San Diego recommendations

Scudley Do Right

Scudley Do Right

Legend
We are heading down for spring break. I've never been down there. Are there any fly fishing opportunities I should look into at that time of year? Any guide recommendations or DIY info is appreciated.
 
There's some youtube stuff on it. I tried some casual DYI beach fishing on the bay side of Coronado and Mission Bay during family vacation and didn't catch anything, but I did almost step on a couple stingrays, so wear decent footwear.
 
I fished there for decades. Fly fisherman like to fish for "Corbina" ( not to be confused with corvina). They target them at beaches in shallow water with small surf. Torrey Pines is a very popular spot for this. These fish are hard to catch, but the surf perch that you catch make it fun every time. They wade into the surf and use line baskets. Also you have the bays. The channel that divides Liberty Station and empties into San Diego Bay is where I would try first. You can wade out and work the channels with a streamer and catch Spotted Bay bass and Halibut. They also have some charters out of Mission Bay that take people out to fly fish for Mako shark...
 
Some of the lakes down there hold huge bass. Like 20lb bass. I caught a 14lb one and was over the moon…didn’t really move the needle of excitement among several of the local bass guys.

A bit early for tunas, but that’s really fun down there.
 
Jim in Anacortes said:
I fished there for decades. Fly fisherman like to fish for "Corbina" ( not to be confused with corvina). They target them at beaches in shallow water with small surf. Torrey Pines is a very popular spot for this. These fish are hard to catch, but the surf perch that you catch make it fun every time. They wade into the surf and use line baskets. Also you have the bays. The channel that divides Liberty Station and empties into San Diego Bay is where I would try first. You can wade out and work the channels with a streamer and catch Spotted Bay bass and Halibut. They also have some charters out of Mission Bay that take people out to fly fish for Mako shark...
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Have you gone after Mako? It would be cool to see one but I'm worried it might be too much sitting and waiting for me.
 
Depends on what you're after and how you like to fish. If it were me, I'd be trying to do the Corbina in the surf thing (no idea preferred timing is for those) or Mako.

Robert Engleheart said:
There are small bonefish in the South Bay according to a speaker our fly club engaged.
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can confirm.

Never caught any, but not for lack of trying....VERY spooky (at least where I was and the fish I was fishing to....then again, coulda just been my Bull-in-a-China-shop style of wading at the time!)
 
Watch out for the otters...
 
clarkman said:
Depends on what you're after and how you like to fish. If it were me, I'd be trying to do the Corbina in the surf thing (no idea preferred timing is for those) or Mako.


can confirm.

Never caught any, but not for lack of trying....VERY spooky (at least where I was and the fish I was fishing to....then again, coulda just been my Bull-in-a-China-shop style of wading at the time!)
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From what I can tell I'll be early for the Corbina.
 
A was down there for a work conference a few years ago. I rented one of those electric scooters and cruised around mission bay and fished. It wasn't the most productive, but I did manage to get a small halibut on a chartreuse clouser. I had fun, it was warm, beautiful, and the food in San Diego is really really good
 
Calico are ( mostly) in the kelp beds and can get quite large. Spotted Bay Bass are found in the bays, (Sand bass are found in both environments) These fish fight harder ( for their size) than any other fish I have ever caught. A 12 inch Spotted Bay Bass will give quite a fight on a five weight fly rod. Halibut can be targeted successfully in the bays ( typically the legal 22 inches, but often much much larger.), but it takes more experience and knowledge to catch them,... than the ever present Spotted Bay Bass.If you want to catch a fish in San Diego...spotted Bay Bass is your best bet..Liberty Station with a fly from Strouds.
 
The Mako charters, IMHO, are crazy. These are big damn fish that should be fished with safe, proper gear...not fly rods! That being said, these guys have carved out a nich fishery that makes them money and provides a truly unique fly fishing experience.
 
Bonefish are a fish that is typically caught while targeting Spotted Bay Bass in the South Bay. The South Bay is literally full of small Spotted Bass. One hundred per day is typical. Once in awhile a bonefish gets hooked.
 
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The best kept secret involved with fishing San Diego is a fish that is named "Corvina" (Not to be confused with Corbina). They come out at night and congregate below the city lights that light up the waters in San Diego Bay and Mission bay. Anywhere in either of those bays that city lights reach into the water at night...the Corvina are just begging to be hooked. Drag a plug or a fly through the lighted water, as deep as possible...hook up. Only at night and only under lights...H& M landing San Diego Bay... and Dana Landing Mission bay will get you started.These fish fight hard and can reach eight pounds with five pounds typical. After a few nights out ( to learn)... your can expect to catch several fish every night of the week all year round.
 
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