{"id":110,"date":"2026-02-15T21:06:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T21:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fishing-reports.ai\/blog\/?p=110"},"modified":"2026-05-22T02:42:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T02:42:17","slug":"san-diego-fishing-season-calendar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fishing-reports.ai\/blog\/san-diego-fishing-season-calendar\/","title":{"rendered":"San Diego Fishing Season Calendar \u2014 Complete Month-by-Month Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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 \u2014 and what water temperature triggers each bite \u2014 is the difference between an epic trip and a slow one.<\/p>\n\n

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<\/a> to time your trips.<\/p>\n\n

At a Glance: San Diego Fishing Calendar<\/h2>\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Month<\/th>\n Avg SST<\/th>\n Primary Targets<\/th>\n Trip Types<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
Jan<\/td>\n 57\u201360\u00b0F<\/td>\n Rockfish, Yellowtail, Lingcod<\/td>\n \u00bd day, \u00be day<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Feb<\/td>\n 57\u201359\u00b0F<\/td>\n Rockfish, Yellowtail (squid), Lingcod<\/td>\n \u00bd day, \u00be day<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Mar<\/td>\n 58\u201361\u00b0F<\/td>\n Yellowtail, White Seabass, Rockfish<\/td>\n \u00be day, 1.5 day<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Apr<\/td>\n 59\u201363\u00b0F<\/td>\n Yellowtail, White Seabass, early Bluefin<\/td>\n \u00be day, full day, 1.5 day<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
May<\/td>\n 61\u201365\u00b0F<\/td>\n Bluefin, Yellowtail, White Seabass<\/td>\n Full day, 1.5 day, overnight<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Jun<\/td>\n 63\u201367\u00b0F<\/td>\n Bluefin, Yellowtail, Calico Bass<\/td>\n Full day, overnight, multi-day<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Jul<\/td>\n 66\u201372\u00b0F<\/td>\n Bluefin, Yellowfin, Yellowtail, Dorado<\/td>\n All trip types<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Aug<\/td>\n 68\u201374\u00b0F<\/td>\n Bluefin, Yellowfin, Dorado, Wahoo<\/td>\n All trip types<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Sep<\/td>\n 69\u201375\u00b0F<\/td>\n Bluefin, Yellowfin, Dorado, Wahoo<\/td>\n All trip types \u2014 peak variety<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Oct<\/td>\n 67\u201372\u00b0F<\/td>\n Bluefin (trophies), Yellowfin, Dorado<\/td>\n Full day, overnight, multi-day<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Nov<\/td>\n 63\u201368\u00b0F<\/td>\n Bluefin, Yellowtail, Rockfish<\/td>\n Full day, \u00be day, 1.5 day<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Dec<\/td>\n 59\u201363\u00b0F<\/td>\n Rockfish, Yellowtail, Lingcod<\/td>\n \u00bd day, \u00be day<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Winter: December through February<\/h2>\n

Water temperature:<\/strong> 57\u201362\u00b0F<\/p>\n\n

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 \u2014 yellowtail often stick around the islands and local kelp beds, especially when squid are spawning.<\/p>\n\n

What’s biting:<\/strong><\/p>\n