It’s a fishing day

Mission Bay (San Diego) fishing conditions · California

Now until 5 pmSpotted bay bass

The bite peaks at 67. Water is 72°, close to the 71° spotted bay bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Coastal Flood Advisory until Tuesday 12 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 67 for spotted bay bass, marginal · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Spotted bay bass, 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. 671 pm
  2. 67
  3. 67
  4. 674 pm
  5. 53
  6. 53
  7. 537 pm
  8. 53
  9. 53
  10. 5310 pm
  11. 53
  12. 53Sun
  13. 531 am
  14. 53
  15. 53
  16. 534 am
  17. 53
  18. 53
  19. 537 am
  20. 53
  21. 43
  22. 4310 am
  23. 53
  24. 53
  25. 531 pm
  26. 53
  27. 53
  28. 534 pm
  29. 53
  30. 43
  31. 437 pm
  32. 43
  33. 43
  34. 4310 pm
  35. 43
  36. 43Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
72°F

Spotted bay bass range 62–80°

Wind
10 mph

From the northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:53 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
76°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.

Spotted Bay Bass

Spotted bay bass

Paralabrax maculatofasciatus

67MarginalNow until 5 pm

Water

72°
52°62–80° · ideal 71°90°

Why

Right in spotted bay bass's ideal range. Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 2–30 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14" total length (10" alternate length) minimum. 5/person/day in any combination of kelp bass, barred sand bass and spotted sand bass, with no more than 4 barred sand bass. Fillets at least 7½" with a 1" patch of skin.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov. More on spotted bay bass

Kelp Bass

Kelp bass

Paralabrax clathratus

55MarginalNow until 5 pm

Water

72°
50°60–74° · ideal 67°84°

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 kelp bass's active range. Holds 5–100 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14" total length (10" alternate length) minimum. 5/person/day in any combination of kelp bass, barred sand bass and spotted sand bass, with no more than 4 barred sand bass. Fillets at least 7½" with a 1" patch of skin.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on kelp bass

California Halibut

California halibut

Paralichthys californicus

49Sit it outNo window clears the bar

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

The water

  • Water temperature72°F
  • Seas3.9 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

Mission Bay's basins, channels and entrance jetties in San Diego. CDFW names Mission Bay among the main spotted bay bass waters; calico (kelp) bass hold along the entrance channel, and California halibut work the sandy basins. Fished from boats, docks and the shoreline.

California halibut: 22" minimum, 5 a day south of Point Sur. Kelp and spotted bay bass: 14" minimum, 5 a day combined with barred sand bass.

Nearby

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

Ocean Beach (San Diego)2 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pmCoastal Flood Advisory
55Marginal
Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay)4 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pmCoastal Flood Advisory
67Marginal
Imperial Beach14 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
74Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Mission Bay (San Diego)?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Mission Bay (San Diego)?

Mission Bay (San Diego) is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Spotted Bay Bass, Kelp Bass, 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 Mission Bay (San Diego)?

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 Mission Bay (San Diego) 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 Mission Bay (San Diego) have?

Mission Bay (San Diego) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. California halibut: 22" minimum, 5 a day south of Point Sur. Kelp and spotted bay bass: 14" minimum, 5 a day combined with barred sand bass.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Mission Bay (San Diego)?

state agency regulations apply at Mission Bay (San Diego). 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 Mission Bay (San Diego) tidal water?

Yes. Mission Bay (San Diego) sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.