Fish, Stay and Play in San Diego

San Diego is not only home to the world's largest sport fishing fleet; it offers vacationers a host of lodging and dining options, world-class attractions and 70 miles of pristine beaches to explore when you're not in pursuit of bragging rights. With average temperatures in the 70s, anglers can enjoy both saltwater and freshwater fishing year round. Learn about fishing in San Diego and get tips to help your fishing adventure.

Saltwater Fishing

Fishermen from around the world visit San Diego to fish the bountiful waters of the Pacific Ocean. Depending on the season, yellowfin, bluefin, yellowtail, albacore, mahi mahi (dorado), marlin and mako can be caught offshore, while an inshore catch might include calico bass, halibut, rockfish, sheephead, croaker, corbina or white sea bass.

San Diego has five main landings that are home to more than 75 state-of-the-art fishing vessels ranging in size from 60-124 feet, and outfitted with the latest fish finding equipment and amenities. These include H&M, Point Loma and Fisherman's Landing near downtown, Dana Landing on Mission Bay, and Helgren's Landing in San Diego's North County.

There are Charter options to fish in San Diego that are diverse ranging from family friendly ½ day trips to 15 day trips for the hard-core enthusiast, and everything in between. San Diego also has numerous private charters (6-pack) that offer anglers a more intimate fishing experience.

Processing of your catch can be done by the crew of your boat or by one of the local processing facilities who will not only fillet, vacuum seal and freeze your fish, but ship your fillets directly to your home.

Freshwater Fishing

There's a reason why Field and Stream Magazine ranks San Diego No. 2 on its list of "America's Best Fishing Cities." San Diego has over 20 lakes and reservoirs filled with trout, bluegill, catfish, sturgeon, carp and crappie where you can enjoy a great freshwater fishing experience. But what San Diego is really known for is largemouth bass. In fact, the National Geographic Channel's Hooked on Bass show features "Dottie" the world's biggest bass caught on San Diego's Dixon Lake. In fact, 11 of the top 25 biggest largemouth bass in the world were caught in San Diego.

Access to shore fishing is ample and several of San Diego's larger lakes offer boat rentals. You can make your fishing experience in San Diego unique and even hire a fishing guide to show you how and where to fish like a true tournament angler.

Pier Fishing in San Diego

San Diego has 7 ocean piers that allow fishing, some of which include bait and tackle shops. Pier fishing is almost a rite of passage for any youngster new to the sport and a great low-cost way to get started. Some of the more common fish caught on San Diego piers include sand bass, spotted bay bass, calico bass, halibut, leopard sharks, bat rays, barracuda, bonito and more.

License Requirements

When fishing in San Diego, a sport fishing license is required for any person age 16 or older to fish in the Pacific Ocean or a San Diego lake. Fishing from public piers does not require a license, but all minimum size and other regulations apply. For more information on fishing license requirements, visit https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing.

Browse the articles and listings below to create your next "gone fishing" San Diego vacation!