Angling Offshore In San Diego
August 28, 2008
San Diego is known for the beautiful beaches, but you can only loaf on the sand for so long. When it is time to do something else, just look to that big body of water in front of you. The deep sea fishing in San Diego is excellent.
Deep sea fishing is a niche of fishing unto its own. You board a boat at the crack of dawn and head out a few miles to quality fishing spots. If you prefer, there are longer trips that take you out to the big fish like tuna over three or four days.
The waters off of San Diego are excellent for fishing. The warm waters and kelp beds provide a perfect habitat. The prime location is between three to ten miles offshore. The fish in this area are plentiful and include some great game fish.
So, what can you expect to catch? The fish include barracuda, Dorado, white sea bass, sand bass, calico bass, and mackerel. Take a longer trip out to the 60 mile point and you can catch Skipjack, Albacore and a variety of big Tuna.
The boat trip options in San Diego really come down to two spots. In the center of town, you will find a number of boats leaving from San Diego Harbor. Oceanside is the second spot in the North County area. You can also charter a boat, but bring your big wallet.
The deep sea boating operations in San Diego range from the slick corporate option to the salty dog captain on his own boat. Each has pros and cons, so you will just have to go with whatever grabs you as a good choice.
One of the slicker options is San Diego Sportfishing, Inc. Based in Point Loma, the company specializes in one day or less trips, but also offers charters to those looking for longer trips. The outfit has three boats.
If you like something a bit more personal, try the Fish Taxi in Oceanside. The boat is smaller, but Captain Don Nelson offers a more personal experience than those found on bigger operations. This is a charter boat, but with reasonable rates.
San Diego is a warm area, but it can get cold in the morning on the boat. Make sure to use a layered clothing approach when you head out on even a half day trip. Remember, it will be cold in the morning and hot the rest of the day.
Bait is vital when it comes to fishing. That being said, you really do not want to feed the fish your breakfast or lunch. There are patches you can wear to stop sea sickness. Invest in them so you do not end up with a ruined trip.
The beaches of San Diego are great, but the fishing off the coast is equally good. If you consider yourself an angler, make sure to take at least a half day trip if you are in town.
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