San Diego Bay: From the South to the Mouth

By Kevin Stafford – Owner of Tenacious Baits

Introduction

I have spent about 90 percent of my fishing days on San Diego Bay, and I can definitely say that it’s my favorite fishery.  I personally think that it’s one of the best fisheries in Southern California.  Whether you like fishing for Spotties, Sandies, Bonefish, Corvina, Halibut, or sharks, SD Bay can produce better than most places in Southern California.  I have built my fishing knowledge from time on the water, information from others, and a desire to learn.  Most of the information I learned from others was from the following guides: Capt. George Tuthill, Capt. Bill Shaefer, Capt. Ron Baker, and Mike Gardner.  I also gained valuable information from Dennis Burleson and Eddie Howerton.  If you ever get a chance to hear Dennis and Eddie at a seminar, don’t pass it up!  They provide great information about fishing for Sand Bass in San Diego Bay.

South Bay
 
Once you launch at the J Street ramp, you don’t even have to leave the boat docks to catch fish.  (My favorite boat docks are highlighted in blue.)  I read an article on PlasticNavy.com called “Dock Fishing for Dummies” by Ed Whited.  I did as he instructed, and the techniques produced quickly.  When I fish the boat docks, I use red or brown 3 ½ inch rattle craws from Storm.  I was able to buy 20 packs of brown rattle craws from Ebay for a good price.  Hopefully that will last me a while.  I usually drop my lure right down the pylons (shady side) but will occasionally fish in empty slips.  I use 50 lb braid with a six foot 10 to 15 pound fluorocarbon leader.  I used to use 8 pound line, but I broke off too many fish.  By the way, I usually fish the boat docks in my kayak.  I think it’s a great way to be stealth.  I’ve been yelled at a few times in Chula Vista Marina.  I usually just yell back and say, “I’m not trespassing, and I know an attorney named Bill Hokstad.” 

As I work my way out of the Marina, I always like to fish the east side of the Channel drop off (highlighted in yellow).  I’ll work my way up the right side of the channel, fishing both the drop off and the flat above the drop off.  I’ll do this all the way to the area in front of the boatyard.  The west side of the channel is productive as well (highlighted in orange).  I also like to fish north of the boat yard (highlighted in green).  Sometimes, I’ll just paddle to the middle of the bay, and drift with the wind and fan cast.  It always seems that once I get to the west edge of the old channel (highlighted in purple), I pick up a few fish.  Usually, I fish with 3 inch Big Hammer swimbaits in Fongfish or Chartreuse.  Sometimes I will use a 3-inch single-tail scampi in chartreuse or ghost shrimp.  Depending on the height of the tide, I’ll use either a 1/8th or 1/16th ounce darter head.  I fish with 6 pound Maxima green on a spinning reel.  I also use 3/8 or 3/4 ounce chartreuse Thunder Blades with 4 inch swimbaits on 8 pound Maxima green.  I don’t like to fish South Bay during a really low tide. 

Tidelands

There are some great areas to fish south of the Coronado Bridge.  There is a flat that is about one square mile located south of the bridge (highlighted in yellow).  This is a great area for spotties and bonefish.  I also like fishing in the flats by the Coronado Golf Course (highlighted in red).  On the north side of the bridge, I like to fish the moored boats just off Tidelands (highlighted in blue).  There is also a nice clam bed on the north side of the bridge east of the moored boats (highlighted in green).

The Channel edge on the east and west side are great for sand bass (highlighted in purple below).  The last area I like to fish is in front of the Marriott Hotel (highlighted in yellow).  The best area is at the cable crossing, but be careful of losing your bait.  This area is great for spotties and sand bass. 

East of the Silver Strand, there is a small island (highlighted in red below).  The west side can be very productive, but watch out for naval security.  On the north side of highlighted area, there is a good drop off that often holds fish.

Harbor Island On the front side of Harbor Island is a large flat that is great for spotties (highlighted in yellow).  Behind Spanish Landing is a channel that leads to MCRD (highlighted in red).  This is also a great area for spotties and even bonefish.  I fish the drop offs on both sides of the channel, but I prefer the east side.  As you reach the back of the channel, there is a lot of structure that is productive, too.  Also, don’t forget the boat docks at Harbor Island.  These docks hold some monster spotties.  Straight across from Harbor Island on Coronado Island, there are great spots to fish, all with a lot of structure, but again, watch out for Naval Security.

Shelter Island A while back, I was lucky enough to rent an apartment that was a block from Kellogg’s beach.  I was able to wheel my kayak down the hill and launch.  The boat docks at Shelter Island are great.  They all can be productive, but I prefer the docks at Kona Kai, Southwestern Yacht Club, and the area toward the back.  The point at the south end of Shelter Island is a great area (highlighted in yellow).  I like fishing the drop-offs on both sides of this point.  When I fish the drop offs, I like working my lure uphill with an incoming tide.  I usually use a stop and go retrieve.  I’ve had a 60 plus day fishing this point on the kayak.  I also like fishing inside the moored boats along the entire length of Shelter Island (highlighted in green).  The area in front of the Bali Hai restaurant is also very productive (highlighted in red). 

This is one of my favorite areas for sand bass.  I spent a day on my kayak marking the drop off of the entire channel edge from the north end of Shelter Island to the sub base.  If you long line the drop off it can be very productive (highlighted in purple).  Again, I learned a lot about long-lining techniques at a seminar by Dennis Bureleson and Eddie Howerton.  When I long line, I use Calcutta 400 reels with 150 yard top shot of 12 pound Maxima Green.  When I get to my Spectra backing, I know it’s time to reel in.  I usually start with a fast retrieve for about 10 seconds, and then I slow down.  When I feel the rod load up and get heavy, I just keep winding.  You don’t need to set the hook.  If I get bit and the fish comes off, I let it drop again for about 5 seconds and then start reeling again.  I also look for structure when I’m long-lining.  I have found that these areas of structure hold bigger fish.  I won’t give away all of the spots that hold big sandies (except for the bait receivers).  I’ll let you find your own special spots.  Finding your own spots that hold big grumps is much more rewarding.  Once again, if you get a chance to hear Ed and Dennis speak, do not pass it up. 

Across from Shelter Island, on the Coronado side, you can find some great fishing areas, too.  Be careful not to get too close to the base (highlighted in red).

 Zuniga Jetty and Ballast Point

This is a great place for Calico Bass and Sand Bass (highlighted in green).  I like to throw jigs and 5 inch swimbaits on leadheads.  I will also throw 1 ½ ounce Thunder Blades along the rocks.  I usually fish Thunder Blades with red heads in this area.  The flat inside Ballast Point is great for spotties and halibut, but again, watch out for naval security (highlighted in red).  As you work the rocks towards the surf, you can find some nice calicos, too (highlighted in yellow).  Oh yeah, the mouth.  The mouth of the bay can be great for sand bass and halibut, but beware of sailboats on windy days.

Final Words

Most people say that it is good to have around 4 to 5 feet of tidal movement when fishing the bay.  I agree with that, but I like to have 6 feet of movement for sand bass.  I always try to retrieve my lure in the same direction of the current.  Whenever I can find a drop off, I try to fish it moving the bait uphill if possible.  When I’m fishing for spotties, I like to use 3 inch Big Hammer swimbaits on 1/16, 1/8, or 1/4 ounce darter heads.  I will usually fish 1/8 ounce darter heads because I can fish them easily between 8 and 25 feet.  I also like to use a 3-inch single tail scampi in either chartreuse or ghost shrimp.  For spotties, I like to use orange 3/8 or 3/4 ounce Thunder Blades with a brown and orange skirt and 4 inch Big Hammer’s Halloween or fongfish swimbait. 

When I fish for Sand Bass, I like to throw 5 inch swim baits in a variety of colors.  Both Big Hammer and MC make great swimbaits.  I either use baitfish colors (blues and greens) or razor clam colors like brown and orange or Halloween.  I usually use 3/4 ounce leadheads and long-line them.  I also use Double Shots and Triple Shots when I long-line. These baits work awesome for catching bigger fish. I use 1 1/2 ounce Thunder Blades in either chartreuse or orange too.  I don’t long-line spinnerbaits though.  I usually get them down to the bottom and slow roll them.

These techniques and spots work for me, but there are plenty of other people who are great fishermen that have their own ways of fishing.  For me, information and time on the water are the two most important factors.  I try to pay attention to bottom contours and how fish relate to them.  Good Luck!