Updated: Thursday, August 20, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, August 27, 2026
This San Diego fishing report covers late August, peak season, when the offshore water is where the whole season lives. Warm water pushes up the line, kelp paddies hold dorado, and bluefin tuna remain the lead target on the offshore banks for boats willing to put in the time and make the run. The multi-day fleet books up, private boats run hard, and the main limiting factor is how far you are willing to go. Plan around the afternoon west wind and start offshore runs very early.
What’s Hitting
Bluefin tuna are the headline on the offshore banks, in a wide range of sizes, with the usual pattern of night-time and gray-light windows producing best. Dorado are on the kelp paddies in good numbers, and yellowfin mix in on the warmer water.
Closer to home, yellowtail hold at the Coronado Islands and on the hard structure inshore. Calico bass are on the kelp lines and the boiler rock, and inshore anglers find halibut on the sand.
Where to Find Them
For bluefin, run to the offshore banks: the 302, the 43, and the Tanner and Cortes area for longer runs. Look for meter marks and foamers at gray light. Stop on kelp paddies anywhere in 300 to 1,000 feet of water for dorado; paddies with a lot of growth hold the most fish because the weed shelters baitfish.
Yellowtail are at the Coronados and on the ridges south of Point Loma. Calicos work the La Jolla and Point Loma kelp, and halibut sit on the sand edges in the bay and along the beaches.
Tides & Conditions
Tidal range is moderate off the waxing moon, which matters more inshore than offshore. Offshore water temperature runs in the upper 60s to low 70s, with warmer breaks farther out.
Expect light mornings with the afternoon wind filling from the west, so start offshore runs very early. Fog can be a factor on some mornings inside the islands, and swell is modest.
Tackle & Tactics
For bluefin, come prepared with a range of gear:
- A 30- to 40-pound flylined sardine outfit.
- A heavier 60- to 100-pound setup for the bigger fish.
- A jig stick with a knife jig for the deep meter marks.
Fluorocarbon leaders and small hooks matter enormously on picky fish. For dorado on the paddies, a 20- to 25-pound outfit with a flylined sardine is all you need; approach quietly and cast past the paddy. Yellowtail want a heavy jig or a live mackerel fished near the bottom on 40-pound gear.
Local Intel This Week
The Shelter Island launch ramp is the main public launch and handles trailers well. The Dana Landing ramp serves Mission Bay, and the Chula Vista ramp gives access to the south bay. Landing boats out of Point Loma and Fisherman’s Landing run everything from half-day to multi-day trips, a good option if your own boat lacks the range for the banks.
Fish concentrate on floating structure and temperature breaks offshore, and on hard structure inshore. Fishing Mexican waters at the Coronados or beyond requires a Mexican fishing license for every angler, and Mexican rules apply south of the border. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
On a kelp paddy, the first cast is everything. Shut down well up-current and let the boat drift to the paddy rather than idling right up on it. Dorado will come out to a bait fifty feet from the kelp, but only if the boat has not already pushed them under it.
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