It’s a fishing day

Imperial Beach fishing conditions · California

Sit it outno barred surfperch window clears the bar in 36 hours

Water is 74°, above the 50–68° barred surfperch like.

Log a trip here
Right now: 39 for barred surfperch, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Barred surfperch, 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. 39Mon
  2. 39
  3. 35
  4. 253 am
  5. 30
  6. 40
  7. 406 am
  8. 40
  9. 44
  10. 409 am
  11. 40
  12. 40
  13. 4412 pm
  14. 44
  15. 40
  16. 403 pm
  17. 40
  18. 40
  19. 446 pm
  20. 40
  21. 40
  22. 409 pm
  23. 40
  24. 40
  25. 40Tue
  26. 44
  27. 44
  28. 403 am
  29. 40
  30. 40
  31. 406 am
  32. 40
  33. 40
  34. 449 am
  35. 30
  36. 40
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
74°F

Barred surfperch range 50–68°

Wind
5 mph

From the north

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:00 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
67°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

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.

Barred Surfperch

Barred surfperch

Amphistichus argenteus

44Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

74°
40°50–68° · ideal 60°78°

Why

Barred surfperch prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

Season here: Year-round. More on barred surfperch

California Halibut

California halibut

Paralichthys californicus

44Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

74°
45°55–72° · ideal 64°82°

Why

California halibut prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Above California halibut's active range (55–72°F) — fish move deep. 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

Season here: Mar–Oct. More on California halibut

The water

  • Water temperature74°F
  • Seas3.6 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer30.05 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:00 am
  • Sunset today6:03 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarSunday 11:30 pm–1:30 am
  • Minor solunarToday 7:10 am–8:10 am
  • Major solunarToday 11:50 am–1:50 pm

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 tomorrow 6 amCoastal Flood Warning
65Marginal
Mission Bay (San Diego)14 mi · CaliforniaBest now until tonight 3 amCoastal Flood Warning
65Marginal

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.