The water temperatures off the Southern California Coast continue to drop with the water temperature in most areas currently ranging from the high 50’s into the low 60’s. Despite the cooling of the water there is still some surface fishing to report with an occasional 20 to 30 pound class yellowtail being caught off La Jolla.
The water is warmer down the Mexican coast and boats on long range trips fishing areas within 3 day range of Point Loma have been finding some yellowfin tuna and bluefin tuna biting. Very few boats have been fishing the yellowfin and bluefin but Seaforth Sportfishing recently had Polaris Supreme return from a 3 day trip with a catch of 87 yellowfin tuna and 6 bluefin tuna.
With the exception of the occasional 20 to 30 pound class yellowtail being caught off La Jolla, Most of the fishing going on along the San Diego Coast and at Los Coronado Islands has been mixed bag fishing for good numbers of the cooler water species such as reds, rockfish, sculpin, sheephead, whitefish, bass and an occasional halibut.
Boats fishing in Mexican waters at spots around Los Coronado Islands have been finding very good bottom fishing for a mix of reds, rockfish, whitefish and a few lingcod. The best areas have been in 25 to 60 fathoms while fishing hard bottom areas to the northwest, north and northeast of North Island. Another productive zone for these species on the Mexico side of the border has been at the lower end of the 9 Mile Bank.
When fishing on the U.S. side of the Mexico border, Southern California anglers need to take note that through December 31 that the take of “Nearshore” rockfish, cabezon and greenling is prohibited and these may not be possessed. In addition, “Shelf” and “Slope” Rockfish and lingcod cannot be taken shoreward of the 50 Fathom Rockfish Conservation Area Boundary Line which is a series of connected waypoints as defined in Federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C).
Looking ahead, on Jan 1, the annual seasonal rockfish closure in U.S. waters will go into effect and you will then have to travel into Mexican waters to fish for rockfish during the closure period. You can view specifics about the seasonal closures at the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov.
Anglers fishing areas outside of the 50 Fathom Rockfish Conservation Area Boundary Line have been finding very good fishing for a mix of reds, rockfish and a few lingcod at places such as the 9 Mile Bank, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Box Canyon and the 14 Mile Bank.
In a report about north San Diego County waters, Captain Joe Cacciola of Sea Star with Sea Star Sportfishing and the Oceanside Sea Center reports that there has been very good rockfish fishing in 600 feet of water at spots between Carlsbad and the Swami’s MLPA. Cacciola reports that the more productive half day trips have been coming home with near limit to limit numbers of chili peppers and Mexican rockfish. Cacciola also mentioned that Oceanside Sea Center boats out on three-quarter day trips have been doing very well on an assortment of rockfish while fishing at spots off Del Mar.
Elsewhere, places in closer to the coast have been producing a good mix of sand bass, calico bass, sculpin and whitefish along with an occasional yellowtail or halibut. Imperial Beach is producing a good mix of sculpin and sand bass at the Imperial Beach Pipeline and there have also been some sand bass and an occasional halibut biting outside of the Imperial Beach Pier. What has also been productive for sand bass has been the hard bottom to the north and northwest of Buoy #3 at Point Loma. Also productive for sand bass has been the hard bottom around the Whistler Buoy at Point Loma.
A couple of weeks ago there were several days of good yellowtail fishing at La Jolla but the bite has since cooled off to where there has just been an occasional yellowtail being reported. The nice thing is that if you do get a yellowtail it is likely to be a memorable big one that is up in the 20 to 30 pound range. The San Diego out of Seaforth Sportfishing has regularly been fishing the yellowtail at La Jolla and recent trips have been posting catches that include an occasional yellowtail. As an example of the recent fishing, the San Diego had 12 anglers on a local three-quarter day trip catch 1 yellowtail, 2 calico bass, 3 sculpin, 20 sheephead and 2 whitefish.
The yellowtail have been biting on sardines, mackerel, live squid, yo-yo iron and surface iron. Seaforth Sportfishing has been suggesting including within the tackle that you bring a 30 pound test outfit for flylining live baits and a 40 to 50 pound test outfit for fishing with yo-yoed iron. At times there have been squid available to catch for bait. Areas where squid have been found have been Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Torrey Pines and Carlsbad
Good choices for yo-yo iron include Salas 6X and Salas 7X jigs in blue and white and scrambled egg colors. Good choices for surface iron include Tady 45 and Salas 7X light jigs in blue and white, mint and sardine colors. .
Most of the yellowtail are located by finding sonar marks and meter marks with occasional small spots of breaking fish also being seen under working birds. An effective technique for private boaters has been to slow troll with mackerel or sardines while looking for a meter mark to stop on and fish with yo-yoed iron, live squid or sardines. A couple of the better areas for a chance at a yellowtail have been the outskirts of the MLPA closure zone at the lower end of La Jolla and the area to the west of the Hotel at the upper end of La Jolla.
A few halibut have been biting along the San Diego County coast and one of the better areas has been outside of the Imperial Beach Pier in 30 to 45 feet of water. Other areas that might be worth a try include the sandy bottom next to the structure of the Yukon Shipwreck off Mission Beach and the sandy bottom next to the structure of the sunken NEL Tower off Mission Beach. Going further north, look for a chance at finding some halibut activity in the area below the MLPA closure zone at the lower end of La Jolla. In north San Diego County waters, areas that might be likely to produce a halibut include South Ponto Beach, the sandy bottom next to the structure of the Buccaneer Pipeline and the sandy bottom next to the structure of the artificial reefs outside of Oceanside.
The seasons continue to change as we progress further into the cold water time of year but good news is that we have had a lot of good weather days and that there is still plenty of good fun fishing to be found. I hope you can get out on the water on one of those good weather days and find some good fishing! Keep on fishing and I hope to see you out on the water sometime soon!
Bob Vanian is the voice, writer and researcher of the San Diego-based internet fish report service called 976-Bite which can be found at www.976bite.com. Vanian also provides anglers with a personal fish report service over the telephone at (619) 226-8218. He always welcomes your fish reports at that same phone number or at [email protected]
