San Diego is into its spring offshore patterns this week. Yellowtail are building at the Coronados, white seabass are on the kelp paddies, and the bluefin tuna season is just starting to fire.
Yellowtail — Building at Coronados
The Coronado Islands are stacked with yellowtail this week. Live sardines on a 2/0 circle hook fly-lined or with a light sinker is the textbook approach. Boats are getting fish in the 12–25 lb range with the occasional jumbo over 30. The Middle Grounds and North Island have both been productive. Numbers are building daily and will peak through June.
White Seabass on Kelp
White seabass are on the kelp paddies and inshore reefs. Live squid (when you can get it) or live sardines fished slow near the kelp bottom is the move. La Jolla, Point Loma, and the Imperial Beach reefs are all producing fish in the 25–50 lb range.
Bluefin Tuna — Starting
The first bluefin tuna of the year have shown up offshore. Boats running 40–60 miles to the 9 Mile Bank area and beyond are starting to see fish on the meter. Kite fishing with live flying fish, or popping with topwater lures on schools, is the play. Numbers will build through June and the bite will fire by month-end.
Inshore
Sand bass and calico bass are excellent on the inshore reefs and kelp. Plastics on a leadhead, or live bait, will produce. Halibut are biting in the bay — drift the channels with live anchovies on a sliding sinker rig.
Specific Spots This Week
The Coronado Islands North Island is producing the best yellowtail bite — fly-line live sardines along the kelp edges in 60–120 feet. The Middle Grounds and the South Island are also holding fish. For white seabass, La Jolla Cove and the Point Loma kelp are the most reliable — fish live squid (when available) or sardines slowly along the kelp bottom at dawn and dusk. The Imperial Beach reef is producing white seabass and yellowtail to boats willing to soak baits on the bottom. Bluefin tuna fleet is running to the 9 Mile Bank and the 425 — popping with stickbaits and kite-fishing with flying fish. Inshore, the Coronado Bays grass flats are producing sand bass and halibut on live anchovies.
Conditions and Outlook
Water temp 62–66°F. New moon Saturday — strong tides this week. Light westerly winds Wednesday/Thursday, building Friday. Make the run to the Coronados early.
Local Intel This Week
The Coronado Islands Middle Grounds and North Island for yellowtail — fly-lined sardines, no sinker, drift the kelp paddies. La Jolla kelp beds for white seabass at night and bonito during the day. Imperial Beach reefs hold sand bass and calico, with the occasional halibut on the sandy edges. The 9 Mile Bank starting to show bluefin signs — run-and-gun with topwater poppers. California sport fishing license required ($58 residents), yellowtail no size limit 10 fish per angler. Tight lines.