San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

I had a small window this morning before some soccer games so I headed back to the beach. Still cold, obviously, but it was an otherwise beautiful sunny morning. Calm surf, calm currents, clean waters, and an active perch bite. Tiny coquina clams were popping up everywhere under my feet, which surely helped keep the fish in close. Saw a couple dolphins out a ways, and I seem to do well when they’re around. Could just be a coincidence, not entirely sure.

I caught 6 in about an hour and a half. In contract to yesterday’s minis, the sixth that I caught today was easily the biggest I’ve pulled in. 13” and solid, so much that it actually ran a bit after I hooked it.

Mussels and dried lugworms were the bait of choice for the perch this weekend, both worked equally well.

Nice.. These cool, crisp mornings are really beautiful, if a little cold…
Butch

Midnightpass wrote: Sun Jan 11, 2026 12:54 pm Nice.. These cool, crisp mornings are really beautiful, if a little cold…
Butch

If I could just take the sting away from cold on my feet, they’d be perfect! Without full on waders, that is.

It gives me flashbacks to my east coast days and the numbness of snow and ice on my extremities

I like the cold months less dodging drifting swimmers. And I love when the water temp is higher than the air feels like a footbath

Jteo wrote: Sun Jan 11, 2026 8:53 pm I like the cold months less dodging drifting swimmers. And I love when the water temp is higher than the air feels like a footbath

The lighter crowds are nice, for sure! And I definitely never thought there’d be a time when I ran into the Pacific Ocean to warm up

Nice outing and congrats on the 13" BSP.

I agree with dolphins bringing luck. I'm convinced that when I see them surfing in the waves, they are actually hunting close in fish. When I see them turn from their slow straight path in the summer, it usually correlates to long-cast croaker fun.