Flatties in San Diego Bay - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Yakly · 07-11-2013, 07:57 AM

I'm thinking about looking for some halibut in SDB this Saturday but not sure what area to start my search. Can you guys point me in the right direction/area as well as where to launch????? Haven't fished the bay before so I have no idea where to start.

Also thinking about hitting up the bonefish for a little light tackle fun but I prefer to target the halibut.

Anyone going out and want to meet up????

lamb · 07-11-2013, 09:45 AM

Halibut can be found all over the bay on the sandy bottom. I'd look for around the bait barge, shallow right at the edges of eel grass growing by the rocks... The 40 ft dredged drop off in the middle of the Bay usually has some sitting at the edge, but you've got to deal with all the big boat traffic. If you're up for a longer paddle, check the area outside of the Zuniga Jetty - that place is also called "Halibut Heaven", for a reason. Be careful with the outgoing tide - it may be really tough to paddle back into it.

I haven't fished the South Bay so I don't know, but that's where you'd need to go if you want to target bonefish as well.

taggermike · 07-11-2013, 11:10 AM

Halibut live all through the bay and all depth of water. Some people seam to do well with plastics but if you really want to target halibut live bait is the way to go. So that means making it or buying it. Smelt can be caught all over the bay or you hit the EbCo reciever. If you catch smelt you can launch any where. For ebco shelter island is the place to launch. I've done well driftin the channle edges off north island from the old sea plane ramps to the big mooring blocks. The drop off ikn front of the balihai shoal can be good as well as all around the shoal off the amphib base outside glorietta bay. Get em. Mike

Yakly · 07-11-2013, 11:48 AM

Thanks guys, I think I have a plan of attack!!!!! Now let's see if my plan works...

todd one · 07-11-2013, 02:01 PM

If you launch at Shelter Island and paddle straight across to the other side, near that naval base pier, That's a real good area. You can also hit the area opposite side of the Shelter Island pier too. If you want to paddle out toward the mouth of the bay right along the jetty, you'll really be in the thick of things. I live really close and fish the bay all the time. Those are my favorite spots for halibut.

todd one · 07-11-2013, 03:06 PM

I got these along the jetty.

07-11-2013, 07:57 AM	#1
Yakly Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ventura Area Posts: 65	Flatties in San Diego Bay I'm thinking about looking for some halibut in SDB this Saturday but not sure what area to start my search. Can you guys point me in the right direction/area as well as where to launch????? Haven't fished the bay before so I have no idea where to start. Also thinking about hitting up the bonefish for a little light tackle fun but I prefer to target the halibut. Anyone going out and want to meet up????

07-11-2013, 09:45 AM	#2
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,563	Halibut can be found all over the bay on the sandy bottom. I'd look for around the bait barge, shallow right at the edges of eel grass growing by the rocks... The 40 ft dredged drop off in the middle of the Bay usually has some sitting at the edge, but you've got to deal with all the big boat traffic. If you're up for a longer paddle, check the area outside of the Zuniga Jetty - that place is also called "Halibut Heaven", for a reason. Be careful with the outgoing tide - it may be really tough to paddle back into it. I haven't fished the South Bay so I don't know, but that's where you'd need to go if you want to target bonefish as well. __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

07-11-2013, 11:10 AM	#3
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Halibut live all through the bay and all depth of water. Some people seam to do well with plastics but if you really want to target halibut live bait is the way to go. So that means making it or buying it. Smelt can be caught all over the bay or you hit the EbCo reciever. If you catch smelt you can launch any where. For ebco shelter island is the place to launch. I've done well driftin the channle edges off north island from the old sea plane ramps to the big mooring blocks. The drop off ikn front of the balihai shoal can be good as well as all around the shoal off the amphib base outside glorietta bay. Get em. Mike

07-11-2013, 11:48 AM	#4
Yakly Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ventura Area Posts: 65	Thanks guys, I think I have a plan of attack!!!!! Now let's see if my plan works...

07-11-2013, 02:01 PM	#5
todd one Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 364	If you launch at Shelter Island and paddle straight across to the other side, near that naval base pier, That's a real good area. You can also hit the area opposite side of the Shelter Island pier too. If you want to paddle out toward the mouth of the bay right along the jetty, you'll really be in the thick of things. I live really close and fish the bay all the time. Those are my favorite spots for halibut.