San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Hey everyone,

I took a long break from surf fishing. A friend of mine started inviting me out on his boat and I got busy with a lot of other stuff, but I have been missing the sand. I used to go by Fishernotacatcher on the old SDfish forums, so I know there were a few of you I used to follow and we met up a couple times on the Chubasco II.

Anyways, I plan on going out early to see some minus tides and check out the topography of the beaches, but Im not sure where to go. I used to go to Ponto a lot, but I moved a bit north to Vista/Oceanside area. So does anyone have a recommendation of an oceanside beach somewhere near the 76 or 78 I should start scouting?

Any other info on this season would be appreciated as well, how has the water been? how are the sand crabs, what have you had luck with in terms of bait selection, gear, anything you think might help me get back into this?

Im also down to meet up with anyone if you want to chat/hangout/scout the beach and fish.

Well I hit up the beach in Oceanside at Cassidy Street at low tide in the morning. Nothing bit on the gulp sandworm. This morning I hit up South Ponto, wasnt there very long, had to get back home for work. There are tons of sandcrabs there, but they are tiny tiny. The cobblestones are pretty rough in the surf too, my toes are beat up. Nothing bit in ponto, but I was only there for like an hour.

I’ve been hitting the surf 2 times a week for the last month. Sand crabs are plentiful from the army navy academy down to blacks beach. I’ve found lots of fish but usually pretty stacked up on certain structure really need to search around walk the beach a bit and you’ll eventually find them. I’m normally putting close to 1/2-1 mile or more look for structure. Sand crabs or gulp are go to baits but always nice to have a swimbait/ jerk bait available

Been tough for me this season, with the exception of a couple multi short halibut sessions this year has been a bust. The water is starting to stabilize a bit, hopefully it will pick up soon. Welcome back to surf fishing and good luck

I have had quite a bit of luck at the Oside harbor beach in the evenings. Lots of perch, croaker, little corbina, and a couple rays on sand crabs and sand worms. I get broke off pretty regular too...some examples:

Nice variety. Congrats.

tomnilll wrote: Mon Jul 17, 2023 2:15 pm I have had quite a bit of luck at the Oside harbor beach in the evenings. Lots of perch, croaker, little corbina, and a couple rays on sand crabs and sand worms. I get broke off pretty regular too...some examples:20230620_191944.jpg20230620_203023 (1).jpg20230623_201330.jpg

Nice!! Coincidentally I was looking at hitting that beach next.