Southern California fishing spotlight

Fishing in the Golden State is as diverse as the landscape itself. The southern salt can be warm and inviting, while the northern coast is cold, rocky and full of toothed monsters. Throw in some great bass lakes, world-famous rivers and cold mountain creeks and the fishing options are endless.

The Fishbrain team recently flew down to sunny southern California to attend the annual Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s annual marketing meeting. While there, we couldn’t help ourselves and had to try out some great local fishing spots and we’re highlighting just what the warm beaches of San Diego can offer. We’re not giving away any honey holes here, but instead taking a wide scaled look at the well known fishing areas that have a lot to offer.

Point Loma

Point Loma is the first place European explorers first set foot on what would be California. The peninsula is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and forms the outline of San Diego Bay to the east.

Pier fishing is plentiful along the point and over 1,000 acres of a naval base are publicly accessible to fish during certain times. At the southern point, there is also Cabrillo National Monument, which allows public access down to the ocean.

From the shore and piers you can expect to find kelp bass, sand bass, vermilion rockfish and possibly even Pacific halibut if you find the right bottom structure.

We found kelp bass plentiful on the point, as we targeted green kelp beds where they hunt.

When the fish weren’t biting we also took the time to admire the civilian and naval ships coming into Coronado, as well as the helicopters and planes buzzing around.

Santee Lakes Recreation Area

Santee lakes is a little freshwater taste of the great outdoors, planted firmly in the heart of suburbia. The 190 acre park is a day use area with seven lakes that are stocked with bass, catfish and rainbow trout year round.

While you do need to purchase a permit to fish on the lakes, you do not need a state license to fish. 

Dana Point

North of San Diego and with Catalina Island just in the distance, we hit Dana Point, a historical California landmark and excellent jumping-off port for inshore and offshore fishing. We set out from the harbor with Dana Wharf fishing charters cutting through a light layer of marine fog, and we weren’t alone. 

A small fleet carried around 50 special needs kids sponsored by the Fish For Life charity. Since 2010, Fish for Life has taken around 3,500 kids, with all sorts of special needs, fishing. Many for the first time.

When our boat finally stopped on top of our fishing grounds, the Fishbrain crew spent most of our day tying knots, baiting hooks, re-baiting hooks and unhooking one kelp bass after another. As the day went on, the marine layer of fog burnt off, revealing that famous So Cal sun. Spirits were high as one fish after another came aboard. For many of the children it was their first chance to feel the tug of a line and hopefully not their last. 

After three days of diverse styles of fishing, we’d barely dipped our toes into what Southern California has to offer. Offshore fishing for tuna and mahi, striper fishing in the Sacramento Delta, bass fishing in Clear Lake and crystal clear river fishing are still calling to us to come back and explore more, including the northern aspects of the state.

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