Best time to Fish in San Diego for spotted bass?

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

**Best time to target Spotted Bay Bass in San Diego**

- **Seasonal window:** Spotted Bay Bass bite is strongest from late spring through early fall as water temperatures rise. In early fall, when surface temps hover around the mid-60s to mid-70s°F, they’re typically active and shallow around structure.
- **Daily timing:** The prime windows are the first 1–2 hours after dawn and the 1–2 hours before sunset. A bright, sunny day can push them a bit deeper during midday, but you’ll often find the best surface-to-mid-depth bites during dawn and dusk.
- **Tide and water movement:** Look for moving water—incoming or rising tides around pilings, rock piles, and kelp edges. Shallow flats near docks can light up on a rising tide, while calmer channels might hold fish during slack water.
- **Where to fish in San Diego:** Focus on bays and inshore zones: **San Diego Bay**, **Mission Bay**, and the shallow edges near Chula Vista. Structure is your friend: pilings, rocks, and kelp edges hold schools and singles alike.
- **Bait, lures, and tackle:**
  - Soft plastics 2–3 inches on light jig heads (1/16–1/8 oz), drop shot or small finesse rigs work well.
  - Small swimbaits and jerkbaits (2–3 inches) can imitate baitfish when schools push.
  - Topwater plugs and small poppers for dawn/dusk surface action.
  - Line: 6–10 lb fluorocarbon or light braid with a short fluoro leader for abrasion resistance around structure.
- **Techniques that work now:** 
  - Cast or drift along pilings and rock piles; use a slow, erratic retrieve to mimic a fleeing baitfish.
  - If bites slow, switch depths in 2–4 ft increments (shallow for dawn, deeper during warmer noons).
  - Pause occasionally to give fish time to react to a presented lure.
- **Weather note (current conditions matter):** In San Diego today it’s partly cloudy with about 73–75°F and light wind (~10 mph). That wins you some good topwater and shallow bite opportunities in the morning. If winds pick up or skies clear, expect fish to ride a bit deeper; adapt by shallowing or deepening your presentation accordingly.
- **Learning resources:** Videos to sharpen technique:
  - [Spotty Training | Spotted Bay Bass Fishing San Diego Bay](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffR4waBcRUU)
  - [How to Catch a Spotted Bay Bass - San Diego, CA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IpmXDSRkIs)
  - [First SPOTTED BAY BASS in San Diego | Fishing in San Diego](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq0iC8bzN80)
- **Gear map for planning:** A handy map resource is [Fish-N-Map 41241 San Diego Inshore](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001448M0G?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1).

**Bottom line:** In early fall, capitalize on warm surface temps, dawn/dusk light, and moving water around bays with a steady, small-lure approach near structure. Stay mobile, read the water, and you’ll stack up spots in no time. Tight lines and enjoy the scenic San Diego bays! 🐟

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