How to Use This Calendar
California offshore fishing changes dramatically month to month. Water temperature, bait migrations, and seasonal species movements create distinct windows where certain fish are available — and others aren't. This calendar covers the Southern California bite (San Diego, Long Beach, Dana Point, Ventura) with notes on Central and Northern California where relevant.
The dates below are averages. Warm-water years push everything earlier and extend seasons later. Cold-water years compress the window. Always check current fish counts and conditions before booking a trip — what's biting this week matters more than what historically bites this month.
January
Water temp: 56–60°F
What's biting: Rockfish, lingcod, sheephead, whitefish, yellowtail (occasional)
Trip type: Half-day to full-day
January is deep-reef season. Rockfish and lingcod are the primary targets, and the fishing can be outstanding. California rockfish regulations typically allow fishing from April through December in Southern California (check CDFW for current season dates — they change by district), so January fishing may be limited to certain areas or species.
Yellowtail hang around the Coronado Islands year-round, and in warmer winters they bite well through January. The kelp beds also hold calico bass and sheephead for anglers fishing lighter tackle.
Gear pick: A 30–40 lb setup with a Shimano Talica 16 and 40 lb braid covers everything you'll encounter this month.
February
Water temp: 56–59°F
What's biting: Rockfish, lingcod, sheephead, sand bass, white seabass (starting)
Trip type: Half-day to full-day
February is the quietest month on the offshore calendar, but don't write it off. The deep-reef bite for rockfish remains strong, and early white seabass start showing up in some years. This is also a good month for twilight trips targeting squid over the flats — and where squid stacks up, white seabass and yellowtail aren't far behind.
On the BDOutdoors forums, February is when anglers start talking about pre-season tackle upgrades and comparing notes on what's showing on the sonar.
March
Water temp: 57–61°F
What's biting: White seabass, yellowtail, calico bass, rockfish, halibut
Trip type: Half-day to full-day, some overnight trips begin
March is when things start waking up. White seabass are the headline species — they move into the kelp beds to feed on squid, and anglers fishing live squid or squid-pattern swimbaits connect on fish in the 20–40 lb range. The Coronado Islands yellowtail bite picks up steam, and calico bass fishing improves in the shallower kelp.
This is also when the first bluefin tuna reports start trickling in from the outer banks, though it's early and inconsistent. Long-range boats out of San Diego begin scheduling spring trips.
April
Water temp: 59–63°F
What's biting: Yellowtail, white seabass, calico bass, rockfish (season opens), bluefin tuna (early)
Trip type: Half-day to 1.5-day
April is the official start of rockfish season in most Southern California districts, and boats stack limits quickly on the deep reefs. But the bigger story is yellowtail — the spring yellowtail run at the Coronado Islands and the outer kelp beds can produce some of the best fishing of the year. Fish in the 15–30 lb range are common, with occasional 40+ pounders mixed in.
Bluefin tuna start appearing on the outer banks in warm-water years. Overnight boats begin targeting them, though the bite is unpredictable this early.
Gear pick: A versatile 30–80 lb setup handles both yellowtail and the possibility of an early tuna. Bring a flat fall jig (Shimano Butterfly 130g) in case you find tuna on the sonar.
May
Water temp: 61–65°F
What's biting: Yellowtail, bluefin tuna, calico bass, barracuda, bonito, dorado (rare early arrivals)
Trip type: Full-day to multi-day
May is when California's offshore season truly kicks into gear. The yellowtail bite peaks at the Coronado Islands, and bluefin tuna become a more reliable target on overnight and 1.5-day trips. Barracuda and bonito swarm the kelp beds, providing fast action on half-day boats.
Water temperatures climbing through the low 60s trigger bait migrations — sardines and anchovies push offshore in massive schools, and everything follows them. This is the month to book your first overnight trip if you've been waiting for tuna season.
June
Water temp: 64–68°F
What's biting: Bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna (early), yellowtail, dorado, calico bass, barracuda
Trip type: Half-day to multi-day — the full menu is open
June is the transition into peak summer fishing. Bluefin tuna are now a primary target on overnight and multi-day trips out of all four San Diego landings. Yellowfin tuna start showing up on the outer banks in warm-water years. Dorado (mahi-mahi) begin arriving on kelp paddies 30+ miles offshore.
The kelp bed bite is as good as it gets — calico bass, sand bass, barracuda, and bonito are all firing. Half-day boats are putting up excellent numbers.
Gear pick: This is when you need multiple setups. A light 20–30 lb rig for the kelp and a heavier 65 lb braid setup with a Shimano Trinidad 30 for tuna if the boat runs offshore.
July
Water temp: 66–72°F
What's biting: Bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, dorado, yellowtail, calico bass, barracuda, white seabass
Trip type: All trip types producing well
July is the peak of the SoCal offshore season. Warm water pushes prime species close enough that even full-day boats are connecting on tuna and dorado. Overnight trips are stacking big numbers on bluefin. Multi-day trips to Tanner Bank and Cortez Bank are targeting trophy-class bluefin over 100 lbs.
Dorado fishing peaks on the offshore kelp paddies — these fish are aggressive, acrobatic, and excellent on the table. Yellowtail remain strong at the islands.
This is the month when it's hardest to have a bad day of fishing in San Diego.
August
Water temp: 68–74°F
What's biting: Bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna (rare), dorado, yellowtail, wahoo (rare early arrivals)
Trip type: All trip types — peak season continues
August is the warmest water month and the height of tuna season. All three tuna species — bluefin, yellowfin, and occasionally bigeye — are available to anglers running overnight and multi-day trips. Dorado remain strong on the paddies. The first wahoo of the year occasionally show up on multi-day trips running into upper Baja waters.
Per BDOutdoors, August is historically the month with the highest total fish counts across San Diego landings. Every boat from every landing is running, and most are catching.
September
Water temp: 67–72°F
What's biting: Bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, dorado, yellowtail, wahoo, albacore (arriving)
Trip type: Overnight to multi-day for tuna, full-day for everything else
September brings the arrival of albacore tuna. These fish migrate south from the Pacific Northwest, and when they push within range of SoCal boats (usually 80–120 miles offshore), it's some of the best eating fish in the ocean. Albacore trips are typically 1.5-day to 2-day affairs running well offshore.
The bluefin and yellowfin bite continues through September, though fish begin shifting as water temperatures start their fall decline. Dorado and wahoo remain available on multi-day trips.
Gear pick: Albacore call for a medium setup — 40–65 lb braid with a 25–30 lb fluorocarbon leader. They're strong fighters but don't require the heavy gear that bluefin demand.
October
Water temp: 64–69°F
What's biting: Yellowtail, bluefin tuna (late season), albacore, dorado (winding down), rockfish, white seabass
Trip type: Full-day to multi-day
October is transition month. The peak tuna bite is fading but hasn't ended — bluefin linger on the banks in warm-water years, and albacore remain available offshore. Yellowtail fishing picks back up at the Coronado Islands as water temperatures settle into the mid-60s, which yellowtail love.
The deep-reef rockfish bite strengthens heading into fall, and white seabass make a second showing as squid returns to the kelp beds. This is one of the most diverse months of the year — you can realistically catch 8–10 species on a single full-day trip.
November
Water temp: 60–65°F
What's biting: Yellowtail, rockfish, lingcod, white seabass, sheephead, bluefin tuna (bonus)
Trip type: Half-day to full-day, occasional overnight
November is the start of the cool-water transition. Rockfish and lingcod become the primary targets, and the deep-reef bite is excellent. Yellowtail remain at the Coronado Islands, and white seabass are a realistic possibility on squid-heavy nights.
The wild card is late-season bluefin. In recent warm-water years, bluefin have been caught off SoCal well into November and even December. These aren't guaranteed fish, but when they show up this late, the boats that find them often have the school to themselves.
December
Water temp: 57–61°F
What's biting: Rockfish, lingcod, sheephead, yellowtail (fading), whitefish
Trip type: Half-day to full-day
December closes out the year with dependable deep-reef fishing. Rockfish limits come fast for boats fishing the right spots, and lingcod are at their most aggressive heading into winter. The kelp beds hold sheephead and calico bass for light-tackle anglers.
This is also a great month for gift certificates. All four San Diego landings sell them, and a fishing trip makes a better gift than another sweater.
Seasonal Gear Checklist
Here's what to have in your bag year-round for SoCal offshore fishing:
Essentials (Every Trip)
- Polarized sunglasses — not optional, you need to see bait and structure in the water
- Sunscreen (SPF 50+, reef-safe)
- Layers — mornings are cold on the water even in summer
- Pliers/line cutter
- Fluorocarbon leader material (Seaguar Blue Label) — 25 lb and 40 lb spools cover most situations
- Circle hooks (Owner Mutu) — 1/0 through 5/0
Warm Season Add-Ons (May–October)
- Flat fall jigs, 100–200g
- Surface iron (Tady 45 or Salas 7X)
- Heavy fluoro leader (60–80 lb) for tuna
- Second rod/reel setup for tuna if you're fishing a multi-species trip
Cool Season Add-Ons (November–April)
- Heavier sinkers (6–16 oz) for deep-reef fishing
- Shrimp flies and gangion rigs for rockfish
- Squid jigs if targeting squid for white seabass bait
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