What is the best time to catch mackerel in San Diego?

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

If you’re a bass angler looking to dip a toe in the salt, the short answer is: target mackerel at dawn and dusk during the mid-summer pattern, with emphasis on the incoming tide and bait activity. Here’s the practical, bass-angler friendly guide to timing and technique in San Diego. 🌅🎣

**When to fish for Pacific mackerel in San Diego**
- **Dawn and dusk are prime windows.** Mackerel feed on bait that starts moving with the sun, so the first light and the last light of day often produce the best action. 
- **Tide matters.** Use the *incoming flood* or the early part of the high tide as your target window. Bait schools push into bays and around piers during these periods, and the mackerel gang up to feed. 
- **Seasonal rhythm in mid-summer.** Water temps in San Diego hover in the mid-60s to low-70s F. On clear, warm days they’ll bite earlier in the morning; when clouds roll in, bite windows can stretch longer. The current San Diego conditions (68.7°F, partly cloudy, light breeze) are typical of a comfortable summer morning bite, especially near structure and bait lines. 🌤️

**Where to look around San Diego**
- Piers and near-shore structure (think Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, and around Point Loma) where baitfish schools attract mackerel and predatory bass snipers alike. If a school breaks up along weed lines or close in with bait, you’ll see a flurry of surface activity. 🐟
- In San Diego Bay, schools often ride the current and push against tides; be ready to shift your position with the tide change.

**Gear and technique that suit bass anglers**
- Start with a simple, *effective rig*: light sabiki or feather rigs to pickup live bait, then switch to a small jig or spoon to target the mackerel. A 1/8–1/4 oz micro jig or spoon is plenty, and you can upgrade to 1/2 oz if the chop picks up. For lures, try bright spoons, small metal jigs, or light plastic swimbaits that mimic baitfish. 
- Practical tip: when you locate a school, drop the sabiki briefly to catch a few live baitfish, then switch to a quick lift-fall jigging cadence to entice bites from the mackerel and the bass cruising nearby. If you’re short on bait, a fast retrieve with a small metal jig can provoke a reaction strike. 
- If you’re curious about real-world setups, check these examples: [Pacific Mackerel with Micro Jigs – San Diego Bay](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy0LfexiLMk) and [Mackerel fishing off San Diego piers – sabiki/jigs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTDgbeue4gQ).

**Weather and current conditions tip (weather-specific)**
- With the current weather (partly cloudy, 68.7°F, light 6.7 mph wind, humidity ~93%), mornings are usually calm and clear, which helps you spot fish near the surface and time your casts. *Weather can flip midday* if sun breaks through, which can push fish deeper or onto structure. If clouds roll back in or the wind shifts, adapt by stepping closer to piers or presenting slightly deeper. 
- Weather summary for mid-summer in SD: warm mornings, cooler evenings, and light onshore flow are common. This tends to favor early bites, with the bite extending a bit on overcast mornings.

**Gear spotlight and links**
- For mackerel-specific lures and rigs, consider items like the Luroad Mackerel Feathers Rigs (10pcs): [Luroad Mackerel Feathers Rig – 10pcs](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JP5CY16?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1).
- Handy spoons and flexible lures: [Navicatch Saltwater Spoons for Mackerel](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNG1M7YS?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1).
- A versatile trolling/rigging kit option: [Clarkspoon Ready to Fish Trolling Kit](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HQYLHNS?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1).
- Watching a few setups can shorten your learning curve: [Redondo Beach Pier – Mackerel fishing with sabiki/jigs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTDgbeue4gQ).

**Short, practical tip**: keep a small 2–3 inch plastic tail swimmer on a light jig in your tackle box. When you locate bait, a quick hop-and-pull retrieve with a bright color often triggers a fast mackerel bite and keeps bass nearby focused on the same school. 🎯

Bottom line: for mid-summer San Diego, chase the mackerel at dawn and dusk, ride the incoming tides, and stay ready to switch from live bait to a jig or spoon as schools move. Stay positive, stay mobile, and you’ll be into action sooner than you think. Tight lines and good luck out there! 🌊🐟

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