Fishing San Diego

Utah Fishing Reports & Discussion Utah Fishing General
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Hey folks, I’m taking a road trip of sorts to the San Diego area. We will be staying right near “South Mission Beach”. I’m just going to bring my pole and try to catch something out of the big blue.

Just a few questions. Anybody ever fished near there? Do I need to buy a license to fish in the ocean? If so, where would I get one, and how much would it set me back? Any advice on bait, lures, techniques? I really don’t care what I catch. We are just going to be hanging out on the beach there a bit, and I figured I would try to wet a line if it isn’t too much hassle.

I don’t have the money for a charter or anything like that, so none of that info will be any help. I wouldn’t be opposed to fishing any land locked waters close to the area. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.[fishin]

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Anyone 16 years and older must have a fishing license to take any kind of fish, mollusk, invertebrate or crustacean in California, except for persons angling from a public pier for non-commercial purposes in ocean or bay waters. A public pier is defined in the sport fishing regulations as a publicly owned man-made structure that has the following characteristics: is connected, above the mean high tide, to the main coastline or to the land mass of a named and charted natural island; has unrestricted free access for the general public; and has been built or currently functions for the primary purpose of allowing angling access to ocean waters.

See CDFW - Website Moved

San Diego is blessed with some of the best fishing piers in the state, including two that are nearly 2,000 feet long.

See Latest & Greatest - The Official Travel Blog of San Diego

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just shy of $15 for a one day non resident permit, just under $25 for a 2 day permit. You can buy them online or at a sporting goods store/department.
If you want to fish off a pier instead of the beach, there is no license required.
You can usually buy frozen squid, sardines or anchovies at a bait shop near the pier, then just use a sliding sinker above a hook. I just use my normal freshwater spinning rods with 6-10 lb test. You can go heavier, but you never know. Check seasons and size restrictions on anything you intend to keep.
Alternatively you can spend 5 bucks on a sabiki rig, which will have 5 small hooks with some sort of attractor. You attach a sinker to the bottom, and if the sardines/anchovies/smelt are in close to the dock, you can catch them pretty quick, usually more than one at a time. You can catch mackerel on jigs, spoons or bait as well.
If you want bigger fish, you can still fish from the dock, but might require some sort of gaff hook on a rope or a net you can lower to the water to bring them up. Lots of sharks are caught out at the end of some of the piers. Even then, be prepared as I hooked something big on 20 lb test that just started stripping line as soon as I set the hook, and kept going until the line was cut, presumably by teeth.
Last year we caught a small halibut, an octopus, a couple dozen sardines and a sting ray from one pier in Santa Barbara.
At Christmas time we visited family and caught a lot of smelt and one kelp bass from a pier just north of Camp Pendleton area. The name escapes me at the moment.
Good luck and let us know how you do.

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I fished right on the beach in Newport Beach. I’d say getting the license would be worth it. I used a 6’6" ML Ugly Stick. I didn’t have my own gear, this was a loner from a local who I stopped when he was walking down the street with a fishing pole. He was as kind as they come. He gave me all his local tips, and let me barrow the rod for three days. Similar to previous post, I used around 6 lb. test with about a 3/8 oz. egg slip sinker above a couple beads and a snap swivel. Probably about a 3-4’ leader tied to the swivel with a single hook on the end. Not sure on size or style of hook. These were also provided by the local.

The most effective bate when we were there(June), were the live sand crabs. My nieces and nephews had a blast catching them and filling a small container for me. I would hook them almost right through the middle of the body. The best ones were not to small and not to big, maybe 1.5 inches. You cast to the smooth water right behind the waves as they break. You’ll know what I mean when you see it. It’s not very far out at all. The bigger sand crabs will actually dig into the sand after you cast them out and make it feel like a light snag. It was a blast. High tide is best. We caught a bunch of barbed Perch, all catch an release. But I hear they make a great fish fry. They’re quite a bit bigger and a lot funner to reel in, especially with the waves. My Bro in law caught a NICE black spotted croaker. I also watched my local pal reel in a nice black spotted croaker that he said was pushing the state record. (No idea how valid that was, but it was very cool watching him work it in using the waves.)

The only other bait he recommended was Berkley Gulp Saltwater camo sand worm. We rigged them exactly the same way, but only used a half of a worm on the hook. I didn’t have as much luck with those as the sand crabs, but by bro in law did. I’ll attach a pic of one of the last barbed perch I caught. This is one of the smallest, but the only time a camera was available.

I had no idea what fishing from the beach could be like until this trip. It’s completely different from anything here in Utah, obviously. I’ll be doing it every time I get close to the California beach. Good luck, I hope there is a good report when you get back!

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I was down there (socal) earlier this year and thought i’d do some fishing too. We camped on the beach a little ways north of san diego where i did some beach fishing. Can’t offer any tips on your location but will suggest some equipment. I used a less expensive setup, 7’ M that had 30 or 40lb braid already spooled. The braid came in handy as I had to reel in lots of seaweed on occasion. If you plan to buy a premade leader, I did, it would get expensive to loose the setup and bait if you get many snags or the seaweed ball. Plus, if your pier is high off the water the braided line might give peace on mind while reeling in your catch.

Good luck and post up what you catch.

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Surf perch… those are tasty…

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California has Marine Protected Areas (MPA) that don’t allow any fishing or limited fishing. I know San Diego has a couple of these areas but I’m not sure exactly what the coordinates are. Here’s a link I found CDFW - Website Moved
Just to be safe

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Thanks for the info guys. I’m excited to give it a try. I’ll probably snag a 1 or 2 day license just incase I can’t find a peer. I’ll post a report when I get back… unless I don’t catch anything.

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I vacationed in South Mission Beach this spring. We stayed at the Catamaran Resort in Sail Bay of the Mission Bay complex.

Here is what I learned.

Chrystal pier is real easy to find, you can see it from most anywhere. Give it a try. The fam can hang on the beach right next to the pier. Google it before you go. The pier in Ocean Beach just across the bridge is worth it as well, fishing is better there because of the rocks that are right next to the pier. It should be Mackerel season with many of them in the area. Ask a local for a piece of bait to get you started, then use a piece of your first catch for bait and you’re off to the races. A #6 salt water hook about 3’ (feet) below a standard weighted bobber (I prefer the cigar shaped ones) will get you all you want. They also use hoop nets to catch Lobsters off the pier and I think season opens the 27th of September. Ummmm!

If you get a license, try the end of the rock jetty that goes out of Mission Bay. Be careful of the rocks, they can be slippery. You can catch all manner of fish out there.

The 1/2 day party boats out of Sea-forth Landing are worth it, or were the day we went, both my son and I caught out limits of nice big vermillion and red snapper. Very good eating and at the $7.99 a pound to buy, we caught more than we could have bought. Watch the daily fish counts to see if it is worth it to go out on one. Do not go on a crowded weekend day, the fewer people on board the more attention the mates can give you. (you can see how many are going when you make a reservation, a few more than that will show up) If you think you want to do this, you will need a heavier rod and reel. If it looks like you are going to, PM me and I will loan you an outfit to do it with (save $12) as well as give you some hooks and sinkers that I have left over.
http://www.seaforthlanding.com/pages/fishcount.php

Mission bay also has great fishing, lots of places to wet a line for Halibut, perch, bass and mackerel. Most of the shiney lures and soft swim baits you use here will work there. Jigs with tails, cast-masters, that kind of thing. There are several places you can rent a kayak if you wanted to get out in the bay a little more.
Google the bay and you can see the shallow and deep areas. Search Mission Bay Images on google and there is a map with water depths you can look at too.

If you are driving, you will have room for things, so bring a couple of rods, at least. You can make a sand spike for the rods with a piece of 1 1/2 PVC, cut at a 60 degree angle and pushed into the sand.

I took 7 rods and reels, everything from stand-up rod and 4/0 spooled with #50 to 6’ M/L with 6lb test. The rod I used the most was a 7’ heavy with 12lb that I did a lot of casting with using jigs.

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Oh, yeah, best way to get around is by bike. If you have a secure place to put it at night. (Inside your room)

There is a concrete board walk all along the beach and around Mission bay. There are all manner of restaurants and drinking establishments all along the beach.

Buy your groceries at Ralph’s, they take your Smiths card for all their sales items. (corner of Grand Ave and Mission Blvd.)

For the lobsters you would need a hoop net trap, maybe someone on here has one you could borrow, hint, hint. Use some Mackerel for bait and make sure they are big enough before you keep one. (extra $10 for a report card that must be mailed in so they can track catches)

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I have to agree with seaforth landing. I used them myself several years ago. Very decent and relatively affordable. I want to go again. :slight_smile:

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Surf Fishing is amazing. I haven’t done it in San Diego but from Victoria, BC to Newport Beach I have caught fish from the beach. I use a 12’ Okuma Tundra Rod and Okuma ABF 65 Reel, #20 test and size 1 or 2 Octopus Hook, 3-4 oz. weight at the end of the line depending on the waves. For bait we use Sand Shrimp (you have to tie them to the hook), or Berkley Sand Worms.

With the 12’ rod you can launch that bait out to 90+ yds when you get a hang of it. There are a lot of fish just before the waves break but an extra 20 yds gets you into bigger fish. Also look for depressions in the beach, that is where you will find the surf perch. We always find the most luck.5 hour before low tide and the first hour of the tide coming back in.

Good luck and its a blast.

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Used to fish off the rocks underneath a few of the bridges that cross a few places on Mission Bay. Just used a sliding sinker rig like what is used for trout around here. The key was the bait…blood worms or pile worms, same same I believe. The perch and flounders love’d em. Post up and let us know how you do !

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The charter fishing is dynamite right now. If you don’t have the money, find away to get it.

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The charter fishing is dynamite right now. If you don’t have the money, find away to get it.

Agreed, the 3/4 day trip today resulted in 1.5 Yellow-fin tuna and 3 skipjack tuna average for everyone.
That is $130 plus rod rental.

The 1/2 day got into the Bonito hard and came away with 3 Bonito and a Yellowtail per person average.
That trip is $45.

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We used to fish off a railroad tressle near the nuclear plant between Oceanside and Carlsbad. Opal eyes and bass, we used peas and night crawlers, was way fun. Lots of channel cats in the brackish water further inland. Nothing fancy for gear, just Idaho trout stuff. Ohrah