It’s a fishing day

Mission Bay (San Diego) fishing conditions · California

Now until tonight 3 amSpotted bay bass

The bite peaks at 65. Water is 74°, close to the 71° spotted bay bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Coastal Flood Warning until Thursday 1 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 60 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. 60Mon
  2. 60
  3. 60
  4. 603 am
  5. 65
  6. 65
  7. 656 am
  8. 65
  9. 65
  10. 659 am
  11. 65
  12. 65
  13. 6512 pm
  14. 65
  15. 65
  16. 653 pm
  17. 65
  18. 65
  19. 656 pm
  20. 65
  21. 65
  22. 659 pm
  23. 65
  24. 65
  25. 65Tue
  26. 65
  27. 65
  28. 553 am
  29. 65
  30. 65
  31. 656 am
  32. 65
  33. 65
  34. 559 am
  35. 55
  36. 65
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
74°F

Spotted bay bass range 62–80°

Wind
5 mph

From the north

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:01 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.

Spotted Bay Bass

Spotted bay bass

Paralabrax maculatofasciatus

65MarginalNow until tonight 3 am

Water

74°
52°62–80° · ideal 71°90°

Why

Right in spotted bay bass's ideal range. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Kelp Bass

Kelp bass

Paralabrax clathratus

53Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

74°
50°60–74° · ideal 67°84°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on kelp bass

California Halibut

California halibut

Paralichthys californicus

31Sit 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
  • Seas2.6 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer30.06 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:01 am
  • Sunset today6:04 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

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.

Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay)4 mi · CaliforniaBest now until tomorrow 6 amCoastal Flood Warning
65Marginal
Oceanside Beach31 mi · CaliforniaBest now until tomorrow 10 am
78Worth 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.