San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Hello, I am going out to SD to try the surf for the first time this weekend. Most likely Friday and Saturday. I have kayak fished the bays a couple of times, but I want to try the surf just to experience it. I have been researching the best I can. Just wondering if there is a particular beach that would be best for a newbie who just wants to get on the board. Surf perch or whatever. I don’t mind walking a bunch, but I don’t know what will be too crowded etc. Any input is appreciated, gonna give it a shot either way. This forum was great at giving me some bay fishing tips.

I can't help you with which SD beach (I'm up in OC), but good luck with surf fishing.... It's my favorite type of fishing...
Butch

People don't swim as much around the reef sections, so on weekends you can try that. You could catch many different species. Fishing in crowds has sometimes worked out well for me for fun and for catching, even on sandy beaches. A little flexibility is needed, that's all. You have a right to be there, and whether it's true or not, I am ready to gently but confidently tell anyone that it's against the law to harass anglers.

I don't want to name a beach. Or, a reef, because I'm more worried about someone saying, "Hey, why did you tell him to go to my spot?"
You have the right idea; go out there to catch one fish, and it will likely end up being more.

Good luck.

You may have seen this already, but I'll post it anyway.
https://surffishingsocalsd.com/best-sur ... san-diego/

Phxangler wrote: Tue Jul 15, 2025 10:19 pm Hello, I am going out to SD to try the surf for the first time this weekend. Most likely Friday and Saturday. I have kayak fished the bays a couple of times, but I want to try the surf just to experience it. I have been researching the best I can. Just wondering if there is a particular beach that would be best for a newbie who just wants to get on the board. Surf perch or whatever. I don’t mind walking a bunch, but I don’t know what will be too crowded etc. Any input is appreciated, gonna give it a shot either way. This forum was great at giving me some bay fishing tips.

I tend to fish whichever beach is 1) convenient and/or 2) that the family wants to go to.

That said - July is busy at the beaches out here, as you're likely aware. I assume all beaches are decent for fishing, but the beach I'd recommend visiting (fishing or not) depends on the time of day and where you're staying/coming from. I avoid anything from Ocean Beach up to La Jolla in 'regular' hours. The crowds are too much to enjoy just laying on the beach, let alone fishing. I know we have rights and whatnot but I do still like to respect beachgoers. There are plenty of "off hours" for us to enjoy peak fishing!

Go south and the beaches are wide, flat, and sandy. Go north and they're smaller with steeper dropoffs into the water. I find that the crowds tend to thin the farther north you go, just because those beaches aren't as "central" as Ocean, Mission, or Pacific Beaches, and La Jolla can get gnarly. Can't fish most of that area anyway.

Thanks for the replies. I have spent a lot of family time in Encinitas, so maybe I will try up that way. Since I am driving so far anyway, north county isn’t much extra.

Phxangler wrote: Wed Jul 16, 2025 11:37 am Thanks for the replies. I have spent a lot of family time in Encinitas, so maybe I will try up that way. Since I am driving so far anyway, north county isn’t much extra.

Beach time in Encinitas/Solana Beach and a late lunch or early dinner at Pizza Port is my favorite way to spend a day

Good comments above. I’ll add that fishing early can work even on a normally crowded beach since crowds don’t usually arrive until mid morning. I only fish busy beaches (PB, north mission), so to avoid crowds I only fish mornings and I finish up by 10 or so before the beach gets packed and swimmers are all over.

Corner pizza in Leucadia has been my go to lately. I will have to give Pizza port a shot.

YouTube is your friend here. Watch the line of videos about Surf Fishing in Southern California. This will let you know what to expect. I think about how similar Surf Fishing here is to River Fishing for Trout. You fish the backwashes, edges of current, dirty water behind reefs with light line, small weights, and a couple of Sand Crabs threaded on a #4 hook rigged Like a Carolina rig with a 1/4 to 1/2 ounce egg sinker, swivel, and 18 inches of leader. Keep your line tight and swing when you feel any thing. It’s a lot of fun. Stay happy, if swimmers or surfers invade your spot, there are plenty more down the beach. Fish your casts all the way back to the beach, many fish are right at your feet. Fish the areas where the Sand Crabs are abundant and try a for use the ones with the orange eggs. If you see others catching fish, do what they do. Being friendly and talking to your fellow Surf fishermen with result in the knowledge you need to improve. Good Luck!

Thanks for the help guys! I had a great day! Got to Carlsbad around 2:00pm. Ended up with 11 surf perch, 3 YFC, and a baby sand bass. Couldn’t have even asked for that much luck

Phxangler wrote: Fri Jul 18, 2025 8:52 pm Thanks for the help guys! I had a great day! Got to Carlsbad around 2:00pm. Ended up with 11 surf perch, 3 YFC, and a baby sand bass. Couldn’t have even asked for that much luck

Nice haul!

jwacky wrote: Fri Jul 18, 2025 8:53 pm

Phxangler wrote: Fri Jul 18, 2025 8:52 pm Thanks for the help guys! I had a great day! Got to Carlsbad around 2:00pm. Ended up with 11 surf perch, 3 YFC, and a baby sand bass. Couldn’t have even asked for that much luck

Nice haul!

Thanks, learned a lot today.

Phxangler wrote: Fri Jul 18, 2025 8:52 pm Thanks for the help guys! I had a great day! Got to Carlsbad around 2:00pm. Ended up with 11 surf perch, 3 YFC, and a baby sand bass. Couldn’t have even asked for that much luck

It was great to see this update from you. Great job... lots of fish!

Fantastic!… Excellent 1st try.. And thanks for the update….
Butch

Second day was really good for me too. Got a corbina which was cool alomg with YFC and perch

Nice going. did the pile of kelp/grass come in with the bean ? LOL

Perch killer wrote: Sun Jul 20, 2025 10:06 am Nice going. did the pile of kelp/grass come in with the bean ? LOL

Ha! Might as well have, it was tough staying out of it. There was an osprey right nearby, so I set him there between a couple of rocks for the pic.

Nice…
Butch