San Diego is one of the few places in the world where you can fish offshore every month of the year. The species change with the seasons as water temperatures rise and fall, bringing waves of gamefish from the tropics to the north and resident species through their annual cycles. Knowing what’s in season — and what water temperature triggers each bite — is the difference between an epic trip and a slow one.

Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of what to expect from San Diego’s sportfishing fleet, the water temperatures that drive each fishery, and how to use ocean condition data to time your trips.

At a Glance: San Diego Fishing Calendar

Month	Avg SST	Primary Targets	Trip Types
Jan	57–60°F	Rockfish, Yellowtail, Lingcod	½ day, ¾ day
Feb	57–59°F	Rockfish, Yellowtail (squid), Lingcod	½ day, ¾ day
Mar	58–61°F	Yellowtail, White Seabass, Rockfish	¾ day, 1.5 day
Apr	59–63°F	Yellowtail, White Seabass, early Bluefin	¾ day, full day, 1.5 day
May	61–65°F	Bluefin, Yellowtail, White Seabass	Full day, 1.5 day, overnight
Jun	63–67°F	Bluefin, Yellowtail, Calico Bass	Full day, overnight, multi-day
Jul	66–72°F	Bluefin, Yellowfin, Yellowtail, Dorado	All trip types
Aug	68–74°F	Bluefin, Yellowfin, Dorado, Wahoo	All trip types
Sep	69–75°F	Bluefin, Yellowfin, Dorado, Wahoo	All trip types — peak variety
Oct	67–72°F	Bluefin (trophies), Yellowfin, Dorado	Full day, overnight, multi-day
Nov	63–68°F	Bluefin, Yellowtail, Rockfish	Full day, ¾ day, 1.5 day
Dec	59–63°F	Rockfish, Yellowtail, Lingcod	½ day, ¾ day

Winter: December through February

Water temperature: 57–62°F

Winter is bottom fishing season. The offshore pelagics have largely moved south, and the fleet focuses on rockfish, lingcod, and sheephead on the local reefs and structure. But winter isn’t all about bottom fish — yellowtail often stick around the islands and local kelp beds, especially when squid are spawning.

What’s biting:

• Rockfish — The bread and butter of winter fishing. Vermilion, reds, coppers, and bocaccio on the local reefs. Half-day boats produce consistent limits.
• Lingcod — Big, aggressive predators that hit swimbaits and live bait fished near the bottom. Fish to 30+ lbs are landed every winter.
• Yellowtail — When squid spawning activity peaks near the islands (San Clemente, Catalina), yellowtail stack up to feed on them. The squid bite requires specialized techniques (dropper loop rigs, live squid bait), but produces some of the biggest yellowtail of the year — fish over 30 lbs are common. Check the fleet tracker to see if overnight boats are running to the islands.
• Bonito — Still around in fishable numbers, especially on half-day boats near Point Loma and La Jolla. Great fight and fun on light tackle.

SST tip: Look at the SST charts for pockets of warmer water (61°F+) near the islands. Warmer pockets in winter often hold better yellowtail fishing.

Spring: March through May

Water temperature: 58–65°F

Spring is transition season and arguably the most exciting time to watch the SST charts. Water temperatures are climbing, and every degree brings new possibilities. White seabass arrive, yellowtail fishing heats up, and the first bluefin of the year may show on the outer banks.

What’s biting:

• Yellowtail — As water climbs past 62°F, yellowtail fishing transitions from the winter squid bite to the spring/summer bait bite. Fish move from the islands to the local kelp beds and Coronado Islands. Iron jigs and live sardines become the go-to.
• White Seabass — The prized catch of spring. White seabass push into SoCal waters when temps hit 59–63°F, usually targeting squid. They’re most commonly caught on live squid fished near kelp beds and structure, especially at night or early morning. The fishery is heavily dependent on squid availability — check if the squid fleet is active.
• Bluefin Tuna — Early-season bluefin start showing in April or May as water nears 62°F on the outer banks. These are often the first big-fish reports of the year and generate huge excitement. Watch the SST charts for temperature breaks forming along the 60–65°F isotherms offshore.
• Calico Bass — Spring bass fishing on the kelp beds is outstanding as the fish come shallow to feed. Live sardines on the kelp edge or swimbaits for the bigger specimens.
• Halibut — California halibut move into shallower sandy areas to feed in spring. Half-day boats pick them up on the flats near Point Loma and Mission Bay.

SST tip: Spring is all about temperature breaks. Coastal upwelling creates sharp cold/warm boundaries that concentrate bait and gamefish. A 3°F break in April is a fish highway.

Summer: June through August

Water temperature: 63–74°F

Peak season. The widest variety of species, the most boats on the water, and the best conditions for offshore fishing. The warm water has arrived, and with it come the pelagics that make SoCal sportfishing world-class.

What’s biting:

• Bluefin Tuna — The main event. Summer bluefin fishing from San Diego is legendary. Schools show up from the local banks out to San Clemente and Tanner Bank. Fish from 20 lbs to 200+ lbs are caught on flylined sardines, surface iron, kite, and trolled lures. The fleet tracker is essential for finding where the bite is.
• Yellowfin Tuna — Arriving in July when water temps hit 72°F, yellowfin add another dimension. Often found mixed with bluefin on the same grounds, or further offshore on warm water intrusions. Yellowfin are typically more aggressive biters than bluefin.
• Dorado — Show up mid-to-late summer as 72°F+ water pushes in. Found on kelp paddies and debris offshore. The colorful fight and excellent table fare make them a favorite.
• Yellowtail — Still going strong on the islands, kelp beds, and Coronado Islands. Summer yellowtail tend to be more willing biters than spring fish.
• Calico Bass & Barracuda — Excellent inshore fishing all summer. Half-day and 3/4-day boats produce consistent action.

SST tip: Summer produces the most complex SST charts of the year — warm water intrusions, eddies, upwelling plumes, and temperature breaks everywhere. Use the SST charts and chlorophyll maps together to find where warm offshore water meets productive coastal water. That intersection is where the action concentrates.

Fall: September through November

Water temperature: 63–75°F

Many veteran anglers consider fall the best season of all. Water temperatures peak in September, bringing the widest species variety of the year. As temps slowly drop through October and November, the remaining warm-water species are at their largest.

What’s biting:

• Bluefin Tuna (trophies) — Fall bluefin are the heaviest of the year. Fish that have been feeding all summer are at peak weight, and 200+ lb catches are most common in September and October. As water cools, the window narrows but the quality increases.
• Yellowfin Tuna — Peak yellowfin action. September and October often produce the highest yellowfin counts of the year, sometimes mixing with bluefin on the same grounds.
• Dorado — Late-season dorado tend to be bigger (bull dorado to 40+ lbs) as smaller fish have moved south. Still on paddies and debris in 72°F+ water.
• Wahoo — The most exotic catch in SoCal waters. Wahoo prefer 74°F+ water and show up in September and October during warm years, particularly around the outer islands and offshore banks. They’re fast, powerful, and incredible table fare.
• Yellowtail — Fall yellowtail fishing can be outstanding, especially as fish migrate south and stack up on local structure.

SST tip: Watch the SST charts for the warm water retreat. As the 72°F water pulls offshore and south through October and November, the warm-water species retreat with it. The fleet tracker shows which boats are still running offshore — when they stop going, the warm water is gone.

Species Temperature Quick Reference

For detailed temperature guides on individual species, see our in-depth articles:

Species	Preferred Temp (°F)	SoCal Season	Temp Guide
Bluefin Tuna	60–72°F	Apr–Nov	Read Guide
Yellowfin Tuna	72–82°F	Jul–Oct	Read Guide
Yellowtail	62–70°F	Year-round (peak Mar–Oct)	Read Guide
Dorado (Mahi Mahi)	72–82°F	Jul–Oct	Read Guide
Wahoo	74–84°F	Sep–Oct (warm years)	Read Guide
White Seabass	59–66°F	Mar–Jun	Read Guide
Rockfish	52–65°F	Year-round	—
Lingcod	50–60°F	Nov–Mar (best)	—
Calico Bass	60–72°F	Year-round (peak May–Oct)	—
California Halibut	58–68°F	Mar–Sep	Read Guide
Barracuda	63–72°F	Apr–Oct	—

How to Use Ocean Data to Plan Your Trip

The beauty of understanding seasonal temperature patterns is that you can combine that knowledge with real-time data to make smarter decisions about when and where to fish. Here’s the workflow:

1. Know what’s in season — Use the calendar above to narrow down your target species based on the month.
2. Check the SST charts — Visit the charts page to see current water temperatures. Are they running warm or cool for the time of year? That shifts everything earlier or later.
3. Look for structure in the data — Temperature breaks, warm water intrusions, chlorophyll edges, and eddies all concentrate fish. Our guides on reading SST charts and finding temperature breaks show you exactly what to look for.
4. Watch the fleet — The fleet tracker shows where San Diego’s sportfishing boats are heading and how long they’re staying on the grounds. This is real-time intelligence on where the bite is.
5. Check the AI forecast — Our AI prediction model synthesizes SST, chlorophyll, swell, wind, and historical catch data to give you a daily forecast of fishing conditions.

The anglers who check conditions before choosing their trip consistently outperform those who book randomly. Water temperature data won’t guarantee fish on the end of your line, but it stacks the odds heavily in your favor.