About Hidden Bank

Hidden Bank is an outer, exposed mud flat off San Diego, sitting in 1,050 to 1,100 feet of water where the bottom holds groundfish and passing pelagics alike. Yellowtail and Pacific bluefin tuna drive the summer season, with yellowtail peaking July through September and bluefin running May through September, while lingcod take over from October through February and rockfish hold across nearly the full year. The deep mud also supports California halibut in spring, from March into June, alongside barred sand bass in the June through August window and mackerel through the summer. Anglers working the depth here rely on live bait and yo-yo jigging for yellowtail, vertical jigging and dropper-loop bait fishing over the mud for lingcod and rockfish, and kite fishing or flylined live bait for bluefin. Drift fishing with live anchovies and sardines covers the halibut and sand bass across the flat.