Southern California’s summer season is ramping up this week. Yellowtail have built on the local kelp and banks, the first good grade of bluefin tuna has arrived offshore, and the bay is giving up bass and halibut for the inshore crowd.
What’s Hitting
Yellowtail are the local draw, stacked on the kelp paddies, the banks, and the hard structure. Bluefin tuna have shown offshore, with the first solid grade of the season for boats running to the paddies and meter marks. Calico and sand bass are working the kelp and structure inshore, and halibut are on the sand in the bay.
Where to Find Them
Look for yellowtail on the kelp beds, the banks, and around the hard structure and paddies. Bluefin are offshore under the birds and on the meter — hunt paddies and foamers. Calicos hold in the kelp, and halibut on the sandy bay bottom and flats.
Tides & Conditions
Water is warming into the upper 60s to low 70s offshore. Early morning is the best window for the yellowtail and the bluefin hunt before the wind builds. A moving tide turns on the bay bass and halibut. Look for kelp paddies holding bait as the key to finding fish. Finding the bait is finding the fish right now — the yellowtail and bluefin are keyed on the sardine and anchovy schools riding the kelp paddies and the current edges. A quiet approach to a bait-holding paddy and a steady chum line of live sardines is what turns a look into a full-blown stop.
Tackle & Tactics
For yellowtail, fly-line a live sardine or throw a surface iron or a heavy jig on the paddies and structure. Bluefin want a flat-fall jig, a sinker rig with a sardine, or a well-matched popper on foaming fish. Calicos eat swimbaits in the kelp; halibut hit a drifted live bait on the sand.
Local Intel This Week
The Shelter Island ramp gives access to San Diego Bay and the offshore run, with the Dana Landing ramp serving Mission Bay and the Chula Vista ramp covering the south bay. Yellowtail are concentrating on the kelp and banks, bluefin offshore on the paddies. Always check current FWC/state and federal regulations and open seasons before keeping any fish — bag and size limits change through the summer.
This Week’s Tip
When you find a kelp paddy holding yellowtail, approach it quietly and fish the up-current side, chumming a few sardines to draw the fish out and up. A paddy is a whole little ecosystem — patience and a steady chum line will often turn a quiet-looking paddy into a full-blown yellowtail stop.