Updated: Thursday, July 16, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, July 23, 2026
This San Diego fishing report for mid-July finds the summer offshore season in full swing, with the landings running full boats. Bluefin tuna are a night-shift fishery on the offshore banks, the Coronados kick out yellowtail, and the kelp beds give up calico bass on nearly every trip. The main condition to plan around is the moon, which favors the night bluefin program, along with classic July weather: a light morning breeze, calm seas and warming offshore water.
What’s Hitting
Bluefin from the 30-pound class to cow-sized are on the offshore banks, and the most consistent action is in the dark on knife jigs. Daytime kelp-paddy stops add yellowtail and the first dorado of the season as the water warms.
At the Coronados, yellowtail eat the flat-fall and surface iron early, and calico bass feed hard in the kelp lines on the full moon tides. Half-day boats are steady on rockfish, with a pick of white seabass for the lucky few.
Where to Find Them
Bluefin sit on the banks inside 60 miles, and the fleet finds them on sonar after sunset when the fish rise off the bottom marks. Yellowtail want the lee side of the islands and the hard-bottom high spots, where current pushes bait against structure.
The calico bite is best on the outer kelp lines from Point Loma to La Jolla on moving water. Outer edges see the most current and bait traffic, which is why the better bass hold there.
Tides & Conditions
Mid-July brings the end of June gloom and classic summer conditions: light morning breeze, calm seas and a warming trend pushing offshore surface temperatures toward the magic numbers. The moon phase favors the night bluefin program.
Flat water also helps the paddy hunt, since floating kelp and the birds working it are far easier to spot from a distance.
Tackle & Tactics
- Night bluefin: a 300- to 500-gram knife jig on 80-pound braid dropped to the marks. Let it flutter, wind fast and hang on.
- Paddies: a sardine flylined on 30-pound.
- Island yellowtail: surface iron at dawn.
- Calicos: weedless swimbaits thrown into the thickest kelp you can find. The weedless rig lets the bait crawl through the stalks without fouling.
Local Intel This Week
Shelter Island’s public launch ramp is the main gateway for private boats heading offshore, while Dana Landing and the Ski Beach ramp cover Mission Bay. For a sportboat trip, the full-boat runs sail from the landings, including H&M Landing and Fisherman’s Landing.
Target the offshore banks at night and the island high spots at dawn. Coronado trips mean Mexican waters, so carry the required Mexican permits and documentation before fishing south of the line. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
On the night bluefin grounds, the sonar mark tells you the depth, but the jig only works if it gets there before the school moves. Free-spool with your thumb on the spool and count the drop. When the captain calls fish at 40 fathoms, being at 38 in ten seconds beats being at 45 in thirty. Learn how long your jig takes to fall ten fathoms and the count becomes a depth gauge.
Planning a trip to San Diego?
This report tells you what happened. ReelAI tells you what to do about it — a briefing for your date, your target species and how you're fishing, built from our reports plus live NOAA and USGS data.
Powered by ReelAI — fishing.digital's intelligence layer. Answers are generated from fishing.digital reports and public NOAA, NWS and USGS data, and may be incomplete or out of date. Regulations and marine safety information are summaries only; always confirm with the responsible authority before you fish.
