October Surf Fishing Report – Cooling Waters, Slowing Bite
September brought better overall action compared to August, especially for corbina, croaker, surfperch, and even halibut on lures. Water temperatures that peaked in August have now cooled into the 65–67° range, and the mild surf has kept conditions friendly for fishing. Tons of corbina were spotted in the shallows during the first half of the month, and while their numbers have thinned, they can still be seen here and there. As we enter the next month, let’s see what October surf fishing is set to bring us.
What’s Being Caught
| Common Species | Peak Season | General Season |
| California Corbina | Jun-Aug | May-Oct |
| Spotfin Croaker | Jun-Aug | May-Oct |
| Yellowfin Croaker | May-Aug | May-Oct |
| Barred Surfperch | Nov-Apr | Year-Round |
| Walleye Surfperch | Nov-Apr | Year-Round |
| Shovelnose Guitarfish | Jun-Aug | May-Oct |
| Sting Ray (Round Ray) | Jun-Aug | Year-Round |
| Bat Ray | Jun-Aug | Year-Round |
| Leopard Shark | May-Aug | Apr-Oct |
| California Halibut | Jan-May | Year-Round |
| Soupfin Shark | Mar-Jul | Year-Round |
Light Tackle
Corbina, croaker, and surfperch remain steady and are still biting just as well as they were in August. These species have provided consistent action for anglers working the shallows and mid-break zones
Lures
With the slight drop in water temperature, the lure bite picked up. Halibut, seabass, and calico bass all showed stronger activity this month, with halibut in particular becoming a more reliable target. The cooler water seems to have given these species a push, making lures a productive option throughout September.
Sharking
The shark bite hasn’t necessarily worsened, but it has become more spotty. Some sessions brought multiple hookups and fast-paced action, while others ended in complete skunks. While August introduced a few slow days, September leaned even more toward inconsistency, though the highs were especially rewarding with some days producing numerous sharks.
Recommended Gear
Use the dropdowns below to learn about the recommended gear for each style of surf fishing mentioned in this article.
Light Tackle Gear
- Rod: Okuma Celilo (8’6″ MA) or the Okuma SST (8’6″ MA)
- Reel: Penn Battle II or III 4000 series
- Mainline: 15-pound monofilament
- For Bait: Carolina Rig:
- Leader Line: 15-pound fluorocarbon
- Swivels: 15-19mm barrel swivels
- Hooks: size #2 or #4 owner mosquito hooks
- Weights: 1-oz egg weight
- Beads: 8mm fishing beads
Swim Bait Gear
- Rod: Okuma SST-S-902HA – 1/2-2oz | 10-30lb | 9ft | H | MF
- Reel: Penn Spinfisher VI (3500 or 4500)
- Main Line: 30-pound braid
- Leader Line: 30-pound mono
- Lure Options:
Jerk Bait Gear
- Rod: Okuma SST (8’6″ MHA)
- Reel: Penn Battle II or III 4000 series
- Main Line:
- Leader Line: 15-pound fluorocarbon
- Lures: Lucky Craft FM 110 and Shimano WM 115 SP
Shark Gear
- Rod: Fiblink Moonsniper (12 or 13 feet)
- Reel: Penn Battle 8000 (II or III)
- Main Line: 50-pound braid
- Topshot: 100-pound nylon coated mono
- Leaders: Shark Leaders
- Weights: 8-ounce pyramid or 6-ounce sputnik
What’s Being Caught
Again, all species can be caught right now. Sight casting for corbina is worth trying lately with tons of available targets, but few takers. Overall, everything is tapering.
Sand Crab Status
Sand crabs have been inconsistent this month. Some days they’re plentiful and easy to scoop, while other days require serious searching. On one outing, they didn’t show up until an hour into the session, but once they did, they became much easier to find. Higher tides and late-afternoon/evening sessions seem to be producing better sand crab opportunities compared to low tides and early mornings. Expect October to bring even fewer sand crabs than last month eventually leading do them being MIA.
Conditions Report
- Water Temps: The recent dip has brought local water temps to between 65-67F
- Seaweed: While seaweed got a bit out of control in mid-August, it’s tapered back to more manageable conditions lately and it should remain cleaner as October typically is.
- Swell: Surf remains low and manageable.
Surf Fishing Forecast
Expect conditions to grow more “hit or miss” as we move deeper into fall. Summertime species like corbina and croaker will start to thin out, becoming harder to target consistently. Halibut and calico bass should continue to bite well through October, while seabass action may begin to fade. Sharking will likely stay spotty with big swings between great and slow days. With water temps continuing to drop, the overall bite will cool, leading us into the winter pattern where surfperch, halibut, and calico will become the primary targets.