It’s a fishing day

Ocean Beach (San Diego) fishing conditions · California

Sit it outno kelp bass window clears the bar in 36 hours

Water is 74°, inside their 60–74° range.

Coastal Flood Warning until Thursday 1 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 48 for kelp bass, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Kelp 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. 48Mon
  2. 48
  3. 48
  4. 483 am
  5. 53
  6. 53
  7. 536 am
  8. 53
  9. 53
  10. 539 am
  11. 53
  12. 53
  13. 5312 pm
  14. 53
  15. 53
  16. 533 pm
  17. 53
  18. 53
  19. 536 pm
  20. 53
  21. 53
  22. 539 pm
  23. 53
  24. 53
  25. 53Tue
  26. 53
  27. 53
  28. 533 am
  29. 53
  30. 53
  31. 536 am
  32. 53
  33. 53
  34. 439 am
  35. 43
  36. 53
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
74°F

Kelp bass range 60–74°

Wind
5 mph

From the northwest

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:01 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
68°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.

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

Barred Surfperch

Barred surfperch

Amphistichus argenteus

31Sit 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

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

A sand beach between the San Diego River jetty and the rocky reef of Sunset Cliffs. Barred surfperch and California halibut on the sand, and calico (kelp) bass around the jetty rocks and the reef.

Nearby

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

Mission Bay (San Diego)2 mi · CaliforniaBest now until tonight 3 amCoastal Flood Warning
65Marginal
Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay)3 mi · CaliforniaBest now until tomorrow 6 amCoastal Flood Warning
65Marginal
Oceanside Beach32 mi · CaliforniaBest now until tomorrow 10 am
78Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Ocean Beach (San Diego)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Ocean Beach (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 Ocean Beach (San Diego)?

Ocean Beach (San Diego) is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Kelp Bass, 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 Ocean Beach (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 Ocean Beach (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 Ocean Beach (San Diego) have?

Ocean Beach (San Diego) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Ocean Beach (San Diego)?

state agency regulations apply at Ocean Beach (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 Ocean Beach (San Diego) tidal water?

Yes. Ocean Beach (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.