June Surf Fishing Report – Waiting Out the Swell

June is here, and if you’ve been out on the water lately, you already know the story — the surf has been rough.

We’ve had rough conditions since the last week of May, and that pattern hasn’t let up heading into the first full week of June. A significant [second] south-southwest swell is currently building, set to peak on Thursday June 11th before beginning to ease. Friday the 12th through Monday the 15th looks like the best window of relief, settling into a more manageable 3 to 4 foot range. After that, surf is expected to push back up to 4 to 6 feet through Sunday June 21st.

In other words, this swell is the main character of this month’s report, and everything from the bite to your session planning should be structured around it.

On the bright side, water temps are sitting right around 65°F, which is slightly above the early June average and a good sign for the species we’re targeting. Weather has been cooperating too, with typical June conditions settling in and marine layer in the mornings, clearing to mild and comfortable afternoons.

Here’s the full June surf fishing report breakdown.

What’s Been Biting in June

Light Tackle

Light tackle has been slow, and honestly not much has changed since last month’s report. Surfperch are still the most consistent producer, with the occasional corbina, yellowfin croaker, and spotfin croaker mixed in when conditions allow.

The rough surf is the main culprit here. Stirred up water, strong current, and dirty conditions make it tough for fish to find your bait and tough for you to keep your rig where it needs to be. It’s not that the fish aren’t there, it’s that conditions have been working against everyone.

The good news is that corbina and spotfin croaker should be primed to turn on once the swell settles. We’re right at the time of year when that bite traditionally gets going in a meaningful way, and a post-swell clean-up could be exactly the trigger that gets things moving.

Lure Fishing

Lure fishing has actually been more challenging this month than last, and the rough surf is largely to blame. Working a swimbait or jerkbait effectively in blown-out conditions is a tough ask. Dirty water limits visibility, strong current throws off your retrieve, and keeping contact with the bottom becomes impossible.

That said, halibut are still the target and they’re still biting for anglers who find the right windows. Calmer morning sessions before the wind picks up, or pockets of cleaner water between swell sets, have been where the action has happened.

Seabass are still on the lighter side but that bite honestly might continue building through June and into summer given this turbulent start. Once this swell clears, lure fishing should be one of the better ways to get bit, particularly for anglers willing to cover water and put in the work.

Shark Fishing – June Surf Fishing Report

Sand Crab Status

Sand crabs are easy to find right now, which is exactly where we want to be heading into the heart of summer. Availability is good and they’re showing up in numbers across central and north county beaches.

Size is coming along as well. As we move deeper into June and into July, expect sand crabs to continue growing into prime bait size. If you’ve been struggling to find good crabs earlier in the season, that’s no longer an issue.

Conditions Report

The story of June so far has been swell. We’ve had rough surf since the last week of May, and it’s been the primary limiting factor across the board for light tackle, lure fishing, and even shark fishing to some extent.

Water temps are sitting right around 65°F, which is slightly above the early June average and good news for the species we’re chasing. The elevated temps we saw earlier in the year have backed off slightly but remain favorable.

Seaweed has been medium to heavy overall. Some sessions it’s been a genuine nuisance on the shark rod, while light tackle has been more manageable. It’s par for the course this time of year and shouldn’t be a reason to stay home.

The swell peaks Thursday June 11th before beginning to ease. Plan accordingly.

Surf Forecast – June Surf Fishing Report

Here’s how the next couple of weeks are shaping up and what I’d be thinking about as a surf angler:

Thursday June 11th — Swell Peak This is the day to stay off the water unless you’re specifically fishing a high surf setup. Rough conditions, strong current, dirty water. Save your session for later in the week.

Friday June 12th through Monday June 15th — Best Window This is the stretch to circle. Surf drops to the 3 to 4 foot range, which is workable for all styles of fishing. If you can only get out once over the next couple of weeks, make it this window. Shark fishing in particular should be productive. Light tackle could surprise you if the water cleans up quickly after the swell.

Tuesday June 16th through Sunday June 21st — Surf Back Up Expect surf to push back to 4 to 6 feet through the 21st. Another stretch of challenging conditions, particularly for light tackle and lure fishing. Shark fishing in bigger surf is doable but requires more patience and more frequent bait checks.

Beyond June 21st Keep an eye on the forecast as we push toward the end of the month. Typically by late June, conditions stabilize and the fishing across all categories improves meaningfully. Corbina and spotfin croaker should be well into their season by then, lure fishing for halibut and seabass should be strong, and leopard sharks will still be very much in play.

Grunion runs are also continuing through June. Check the run schedule and plan around them — those nights consistently create opportunities and are worth building a session around, but if the surf will be up, it won’t be worth it.

Final Thoughts

The rough surf has been the main storyline since late May and it’s not done yet. But there are windows. Particularly Friday the 12th through Monday the 15th, conditions will be workable and the fishing should respond. Sharks have remained the standout despite the swell. Light tackle and lure fishing are both primed to improve as soon as conditions allow.

Pick your windows, work through the seaweed, and stay ready. The summertime bite is right around the corner.