeared off San Diego from late June through October as warm offshore water pushed within long-range and overnight reach, peaking August through mid-September. Stocks have largely shifted north/west in recent years, but the classic biological abundance window remains a sharp summer/early-fall pulse with full winter absence.
• Barred Sand Bass. Barred sand bass concentrate on San Diego's flats and spawning grounds from late spring through summer, with the classic pre-spawn and spawn aggregation peaking late June through July when fish ball up on sand-edge structure. A secondary late-summer warm-water bump persists into August/September before fish disperse to deeper, scattered structure in fall and winter; they remain in the region year-round but are far less concentrated and harder to find.
• Bluefin tuna. San Diego bluefin have become increasingly resident year-round in recent years, but abundance builds through late spring as warming water and bait push fish inshore, peaking early summer through early fall (June–October). Winter shows the lowest but non-zero presence, as some fish remain in local waters rather than fully departing.
• Cabezon. Cabezon are resident reef ambush predators in San Diego's nearshore rocky habitat year-round, so the curve stays broadly flat near baseline. A mild summer/early-fall bump (late June–September) reflects post-spawn recovery, warmer shallow water concentrating fish on accessible structure, and peak feeding activity; a small late-winter dip corresponds to spawning when males guard nests and females move less.
• Calico Bass. Calico bass are year-round residents on San Diego's kelp and reef structure, so the curve never hits zero. Peak abundance and activity occur late spring through early summer (Apr–Jun) during the spawn when fish stack on shallow reefs, with a secondary bump in early fall as water stays warm and bait is thick; winter shows reduced activity as fish move deeper and feed less in cold water.
• California Barracuda. California barracuda migrate into San Diego waters as inshore temps cross ~62°F in spring, with peak biomass from late April through early June as spawning aggregations stack up off the kelp edges and bays. A secondary plateau holds through summer into early fall on warm-water years, then fish retreat south of the border by November, leaving a low resident winter presence.
• Canary Rockfish. Canary rockfish are deepwater residents present year-round off San Diego's offshore banks and deep reefs, so the curve stays close to baseline. A modest late-summer through early-fall peak reflects warmer surface waters concentrating fish at accessible deep-shelf depths and improved sea conditions for offshore deep drops, with a slight dip in late winter when storms scatter and disperse the schools.
• Chinook Salmon. Chinook salmon are biologically absent from San Diego waters year-round. San Diego is well south of the Chinook's southern range limit (the San Lorenzo/Monterey area being the practical southern bound), and warm Southern California Bight waters do not support this stock.
• Coho Salmon. Coho salmon are biologically absent from San Diego waters year-round. Their native range ends well to the north (historically central California at the southern extreme), and warm Southern California Bight temperatures preclude any meaningful presence.
• Copper Rockfish. Copper rockfish are resident year-round on San Diego's hard-bottom reefs, so the curve stays near baseline with no biological absence. Modest peaks reflect post-spawn dispersal into shallower structure in late spring and the strong fall feeding window (Sep–Nov) when YOY recruitment and warmer inshore water concentrate fish on accessible reefs.
• Cowcod. Cowcod are long-lived, non-migratory deepwater rockfish (100–300+ fathoms) residing in fixed rocky-bottom habitat within San Diego's Cowcod Conservation Areas year-round, so biological abundance is essentially flat with no seasonal runs. Minor recruitment and slight aggregation shifts exist but are negligible at weekly resolution, keeping the curve at baseline throughout.
• Halibut. San Diego's California halibut (often called Pacific halibut locally) peak in spring (March-May) when spawning adults move onto sandy flats and bays in 20-80 ft, with a smaller late-summer bump as warm water concentrates fish nearshore. Numbers thin through fall and winter as fish disperse to deeper offshore structure, but the stock is resident year-round so weights never hit zero.
• Kelp Greenling. Kelp Greenling are at the extreme southern edge of their range in San Diego — they are uncommon residents of rocky reef and kelp habitat year-round with no true migration, so the curve is broad and flat. Slight summer/early-fall lift reflects warmer-water juvenile recruitment and stronger nearshore kelp canopy structure, while winter shows minor dip from storm-driven habitat disruption.
• Leopard Shark. San Diego leopard sharks are present year-round but concentrate heavily in La Jolla shores from April through June when pregnant females aggregate in warm shallow water to gestate, creating the strongest peak. A smaller secondary bump occurs in late summer/early fall as juveniles and males remain in bays, while winter sees the lowest densities as many sharks disperse offshore to cooler, deeper water.
• Mackerel. Pacific mackerel are present in San Diego waters year-round but show a strong spring spawning peak (March–May) when schools concentrate inshore, with a secondary late-summer pulse as juveniles recruit. Abundance dips slightly in late fall/early winter as cooler water pushes schools deeper and offshore, though they never fully leave.
• Nearshore Rockfish. Nearshore rockfish (e.g., calico/sand bass mix structure, but for true rockfish—gophers, browns, blacks, vermilions on local reefs) are resident year-round in San Diego waters, so the curve stays near baseline. Slight summer/early-fall peak reflects warmer water concentrating fish on accessible nearshore reefs and post-spawn feeding aggregations, with a mild late-winter dip during peak spawn dispersal and rougher seas pushing fish deeper.
• Ocean Whitefish. Ocean Whitefish are year-round residents on hard-bottom structure off San Diego (Coronados, 9-Mile Bank, 182, 178), so the curve stays relatively flat. Biomass peaks in late winter/early spring (Feb–Apr) when cooler water concentrates them on shallower rockpiles before warm summer water pushes them deeper and disperses them; a secondary minor uptick comes in fall as water cools again.
• Sablefish. Sablefish are deepwater (600–3000 ft) residents off San Diego's continental slope with no strong migratory pulse, so the curve stays broad and flat near baseline. A modest late-summer through early-fall peak reflects post-spawn feeding aggregations and juvenile recruitment to slope depths, while late winter/early spring shows a slight dip as adults move deeper to spawn.
• Sculpin. California scorpionfish (sculpin) are resident year-round on San Diego rocky reefs and structure, so the curve stays relatively flat. Biological abundance peaks late summer through fall (Aug–Oct) when adults aggregate inshore at 80–150 ft to spawn, with a modest dip in late spring as fish are dispersed and deeper post-spawn.
• Shark - Blue. Blue sharks are present year-round off San Diego but abundance peaks late spring through early summer (May–July) when offshore water warms into the 62–68°F sweet spot and they push inshore following squid, mackerel, and pelagic forage. Numbers taper through late summer as warmer surface water and competition with makos/threshers push blues offshore and north, with a winter low when cooler water keeps most fish deeper and further out.
• Shiner Perch. Shiner perch are year-round bay residents in San Diego (Mission Bay, San Diego Bay) with no true absence, so the curve never hits zero. Peak abundance clusters in late winter through early spring (Feb–Apr) when livebearing females aggregate in eelgrass shallows to release young, with a mild summer dip as fish disperse to deeper, cooler water during warm months.
• Skipjack tuna. Skipjack are warm-water migrants that arrive off San Diego as surface temps climb through late spring, with peak abundance during the warm-water push of July–September when tropical/subtropical water pushes north. They thin out sharply through fall as water cools and are essentially absent in the cold winter and early spring months, though warm-water years (El Niño) can extend their presence.
• Striped marlin. Striped marlin arrive off San Diego as warm-water offshore banks (like the 425 and 43 fathom) heat up in late summer, peaking from late August through late September when water temps and bait schools are ideal. They largely vacate the region by late fall as SST drops, remaining biologically absent through the cold winter and spring months.
• Surfperch. Barred surfperch are resident year-round in San Diego's surf zone, so abundance never hits zero. The strong late-winter/early-spring peak (Feb–May) reflects the spawning aggregation when gravid females move into shallow beaches, with a mild summer dip as fish spread out and slightly cooler-preferring perch move deeper in warm water.
• Swordfish. Swordfish are present year-round off San Diego in deep offshore waters but peak in late summer through early fall (Aug–Oct) when warm water and the deep scattering layer of squid and baitfish concentrate them along the canyons. Winter presence is reduced but never zero, as broadbill remain in the region's deep basins.
• Wahoo. Wahoo are rare warm-water strays off San Diego, appearing only during late-summer to fall warm-water incursions (often El Niño years) when SST pushes past 70°F; peak abundance is late September through October, with total biological absence the rest of the year as the region's water is too cold.

Common questions about San Diego