San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Fishing makes no sense.

Went north of Mission Beach boardwalk this morning, just to switch things up a bit. Caught a couple perch early, and then a ray and a GNSF. I brought spare leader line that ran out on me, and at some point I was just fishing using main line that was all curled up for ...

Marine can be $$ if you don't get choked by salad. Go get em !

Thanks for the report Joe. It's been rough for past month or so. I mentioned to Varney & if you listened/read his report last week, he believes the water temps are a tad too warm resulting in sand crabs (and fish) moving north. I think it also causes the heavy grass/kelp conditions. I recall we went ...

I fished the surf south of Crystal pier about 6:45-7:45 this morning. Water is clear and warm, grass is minimal. Bite was furious early, then steady. Landed 4 BSP, 1 guitarfish and the smallest corbina I’ve ever seen.

Were you able to find sand crabs under the pier ? Fished by T 19-20 last week ...

So, I had three trips to Del Mar and no other fishing since the last report. I enjoyed the fishing, but the story was just the same old thing. I haven't caught a spotfin in three consecutive trips, but it's been a long time since my last trip without at least one chunky corbina in the mix. It was ...

My buddy uses circle hooks and 4oz weights while his rods are spiked. The sinker provides constant resistance. When the fish bites, the circle hooks grabs as they swim away. No need for braid on the main line to prevent stretch. The weight sets the circle hook.


Mike, I'd be interested how your ...

Got out Thursday am for a short session & to check for sand crabs under the pier. Lots and lots, micros to small; gathered up a bunch with roe & a few softies. Another close-by angler mentioned a lot of crab beds appeared at low tide a few days earlier. Tide was only about 1' incoming. Water felt ...

Hey Joe, nice report. Reads like a carbon copy of my session there last week with all those perchies.

jwacky wrote: Thu Sep 18, 2025 10:51 am

Everydog wrote: Thu Sep 18, 2025 10:45 am Notwithstanding, I caught several regular perch, and after about five fishing trips without another good spotfin, one came in around 20".

A 20" perch?!?! Wow! Would have loved to see that!

Believe he meant a 20" spotfin

Nice morning & conditions at Mission Beach by B. Park. Biting fairly aggressively from 6:30 to about 8, then bite went totally dead up to high tide. No big hits from other species. 7 perch total, largest about 9. No visible crab beds but you could find a few just digging here & there. No eggs or ...

Hi Joe, used a variety of baits. Frozen mussel & clam meat pieces which were effective when a perch would hit the whole bait but not so when they go into just a nibbling mode & strip the hook eventually. Also had some freeze dried lug worms which work well too if not just nibbling. Good luck this ...

Thanks for the report Joe. All too familiar. Not sure you're aware of the MLPA boundary If you decide to go north of the pier. The south end of the no fish/take zone is at Diamond St. the big staircase down to the beach. Stay south of it. Seen LG's & DFW folks escort unaware anglers out of there ...

Salted fresh mussel meat & left over blood worms. Firms them up real good. Likely would do the same for clams

Sounds like a profitable day, discounting the salad… I’m not sure if the dolphins affect the fishing but the seals/sea lions swimming in the surf sure do… They’ll shut down the bite faster than a changing tide… I’m curious about the salted clams as well, and will be interested in your findings ...

Past years I've had some good sessions in October into Nov for corbina & spot fins. Haven't been out for over 2 weeks due to conflicts on the home front so can't give you any fresh intel. Hope to soon.

Everydog wrote: Thu Oct 02, 2025 1:41 pm I did catch a nice spotfin around 20 inches this morning, and other than that, all perch.

There you go, nice ! What did it bite on ? With crabs all but gone, I'll be armed next time out with mussel & clam meat, maybe some freeze dried lug worms also.

Last time out a few weeks ago, found some crabs at Mission but no roe or softies, fish wouldn't touch them, not even perch. Don't know if crabs still under the PB pier. Shrimp's a versatile bait, seems particularly good for species around jetties, I tried it in the surf years back, never much luck ...

I listened to Bill Varney's surf report last night and what he reported from the area regarding sand crabs reflected my experiences last weekend: those that were around were large and roe-less. He mentioned that he takes it as a sign to start switching baits with the new season.

I intend to do ...

Midnightpass wrote: Fri Oct 03, 2025 10:08 am I haven't tried market shrimp in eons... Ghost shrimp are pretty much magic for me though...
Butch

I like the ghosties as well Butch. they're $$ for croaker & beans if you can keep the perch away !

Thanks for the re[port Joe. Good to know crabs with roe still under pier. Was going to give it a try yesterday early AM but got scuttled by family obligations. Perhaps just as well. Hoping to get out some time next few days before Priscilla possibly mixes things up later in the week.