Coronado fishing

[Mike A]

Youngster has a soccer tournament the first Saturday in December. 1st game is at Coronado Cays Park at 7:45 am. 2nd game is about noon at a different location on Coronado. I have about 2 1/2 hrs in between games. Any recommendations where to fish ? Seems like across the street from the would work.

[Perch killer]

Straight walk to the beach at the red light intersection across the highway. Have not fished it in a few years because of the pollution. Some big perch & hali's can be had there. Suggest waders, don't expose bare legs especially not if any open sores, wounds, etc. Give it a go if you don't mind some turd rollers !

[jwacky]

Note that that is a very busy street (basically a highway) and I think you’d have to access the beach by going under it. I circled the access point in the pic below.

I’ve only fished Coronado a couple times with no luck, although it was much earlier in the year when I was first starting with this so it could’ve been more user error. It was always so flat and grassy when I fished it.

I also got my car towed one of the times for an expired registration (!). It was in process, just needed a smog check which was pending. And since it happened on Memorial Day I couldn’t get the car for a couple days which cost me a couple days of “storage” fees at the tow yard. Very frustrating but entirely unrelated to fishing, haha. Still, it left a bitter taste in my mouth about that location.

Hopefully someone with much more experience can chime in on Coronado/Silver Strand!

[Bendo]

You want to fish the Bay side, Spotfin, Yellowfin, Corvina, Bonefish. Ghost Shrimp are the Bait of choice.

[Perch killer]

Note that that is a very busy street (basically a highway) and I think you’d have to access the beach by going under it. I circled the access point in the pic below.

I’ve only fished Coronado a couple times with no luck, although it was much earlier in the year when I was first starting with this so it could’ve been more user error. It was always so flat and grassy when I fished it.

I also got my car towed one of the times for an expired registration (!). It was in process, just needed a smog check which was pending. And since it happened on Memorial Day I couldn’t get the car for a couple days which cost me a couple days of “storage” fees at the tow yard. Very frustrating but entirely unrelated to fishing, haha. Still, it left a bitter taste in my mouth about that location.

Hopefully someone with much more experience can chime in on Coronado/Silver Strand!

You're right about the access at the Cays, Joe. I was referring to the next traffic signal at the exit to the SS camp area/parking lot. When exiting, if you make a left to cross the highway, then turn either left or right by the housing, there's free street parking in either direction but more to the right. From there it's a short walk to the traffic signal to cross the highway and you're right on the beach.

[jwacky]

Note that that is a very busy street (basically a highway) and I think you’d have to access the beach by going under it. I circled the access point in the pic below.

I’ve only fished Coronado a couple times with no luck, although it was much earlier in the year when I was first starting with this so it could’ve been more user error. It was always so flat and grassy when I fished it.

I also got my car towed one of the times for an expired registration (!). It was in process, just needed a smog check which was pending. And since it happened on Memorial Day I couldn’t get the car for a couple days which cost me a couple days of “storage” fees at the tow yard. Very frustrating but entirely unrelated to fishing, haha. Still, it left a bitter taste in my mouth about that location.

Hopefully someone with much more experience can chime in on Coronado/Silver Strand!

You're right about the access at the Cays, Joe. I was referring to the next traffic signal at the exit to the SS camp area/parking lot. When exiting, if you make a left to cross the highway, then turn either left or right by the housing, there's free street parking in either direction but more to the right. From there it's a short walk to the traffic signal to cross the highway and you're right on the beach.

I think we posted at nearly the same time, as I certainly wasn’t trying to correct anything, ha.

Great parking tip, as usual. Thanks!

[Mike A]

Thanks guys, I leaning bay side. Not a turd roller fan. I’m an idiot, gave my shrimp gun away just before I moved here in the spring. Maybe an hour each side.

[Mike A]

Fished both sides. Fished bay side where Bendo suggested from about 6:30 to 7:15. Tide was coming in, a little wind in my face. Grass on 8 of 10 casts. Came back after the 1st game. Gave it another go from about 9:45 until 10, tide was going out. Grass on about 7 of 10 casts. Talked to 2 others, same result too much grass. Packed up there and went to Silver Strand park. First cast there was about 10:20, fished about an hour. Caught only 1 perch about 6”. Saw 3 others fishing to the south me. Not sure if they had any luck, they were there before me and still fishing when I left. I was fishing near parking lot #2. Brought 2 rods with me. The longest is about 7’ 6”, that’s what I used. Seemed like I should have brought something 9’ or longer to get out a little farther.

[Nelson 1]

Fished both sides. Fished bay side where Bendo suggested from about 6:30 to 7:15. Tide was coming in, a little wind in my face. Grass on 8 of 10 casts. Came back after the 1st game. Gave it another go from about 9:45 until 10, tide was going out. Grass on about 7 of 10 casts. Talked to 2 others, same result too much grass. Packed up there and went to Silver Strand park. First cast there was about 10:20, fished about an hour. Caught only 1 perch about 6”. Saw 3 others fishing to the south me. Not sure if they had any luck, they were there before me and still fishing when I left. I was fishing near parking lot #2. Brought 2 rods with me. The longest is about 7’ 6”, that’s what I used. Seemed like I should have brought something 9’ or longer to get out a little farther.

You should be able to cast pretty far with a 7.6 rod.

[Mike A]

First time fishing Coronado, bay side no doubt far enough. Ocean side I thought I need about 20’ - 30’ more. I didn’t wade out much more than shin deep. Had a 3/4 weight on. Just reading the water it seemed I was a little short.

[jwacky]

First time fishing Coronado, bay side no doubt far enough. Ocean side I thought I need about 20’ - 30’ more. I didn’t wade out much more than shin deep. Had a 3/4 weight on. Just reading the water it seemed I was a little short.

Funny, we dropped our daughter off to watch her "boyfriend" play in that tournament, and I didn't connect the dots that this might be the tournament you were talking about until I saw your reports. If I'd have known I'd have brought a pole and joined ya!

Coronado is not my favorite place to fish. The handful of times I've tried I've only caught grass, grass, and more grass. It seems really flat and shallow for a really long way. I've only fished there a handful of times so like anything I talk about it, it is based on a small sample size (albeit an obsessive one) of experience. Coronado is, however, one of my favorite beaches to just relax at. Very calm crowds down there.

Interestingly, or not if you're not a fan, the Padres TV play-by-play announcer lives in the Cays and surf fishes there on occasion as well. I've never seen him post about catching anything in the surf, though, lol. He does better on the bay side.

[Mike A]

jwacky, yeah maybe if they play there again. I definitely would try the bay side especially if the wind was westerly. The beach had a lot of trash on it, especially plastics. Even a “beach whistle” which I thought was an east coast thing. Plenty of parking there and easy walking.

[jwacky]

jwacky, yeah maybe if they play there again. I definitely would try the bay side especially if the wind was westerly. The beach had a lot of trash on it, especially plastics. Even a “beach whistle” which I thought was an east coast thing. Plenty of parking there and easy walking.

People seem to do well enough from pier at the ferry landing, which also could be a possibility for you if you’re there again. It’s on the bay side though so not sure if it’d be any better than fishing from the Strand.

[foulhook]

jwacky, yeah maybe if they play there again. I definitely would try the bay side especially if the wind was westerly. The beach had a lot of trash on it, especially plastics. Even a “beach whistle” which I thought was an east coast thing. Plenty of parking there and easy walking.

Never heard the term beach whistle before had to look it up

[Jteo]

Got me too haha

[Bendo]

Gee Mike, I’m Sorry for the Spot Recommendation now. Were you tossing lures? I fished Ghost Shrimp and Caught Bonefish, Round Sting Rays, Spotted Bay Bass and Yellowfin Croaker. It was a Bonefish quest that brought me there. I stopped at Squidco and bought 8 dozen Ghost Shrimp figuring it might take days before I landed my first Bone. It only took two hours and then I caught a few. They reminded me of giant Sardines. After I got some, I opened my buckets of Shrimp to several other Fishermen and had we had a Fishfest. They love those Shrimp. It looks like I dragged them up in the mud/sand but the truth is, those fish are Psyco and rushed the shoreline and wiggled up ten feet onto the beach.
Was the grass floating by, or was it Eelgrass on the bottom. If it was eelgrass you have to fish weedless and try and stay right above the grass. Also it grows in patches and there are channels that have no grass. You have to find those channels.Anyway, I found it loaded with fish. Sorry you didn’t.

[Mike A]

It was both grass floating and eel grass. I think the wind blowing in my face was blowing a little extra grass near me, too. I fished lures the first time. Then switched to ghost gulps. It’s about 45 mile ride for me. I intended to go back. It was that the tournament games were right there. The other guys fishing had the same problems with the grass. Just one those days. Thanks for pointing it out I would have never went there.

[Bendo]

My quests start from Anaheim, I was 0 for 9 before I was successful. My next quest is a Lake Trout out of Tahoe on my Kayak. I understand the locals up there get them on the slo pitch jigs over meter marks. I’m all for it plus I hear they are spectacular eating. Others on the list are Tiger Muskie, 8 hours Northeast in Utah, deep drop Swordfish off Newport Beach, and a Sheefish from Yellowknife, on Great Slave Lake, where I could get a Lake Trout as a backup. We get one life, I love to fish, might as well catch them all.
P.S.- I’ve also never landed a Flathead Catfish although I’ve been wrecked by them on the Lakes along the Colorado River. Anyway, I think they are Flatheads, they come out of the Reeds like small Dolphins and run me down into the trees. It’s always after dark, I’m Flipping the Reeds for Bass with 65 braid and haven’t been able to stop one. The Skiff is close to being completed, then maybe I can hook one out in the Channel and have a chance. I’m Float Tubing/Kayaking now and the River is too swift to get into.

[Carpkiller]

The park in Bendo's map is where I launch my float tube. From shore, it can be terrific or terrible. If you find yourself in that area, there's another option: Crown Cove. Parking's free at 1573 Attu Avenue. A five minute walk to Crown Cove aquatic center. There's a marked swimming area, but no one's in the water during the winter.
Soaking bait can work...ghosties or gulp sandworms. And I've even caught fish there with a fly rod..and I suck at fly fishing. Last week, I was float tubing and ended my trip there, at a very low tide, and small spotted bay bass were stacked in the entrance to the cove. No guarantees, as sometimes I've been there when conditions seemed perfect to me...but the fish disagreed. Other times, I've caught bass, corvina, corbina, and croaker there, on bait, plastics, and even flies.
It's one more spot to try if you find yourself with a few hours to kill between soccer matches...