Hello everyone. I will be traveling to San Diego next week and would like to fish either the surf or bay. I’ll only have half a day and I’m bringing a 9wt saltwater setup. Any suggestions on where I could go to try my hand at this? Thanks in advance!
Tight lines,
Jeremy Barela
[url=http://www.danica.com/flytier/jbarela/jbarela.htm:72764]jeremy’s flies[/url:72764]
There are more than 30 miles of fishable beaches in San Diego County. Some of the more popular ones are Torrey Pines State Beach, Silver Strand State Beach, Coronada, Mission Beach, Blacks Beach, Del Mar, Solana Beach, and Carlsbad State Beach. However any sandy beach can be productive. Any beach without sand is to be avoided. Storms, including the current one, can strip away and sand and leave cobbles, or deposit new sand, so it is hard to be certain of which may be productive. However the listed beaches usually have sandy areas and are easily accessible.
Numerous species are present in the surf including surf perch, halibut, croaker, corbina, ray and shovelnose guitarfish.
6 to 8 wt rods are typically used with sinking shooting heads or 200 to 300 grain integrated lines (Teeny, S.A. Streamer Express, Orvis Depth Charge, etc.). Leaders are 3 to 8 feet of straight mono. Flies include clouser minnows, mole crab patterns, bonefish patterns plus a myriad others.
Most anglers wear waders, especially in winter and spring and many also employ a stripping basket with drain holes. Casts of 30-60 feet are typical since most fish are close to the beach. You will find some additional info here: [url=http://www.danblanton.com/hanart.html:9561f]www.danblanton.com/hanart.html[/url:9561f] and here: [url=http://www.fliflicker.com:9561f]www.fliflicker.com[/url:9561f]
San Diego and Mission Bay are also very productive fisheries but best fished from a boat. Mission Bay has the best shore access. A summary of the bay environment can be found here: [url=http://www.danblanton.com/baybassfly2.htm.:9561f]www.danblanton.com/baybassfly2.htm.[/url:9561f] Note that a floating or intermediate line with a long leader is useful when fishing Mission Bay from shore because you will often be fishing shallow water less than 5 feet deep if on the sandy beaches (the wester portions of the bay are better from foot) though the sinking line is necessary when fishing from the rock walls and jetties. Boats can be rented from Seafort Boat Rentals ( [url=http://www.seaforthboatrental.com):9561f]www.seaforthboatrental.com)[/url:9561f]
The three local flyshops are Stoud Tackle in San Diego just east of Mission Bay, San Diego Fly Shop in Solana Beach a few blocks off the beach, and Andy Montana’s in Coronado a couple of blocks from the Hotel Del and the beach.
For guide services check with Capt. Peter Piconi at [url=http://www.flyfishsandiego.com:9561f]www.flyfishsandiego.com[/url:9561f]
Thank you so much for the websites and info! I’m hoping I’ll get a few hours to get out and do some fishing. My wife and I are taking the kids and doing the Sea World, Zoo and Wild Park stuff, but we would like to see the beach and ocean as well.
Thanks again for your post!
Jeremy
when you visit [url=http://www.fliflicker.com:3bfa2]www.fliflicker.com[/url:3bfa2] , there is a guide with text and images that will show the beach access and also the places to park. best to fish the tide swings-both sides… anything orange will get bit. Try the flybox for pattern ideas on [url=http://www.fliflicker.com:3bfa2]www.fliflicker.com[/url:3bfa2]
Good luck!
Rich