San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

On the water before sunrise, there was already someone fishing in front of the lagoon. I worked my way north of the inlet, chucking the blue and chrome kastmaster into gentle rollers. Shivered my way through some missed bites, no waders today I decided. Doh! Missed a bite then lost a hooked fish. Lots of small hits, which started to morph into jacksmelt. First jacksmelt was barely 2x bigger than the kastmaster and I was lucky to feel the strike and hook it in the mouth. Next fish good, a sizeable 12 inch jacksmelt. Finally found some structure and got this decent perch. Took a thermos coffee break 10 minutes post-perch. Saw a half dozen others out, mostly throwing jerkbaits. Hope someone came away with something big. Thanks for looking.

You ever have luck fishing the inlet? Ive seen rays and big corbina from the bridge swimming there but never get anything to bite. Usually have best luck fishing in front of the bathrooms by the parking lot.

pseudoMoGil wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 11:14 am You ever have luck fishing the inlet? Ive seen rays and big corbina from the bridge swimming there but never get anything to bite. Usually have best luck fishing in front of the bathrooms by the parking lot.

I never really fish the inlet or outflow itself. The area north of the bathrooms is where I head usually. Met a guy this morning who said he has seen spotfin croaker in the lagoon. I believe him.

kastmaster wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 12:06 pm

pseudoMoGil wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 11:14 am You ever have luck fishing the inlet? Ive seen rays and big corbina from the bridge swimming there but never get anything to bite. Usually have best luck fishing in front of the bathrooms by the parking lot.

I never really fish the inlet or outflow itself. The area north of the bathrooms is where I head usually. Met a guy this morning who said he has seen spotfin croaker in the lagoon. I believe him.

Nice. My one and only spotfin ever caught was right north of the bathrooms, was a fun fight! This was Aug 4th of last year on a sandcrab.

pseudoMoGil wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 12:13 pm

kastmaster wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 12:06 pm

pseudoMoGil wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 11:14 am You ever have luck fishing the inlet? Ive seen rays and big corbina from the bridge swimming there but never get anything to bite. Usually have best luck fishing in front of the bathrooms by the parking lot.

I never really fish the inlet or outflow itself. The area north of the bathrooms is where I head usually. Met a guy this morning who said he has seen spotfin croaker in the lagoon. I believe him.

Nice. My one and only spotfin ever caught was right north of the bathrooms, was a fun fight! This was Aug 4th of last year on a sandcrab.

That is one nice fish!

pseudoMoGil wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 12:13 pm

kastmaster wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 12:06 pm

pseudoMoGil wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 11:14 am You ever have luck fishing the inlet? Ive seen rays and big corbina from the bridge swimming there but never get anything to bite. Usually have best luck fishing in front of the bathrooms by the parking lot.

I never really fish the inlet or outflow itself. The area north of the bathrooms is where I head usually. Met a guy this morning who said he has seen spotfin croaker in the lagoon. I believe him.

Nice. My one and only spotfin ever caught was right north of the bathrooms, was a fun fight! This was Aug 4th of last year on a sandcrab.

Nice SFC. Welcome to the forum,,
Butch

Midnightpass wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 7:13 pm

pseudoMoGil wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 12:13 pm

kastmaster wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 12:06 pm

pseudoMoGil wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 11:14 am You ever have luck fishing the inlet? Ive seen rays and big corbina from the bridge swimming there but never get anything to bite. Usually have best luck fishing in front of the bathrooms by the parking lot.

I never really fish the inlet or outflow itself. The area north of the bathrooms is where I head usually. Met a guy this morning who said he has seen spotfin croaker in the lagoon. I believe him.

Nice. My one and only spotfin ever caught was right north of the bathrooms, was a fun fight! This was Aug 4th of last year on a sandcrab.

Nice SFC. Welcome to the forum,,
Butch

Thanks! Im a pretty new angler, starting fishing the surf seriously last summer, hope to learn a lot from the experts here

And also, went out for a quick sunset sesh at torrey pines tonight near the bathrooms, didnt have a single bite on the LC 110. Heard about some hali’s caught closer to flat rock, should’ve made the trek that way!