Best Fishing Times in San Diego Today
Today's solunar windows
Rule-of-thumb windows (angler reference).
Solunar major window: 10:55 AM – 12:55 PM — an angler rule-of-thumb reference window, not a scientific prediction.
Local fishing guide
Common here: barred surf perch · corbina · halibut · calico bass
San Diego is Southern California’s most forgiving fishery: sandy beaches with a first trough you can reach with a 30-foot cast, piers with free public access, and year-round action if you read the beach right.
What runs when
- Barred surf perch & corbina: year-round, with the best corbina bite May through September when the water warms past 66°F. Look for them crabbing in the trough at first light.
- California halibut: spring through fall, best on the tide swing around dawn — they ambush along the drop where the trough meets the deeper water.
- Calico bass: summer, around any rock or kelp edge; the jetties at Mission Bay entrance are the reliable play.
Where to cast
Ocean Beach and Crystal piers are the no-boat basics (no license needed on public piers). For surf, work the beach south of Mission Beach jetty on a rising tide and fan-cast the trough edges.
Tide timing here
The perch bite tracks the rising tide into the trough — the two hours before high on this page’s daily card is the window local surf fishermen actually watch. Halibut prefer the start of the outgoing.
Rules to know
Ocean fishing license required for surf fishing (piers are exempt). Halibut has a 22-inch minimum. Check CDFW ocean regulations for current seasons.
Rules: state fishing regulations · today's tide chart for San Diego →
Tide movement today
Today's tidal range in San Diego is 6.7 ft — close to the annual average of 5.4 ft. The classic rule of thumb: moving water around tide changes tends to fish better than slack tide, and the 2 hours before high tide is the window many anglers favor.
7-day solunar outlook
Gear for this window
- Fish finder / sonar (portable castable) — spot structure on moving tides
- Medium-action rod + 3000-size reel combo — all-round inshore setup
- Wading boots with felt/studded soles — slippery rocks at low tide
- Braid line 15 lb + fluorocarbon leader — feel the bite in current
Gear picks are general recommendations for this kind of tide window. Gear links coming soon.
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FAQ
What time is high tide in San Diego today?
Today in San Diego, high tide times are 8:08 AM (6.32 ft) and 9:29 PM (3.95 ft), local time (America/Los_Angeles), based on NOAA station 9410166.
What time is low tide in San Diego today?
Today's low tides in San Diego: 1:57 AM (1.91 ft) and 3:20 PM (-0.39 ft), local time, datum MLLW.
Is today good for fishing in San Diego?
Yes — solunar rates San Diego 5/5 today. Solunar major window: 10:55 AM – 12:55 PM — an angler rule-of-thumb reference window, not a scientific prediction.
Where is the tide measured for San Diego?
Tides for San Diego are predicted at NOAA CO-OPS station 9410166 (San Diego, Quarantine Station), measured right in San Diego — a subordinate station. Times are America/Los_Angeles (PT), heights in feet relative to MLLW datum.
Tide predictions for San Diego come from NOAA CO-OPS station 9410166 (San Diego, Quarantine Station) — measured right in San Diego — a subordinate station — predictions are derived by time/height offsets from a nearby harmonic reference station. Heights are in feet relative to the MLLW datum; all times are local to the station (America/Los_Angeles, PT). Source: NOAA Tides & Currents.
Data date: 2026-11-09 · page generated 2026-11-10 00:11 UTC · astronomical predictions, not observed water levels.