Southern California’s season is building fast. Yellowtail are stacking at the Coronado Islands, the first bluefin tuna of the year are showing offshore, the white seabass are around, and the bass fishing is strong on the inside. Late May has the San Diego fleet buzzing with the promise of a big summer.
Yellowtail at the Coronados
The yellowtail bite is the inshore headline. Fish are stacking at the Coronado Islands and on the hard bottom and high spots, and they are eating the iron and live bait. Yo-yo a heavy jig on the deeper structure, throw surface iron when the fish are boiling, and fly-line a sardine or a mackerel when you can get the bait. These are powerful fish that bury you in the structure, so fish heavy enough to turn them. The change of light and the moving tide have been the best windows.
Bluefin early, white seabass around
The first bluefin tuna of the season are showing offshore on the kelp paddies and the high spots, and they range from manageable schoolies to genuine cow-class fish — a real draw for the boats willing to make the run. The bite builds from here through the summer. White seabass are around the squid and the kelp, especially at the grey light of dawn and dusk; when the squid show up, the seabass bite can turn on in a hurry.
Bass and bonito inshore
Calico (kelp) bass and sand bass are providing steady, reliable action on the reefs, kelp, and flats — plastics, jigs, and live bait all produce, and they make a great fallback when the pelagics are slow. Bonito and barracuda are around to add variety, and they will keep light-tackle anglers busy.
- Yellowtail: Coronado Islands and high spots, iron and live bait
- Bluefin tuna: first of the season on the offshore kelps
- White seabass: around the squid at the change of light
- Calico & sand bass: reefs and kelp, plastics and jigs
Where to focus this week
The Coronado Islands — North Island and the Rockpile — are the prime yellowtail and white seabass grounds right now. The kelp beds off Point Loma and La Jolla hold the bass, and the offshore kelp paddies and high spots like the 425 and the 9 Mile Bank are where the early bluefin are showing.
For yellowtail, a 6- to 7-ounce yo-yo iron or a surface iron on 40- to 50-pound gear lets you reach and turn fish in the structure, and a fly-lined sardine on 20- to 25-pound is the live-bait standard. For the bluefin, match your leader to the bite — they can be leader-shy, so be ready to drop to fluorocarbon and a smaller bait when they are finicky.
Game plan
Live bait availability often dictates the day in San Diego, so check the bait situation before you commit to a plan. The yellowtail and seabass favor the early light and the moving tide around the structure, and the offshore bluefin run rewards the calmer days. Keep an eye on the wind and pick your target to the conditions.
Looking ahead to June
The yellowtail bite should stay strong and the bluefin fishing builds quickly into June as more — and bigger — fish push into range. The white seabass remain a change-of-light target around the squid. Keep an eye on the bait situation and the offshore weather, both of which dictate how far you can reach.
Regulations reminder: seasons and slot limits change through the year. Confirm the current rules with your state agency before you keep a fish.
On the water this week? Send your photos and details through our reader report form — the best submissions run in next week’s report.