Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay) fishing conditions · California

Now until tomorrow 6 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.

60Mon
60
60
603 am
65
65
656 am
65
65
659 am
65
65
6512 pm
65
65
653 pm
65
65
656 pm
65
65
659 pm
65
65
65Tue
65
65
653 am
65
65
556 am
65
65
559 am
55
65

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: 74°F
Wind: 5 mph
Light: Dark
Sky: Mostly Clear
Air: 68°F
Barometer: Rising
Moon: 100% lit

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

Paralabrax maculatofasciatus

65MarginalNow until tomorrow 6 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

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

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on kelp bass

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 public fishing pier on Shelter Island inside San Diego Bay, close to the main ship channel. Spotted bay bass and California halibut are the inshore staples; calico (kelp) bass come in toward the bay entrance.

WaterSan Diego Coast
AccessFishing pier
RulesCalifornia
WhereSan Diego County · 32.7146, -117.2289

Nearby

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

Ocean Beach (San Diego)3 mi · CaliforniaNo window clears the barCoastal Flood Warning

53Sit it out

Mission Bay (San Diego)4 mi · CaliforniaBest now until tonight 3 amCoastal Flood Warning

65Marginal

Pacific Beach6 mi · CaliforniaNo window clears the barCoastal Flood Warning

31Sit it out

Imperial Beach11 mi · CaliforniaNo window clears the bar

44Sit it out

Oceanside Beach34 mi · CaliforniaBest now until tomorrow 10 am

78Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay)?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay)?

Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay) is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Spotted Bay Bass, California Halibut, Kelp Bass. 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 Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay)?

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 Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay) 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 Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay) have?

Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay) has a fishing pier — shore-only anglers can fish here without a boat.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay)?

state agency regulations apply at Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay). 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 Shelter Island Pier (San Diego Bay) tidal water?

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