where to fish in la jolla, CA?

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

**Top La Jolla spots & how to fish them** 🎣

- **La Jolla Cove / Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve** — beautiful but *mostly protected*: great for sight fishing (kayak/snorkel views) and spotting structure. Note: parts are no-take; **check regulations** before hauling gear. 🪵
- **La Jolla Shores** — sandy drop-offs and nearshore kelp edges; good for surf/shore anglers targeting *sand bass, halibut, calico bass* with soft plastics, live anchovies, or bait rigs.
- **Scripps Pier** — excellent for snagging bait (anchovies/bonito), and for pier anglers: ghost shrimp, sand bass, and rockfish when legal. Live bait here fuels your boat or kayak trip. [How to catch bait at Scripps Pier](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pnW_BkxURA) 🪝
- **Kelp beds & kelp paddy edges (along the coast)** — calico/kelp bass, bonito, and occasional yellowtail under floating kelp. Work poppers, soft swimbaits, or metal jigs around edges.
- **La Jolla Canyon (offshore)** — the deep canyon is where *yellowtail, bonito, and larger pelagics* hang out. Best accessed by boat or experienced kayak anglers prepared for offshore conditions. Try vertical jigging or live-bait chumming. See kayak/legal tips: [Kayak fishing & legality in La Jolla](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIuU1ix2N-g).
- **Rocky reefs & drop-offs** — great for lingcod, sheephead, and rockfish. Use heavier jigs/leadheads and beefier leaders.

Practical rigs & tackle
- For nearshore bass/calico: 10–20 lb braid with a 12–20 lb fluorocarbon leader; jigs, swimbaits, and topwater poppers work great. *Slow, structure-focused presentations catch picky fish.*
- For yellowtail and offshore: 30–50 lb braid with 40–80 lb leader taper; metals, live bait, and vertical jigging are go-to techniques. Practice dropper loops and strong hooksets. 🔩

Late-fall notes & weather
- In *late fall* water temps start cooling and fish can move deeper or concentrate on canyon edges — plan for deeper jigging or seeking bait schools. Check swell, wind (NW/night winds can make shore/kayak fishing rough), and tides — incoming or slack near structure often improves bites.

Safety & rules
- Always check local MPA boundaries (La Jolla has reserves), wear a PFD for kayak/boat, and watch currents/kelp entanglement.

Helpful watching & gear
- Watch local trip vids for spot ideas and tactics: [Calico bass trip in La Jolla](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phuRG6E65jU) and [Lingcod/Sheepshead kayak session](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3twQ07btEc).
- Fresh tackle to try: [TRUSCEND Swimbaits on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GP1DL4K?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) and an all-purpose lure kit like [GOANDO Fishing Lures Kit](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DY9NGQV?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1).

Tight lines — get out early, pick your spot based on swell/tide, and enjoy one of SoCal's most scenic fisheries! 👍

🎣 La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA

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