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Big Swell Rolls in for Christmas – Rockfish Closure
Big wahoo down south
A beautiful fishing sunset to wrap up the season for the Excel during their 3-day Aviation and Anglers charter.
Dock Totals 12/15 – 12/21: 552 anglers aboard 28 half-day to 3-day trips out of San Diego landings over the past week caught 1 calico bass, 1 lingcod, 3 rock crab, 2963 rockfish, 56 sand bass, 247 sculpin, 15 sheephead, 2 spiny lobster (2 released), and 160 whitefish.
Saltwater: Rockfish continue to account for the bulk of the catch as we head into the end of the deep water season on December 31. From New Year’s Day through the end of March, rockfish will be closed at all depths in the Southern Management Area until it reopens on April 1 in 50 fathoms (300 feet) or shallower. During that time, most local boats will be targeting bass, bonito, whitefish, sheephead, halibut, and maybe the occasional homeguard yellowtail off the shallow reefs, kelp edges, and sand flats. Folks wanting to catch rockfish between January and April 1 will have to hop onto a boat heading into Mexican waters on extended half-day to 3-day trips down along the northern Baja coast, or head down to Ensenada or San Quintin and hire a local pangero..
The Dolphin will be running their 8th annual Halibut Derby on Wednesdays from January until the end of April. Tickets will be $95 per angler with $10 of that going toward the accumulative jackpot that pays the top three fish caught during the derby. Winnings can build to a few thousand dollars for the first-place fish. Plus, it is a great opportunity to fish San Diego Bay on a big comfy boat that has great burgers and cold beer. Last year, anglers fishing the Halibut Derby in March were rewarded with a solid shortfin corvina bite. Even as crowded as America’s finest city is and as much fishing pressure as it gets, San Diego Bay can be an excellent fishery.
Anglers fishing the surf were doing well this past week for barred surf perch with a few California corbina in the mix, but a large swell rolled in by Sunday the 22nd. That swell made its way down the Pacific coast and pretty much shut down fishing in the surf and offshore for those hoping to get a local trip in over their Christmas break. That said, both bays have been producing some decent spotted bay bass and a few nice halibut. The swell should move out within a couple days, and most half-day boats are still running daily, but it is best to contact your landing of choice for availability and any last-minute notices concerning conditions.
Long Range boats are still killing it way down south, with yellowfin and wahoo putting on a solid show on the lower banks, while yellowtail and grouper have been the favorite targets along the Baja coast. The American Angler reported solid wahoo fishing outside of Bahia Magdalena on their last trip of 2024, with one of their anglers hauling in an impressive 95-pounder. Most boats are now in for Christmas, but a few will be running mid-range 5 to 8-day trips between Christmas and the first of the year.
Though catch totals vary year to year, 2024 has been another great one in the salt, especially for large bluefin tuna and some late season yellowfin tuna that have been above the average in size throughout the range of the fleet along the Baja coast. It did seem cooler than previous years with a La Nina type setup offshore, but the fish did not seem to mind.
Freshwater: The local lakes have been on fire for trout, largemouth bass, and catfish. Stocker trout have been hitting lures and bait with consistency, with tiny tube baits, Kastmasters, and Roostertails working best for the lures, and Powerbait in rainbow color and small Powerworms doing the trick for those using bait.
Bass have been hitting deep on just about any plastic fished low and slow along the steep edges of deeper lakes like Dixon, while catfish have been fired up by the trout activity and are biting cut mackerel and chicken livers best. So, if conditions on the ocean aren’t allowing, hit up one of our great area lakes to calm your wintertime fishing jones. The days will be getting longer from now until June 21st, so whether the beach, bay, lake, or offshore, they’re out there so go out and get ‘em! Merry Christmas!
Here's something you might be interested in.
Big Swell Rolls in for Christmas – Rockfish Closure
Big wahoo down south
Big Swell Rolls in for Christmas – Rockfish Closure
Big wahoo down south
A beautiful fishing sunset to wrap up the season for the Excel during their 3-day Aviation and Anglers charter.
Dock Totals 12/15 – 12/21: 552 anglers aboard 28 half-day to 3-day trips out of San Diego landings over the past week caught 1 calico bass, 1 lingcod, 3 rock crab, 2963 rockfish, 56 sand bass, 247 sculpin, 15 sheephead, 2 spiny lobster (2 released), and 160 whitefish.
Saltwater: Rockfish continue to account for the bulk of the catch as we head into the end of the deep water season on December 31. From New Year’s Day through the end of March, rockfish will be closed at all depths in the Southern Management Area until it reopens on April 1 in 50 fathoms (300 feet) or shallower. During that time, most local boats will be targeting bass, bonito, whitefish, sheephead, halibut, and maybe the occasional homeguard yellowtail off the shallow reefs, kelp edges, and sand flats. Folks wanting to catch rockfish between January and April 1 will have to hop onto a boat heading into Mexican waters on extended half-day to 3-day trips down along the northern Baja coast, or head down to Ensenada or San Quintin and hire a local pangero..
The Dolphin will be running their 8th annual Halibut Derby on Wednesdays from January until the end of April. Tickets will be $95 per angler with $10 of that going toward the accumulative jackpot that pays the top three fish caught during the derby. Winnings can build to a few thousand dollars for the first-place fish. Plus, it is a great opportunity to fish San Diego Bay on a big comfy boat that has great burgers and cold beer. Last year, anglers fishing the Halibut Derby in March were rewarded with a solid shortfin corvina bite. Even as crowded as America’s finest city is and as much fishing pressure as it gets, San Diego Bay can be an excellent fishery.
Anglers fishing the surf were doing well this past week for barred surf perch with a few California corbina in the mix, but a large swell rolled in by Sunday the 22nd. That swell made its way down the Pacific coast and pretty much shut down fishing in the surf and offshore for those hoping to get a local trip in over their Christmas break. That said, both bays have been producing some decent spotted bay bass and a few nice halibut. The swell should move out within a couple days, and most half-day boats are still running daily, but it is best to contact your landing of choice for availability and any last-minute notices concerning conditions.
Long Range boats are still killing it way down south, with yellowfin and wahoo putting on a solid show on the lower banks, while yellowtail and grouper have been the favorite targets along the Baja coast. The American Angler reported solid wahoo fishing outside of Bahia Magdalena on their last trip of 2024, with one of their anglers hauling in an impressive 95-pounder. Most boats are now in for Christmas, but a few will be running mid-range 5 to 8-day trips between Christmas and the first of the year.
Though catch totals vary year to year, 2024 has been another great one in the salt, especially for large bluefin tuna and some late season yellowfin tuna that have been above the average in size throughout the range of the fleet along the Baja coast. It did seem cooler than previous years with a La Nina type setup offshore, but the fish did not seem to mind.
Freshwater: The local lakes have been on fire for trout, largemouth bass, and catfish. Stocker trout have been hitting lures and bait with consistency, with tiny tube baits, Kastmasters, and Roostertails working best for the lures, and Powerbait in rainbow color and small Powerworms doing the trick for those using bait.
Bass have been hitting deep on just about any plastic fished low and slow along the steep edges of deeper lakes like Dixon, while catfish have been fired up by the trout activity and are biting cut mackerel and chicken livers best. So, if conditions on the ocean aren’t allowing, hit up one of our great area lakes to calm your wintertime fishing jones. The days will be getting longer from now until June 21st, so whether the beach, bay, lake, or offshore, they’re out there so go out and get ‘em! Merry Christmas!
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