Best time to Fish in San Diego for spotted bass?

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

Hey there, angler! The best time to chase Spotted Bay Bass in San Diego Bay is a mix of light, warm days, moving water, and structure-rich zones. Here’s the practical game plan for early fall.

- **Best times of day**: *Dawn and late afternoon to sunset* are your bread-and-butter windows. The light is nice, the bait is moving, and the bass are more willing to push water. If clouds roll in, the bite can stretch a bit longer into midday, but typically you’ll find the hottest action near dawn and dusk. 🎣🌅

- **Seasonal pulse (early fall)**: Water temps in the low 70s are common, and the bait takes to shallower edges as the bay settles into fall. This makes structure like pilings, rock walls, and weedlines prime targets. Expect calmer, more predictable days compared to the heat of summer.

- **Tides and tides windows**: Spotted Bay Bass love moving water. Plan for an **incoming tide** or the first couple hours around high tide and, if possible, a bite window around the first two hours of the outgoing tide too. Look for bait schools crashing the surface or diving birds—that’s your cue to slow down and work the edges of structure.

- **Where to fish in SD Bay**: Focus on pilings, rock walls, and edges near kelp lines. Common spots include Shelter Island pilings, Coronado Rock walls, and shallow weedlines around the bay. Fish tend to hug structure at 6–20 feet, especially where bait is present.

- **Tackle and lures for the fall bite**:
  - Light jig heads (1/4–3/8 oz) paired with paddle-tail swimbaits or small plastics (2–3 inches) work great for a steady, fish-attracting presentation.
  - Topwater options for dawn: small spooks or poppers to draw quick follow-and-crank strikes.
  - Color strategy: natural shad/ghost to clear water; chartreuse or white when the water is a bit murky or stained.
  - Line choice: 8–15 lb mainline with 8–12 lb fluorocarbon leader for a clean, natural presentation near cover.

- **Techniques that pay off**:
  - Run along pilings and along rock edges, making short, slow hops or steady sightings of the lure near structure.
  - Use a subtle, erratic retrieve in clearer water and a slower, steady pull in stained water.
  - If you see an isolated fish rise or tail, back off and cast a little farther with a precise, tight presentation.

- **Mini-resource pack**: for extra tips, check out these videos:
  - [How to Catch a Spotted Bay Bass - San Diego, CA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IpmXDSRkIs)
  - [Spotted bay bass. What’s the right tackle?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcoPFKFpKF8)

- **Gear picks you can grab now** (great for SD bays):
  - [Fish-N-Map 41241 San Diego Inshore](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001448M0G?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) – handy for finding local structures.
  - [TRUSCEND Top Water Fishing Lures with BKK Hooks](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T1FKL9Z?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
  - [TRUSCEND Fishing Lures for Bass Trout Swimbaits](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09C1QH1DZ?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)

- Pro tip: on calm, sunny fall days, sip your coffee and map out a couple of pilings to hit first light. If birds start circling and bait eruptions pop up, you’re in for a solid session. And if the bite stalls, switch to a slower, tighter approach along the edges—these fish aren’t always in a hurry to bite, but they’re always listening.

Bottom line: plan for dawn or dusk, ride the moving water on incoming tides, target pilings and weed edges, and keep a versatile lure spread (soft plastics, swimbaits, and a small topwater). You’ve got this—go sling some spots and have fun out there! 🐟✨

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🎣 San Diego Bay, San Diego, California