It’s a fishing day

Imperial Beach fishing conditions · California

Now until 5 pmCalifornia halibut

The bite peaks at 74. Water is 72°, inside their 55–72° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 74 for California halibut, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

California halibut, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 741 pm
  2. 74
  3. 74
  4. 744 pm
  5. 60
  6. 60
  7. 507 pm
  8. 60
  9. 50
  10. 5010 pm
  11. 50
  12. 60Sun
  13. 601 am
  14. 60
  15. 60
  16. 604 am
  17. 60
  18. 60
  19. 607 am
  20. 60
  21. 60
  22. 6010 am
  23. 60
  24. 60
  25. 601 pm
  26. 60
  27. 60
  28. 604 pm
  29. 60
  30. 50
  31. 507 pm
  32. 50
  33. 60
  34. 6010 pm
  35. 60
  36. 60Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
72°F

California halibut range 55–72°

Wind
10 mph

From the west

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:53 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
79°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are California regulations for these waters.

California Halibut

California halibut

Paralichthys californicus

74Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

72°
45°55–72° · ideal 64°82°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside California halibut's active range. Holds 4–60 ft down.

Keep

22" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 22" total length minimum. 5/person/day south of Point Sur (Monterey County); 2/day north of it. Open year-round.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Oct. Likes an incoming tide. More on California halibut

Barred Surfperch

Barred surfperch

Amphistichus argenteus

38Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

72°
40°50–68° · ideal 60°78°

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Above barred surfperch's active range (50–68°F) — fish move deep. Holds 1–12 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum size. 20/person/day in combination of all surfperch (shiner perch separate), with no more than 10 of any one species. Open year-round.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round. Likes an incoming tide. More on barred surfperch

The water

  • Water temperature72°F
  • Seas5.9 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer29.97 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:53 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:12 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 9:50 pm–11:50 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:20 am–6:20 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. California CDFW has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

California's southernmost beach town: a wide sand beach and municipal pier running south toward the Tijuana River mouth. Barred surfperch work the surf troughs year-round and California halibut move onto the sand from spring into fall. Tijuana River runoff often closes the water here, so check San Diego County's beach postings first.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay)11 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pmCoastal Flood Advisory
67Marginal
Ocean Beach (San Diego)13 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pmCoastal Flood Advisory
55Marginal
Mission Bay (San Diego)14 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pmCoastal Flood Advisory
67Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Imperial Beach?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Imperial Beach you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Imperial Beach?

Imperial Beach is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Barred Surfperch, California Halibut. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Imperial Beach?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Imperial Beach against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Imperial Beach have?

Imperial Beach has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Imperial Beach?

state agency regulations apply at Imperial Beach. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Imperial Beach tidal water?

Yes. Imperial Beach sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.