San Diego Banks fishing forecast
San Diego Banks is a saltwater fishing spot in NE Pacific, United States. Anglers here target Yellowfin Tuna, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Yellowtail Amberjack. The most productive months are typically June, July, August, September, October.
Today’s verdict
Ranks #422 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today
In line with this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
| Sea surface temp | 21.9 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 27 km/h from N, gusting 32 km/h |
| Wave height | 1.7 m at 9 s |
| Current | 0.20 m/s toward NNW |
| Pressure | 1012 hPa |
| Depth | 1197 m |
| Cloud cover | 7% |
| Chlorophyll | 0.26 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 32.9 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 10 m |
| UV index | 0 |
| Wind sea | 0.7 m at 3 s |
| Ground swell | 1.5 m at 9 s from SSW |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.20 → 0.00 m/s |
Nearest buoy: Mission Bay West, CA (220) (28 km): water 21.9 °C, waves 1.7 m
The water here is 2.5 °C cooler than the September average of 24.4 °C. Cooler-than-normal water slows the bite for warm-water species and holds cool-water species shallower for longer. The water is mixed to about 26.7 m, with the thermocline below that.
San Diego tide chart & times · 39 km from this spot
Updated 1 h ago.
What the score means at San Diego Banks
San Diego Banks currently scores 48 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 21.9 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +25.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Current +18.0
- moving water concentrates bait
- Chlorophyll +15.5
- plankton density — the base of the food chain
- Waves +7.8
- swell energy stirring the water column
- Wind +3.6
- surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
- Barometric pressure +3.3
- falling pressure often triggers feeding
What’s biting now
The model expects today: kelp-bass, pacific-bluefin-tuna, yellowtail-amberjack, pacific-barracuda, california-sheephead, barred-sand-bass, white-seabass, california-corbina
Bite windows
Best months for San Diego Banks:
Score history at this spot
30 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-08-28, 70/100
1 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
About this spot
Open-water marine fishing — conditions can change quickly with offshore weather, so watch the live wind and wave forecast closely before and during your trip.
Approximate bottom depth: 1197 m
Access & shore
Best reached by boat · offshore-only
What you can catch
-
Thunnus albacares
-
Thunnus thynnus
-
Seriola lalandi
Best months by species at San Diego Banks
| Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Bluefin TunaThunnus thynnus | ||||||||||||
| Yellowtail AmberjackSeriola lalandi |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
| Species | Bag limit | Min size | Open season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowtail AmberjackT14 CCR §28.37 | 10/day | min 61 cm | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Ten fish daily. The 24-inch fork-length minimum carries an explicit exception: five fish under 24 inches may be taken or possessed within the ten. | |||
Licensing:
- saltwater-recreational — residents Resident sport fishing licence required. Additional report cards are required for certain species (salmon, sturgeon)., non-residents Non-resident annual, plus 1-day and 10-day options.
FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. California groundfish rules — lingcod, rockfish, cabezon and greenling — are set separately for each of five Groundfish Management Areas, vary by depth, and may be changed in-season by emergency action. White seabass has a seasonal sub-limit south of Point Conception. Always verify the current rules for your area at wildlife.ca.gov before fishing.
Check San Diego Banks before you go
Live scores update through the day. Get the full forecast, bite windows, and your own saved spots in the FishRadar app.
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Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 738 km of San Diego Banks.
-
San Diego Yellowfin Banks
Coronado Islands CA
Dana Point SoCal
Santa Barbara Channel Islands
Channel Islands CA
Lake Havasu AZ
Lake Mead Nevada
Saguaro Lake AZ
Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon
Lake Powell AZ
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at San Diego Banks?
Anglers at San Diego Banks target Yellowfin Tuna, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and Yellowtail Amberjack.
When is the best time to fish San Diego Banks?
The most productive months at San Diego Banks are typically June, July, August, September, October.
What is the fishing forecast for San Diego Banks right now?
San Diego Banks currently scores 48 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Can you fish San Diego Banks from shore?
San Diego Banks is best reached by boat; the scored water sits off a offshore-only.
Is the thermocline set up at San Diego Banks right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
How deep is the water at San Diego Banks?
The scored point sits over roughly 1197 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Yellowfin Tuna: Chasing the Blue-Water BrawlerHow to Catch Yellowtail Kingfish: Taming the Brown BomberHow to Read Tides for Fishing
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.