September Surf Fishing Report – Hit Or Miss

As we enter September, let’s overview how the surf fishing has been in August. The water temp reached its warmest point of the year at 73-74 degrees and the surf has stayed mellow. Overall fish activity slowed during the month. A mid-month burst of seaweed made things tougher in certain spots and has mostly cleared, leaving cleaner water and manageable conditions. The bite is more selective than it was in late July, but there is still plenty to target. Let’s dive into the details and what to expect going forward.

New YouTube Videos

I said I’d be posting more YouTube videos this year and I’m doing my best to stay true to that. This month I was able to post 3 new YouTube videos so make sure to check them all out!

This first video shown below is the most recent post where I show the full experience of San Diego surf fishing. We start by fishing with sand crabs to catch some corbina and eventually surfperch, and we then use surfperch to target leopard sharks.

The next video is purely about leopard shark fishing. It was a unique day in which the sharks were biting so well that I was able to keep my shark rod in my hand and feel the bite happen rather than putting the shark rod in its holder and waiting.

And lastly is a video you guys may have already seen as I published it very early in August. It’s a video about surf fishing through tough seaweed conditions and how to have success. Check them all out and subscribe if you enjoy the content. Thanks, guys!

What’s Being Caught Right Now?

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

The light tackle bite has cooled compared to midsummer. There are still plenty of big corbina cruising the shallows, but they aren’t feeding nearly as aggressively as they were in late July and early August. Surfperch continue to provide reliable action, while yellowfin croaker show up here and there, though not in huge numbers. Spotfin croaker have come in waves, but recently they’ve been scarce. Overall, the bite is slower, but there are still fish to be caught if you put in the time.

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Lure Fishing

Lure fishing has also tapered off a bit. Halibut, white seabass, and calico bass are still around, but the consistency isn’t what it was earlier in the summer. The action can be hit-or-miss, though with the right tide and clean water you can still connect with quality fish. Expect the lure bite to stay moderate through September, with some slight improvement possible as water temperatures begin to gradually cool.

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Shark Fishing

Shark fishing is the one area that hasn’t slowed down. The bite remains strong, with leopard sharks being especially reliable this month. Soupfin sharks, bat rays, and the occasional large guitarfish are still mixed in, but leopard sharks continue to be the main draw and provide steady action for those fishing heavy setups.

Recommended Gear

Use the dropdowns below to learn about the recommended gear for each style of surf fishing mentioned in this article.

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Some Recent Catches – September Surf Fishing

Again, all species can be caught right now. Sight casting for corbina is worth trying lately with tons of available targets, but few takers. Shark fishing has been the most productive style of surf fishing as of late.

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Sand Crab Status

Sand crabs are still out in full force and easy to collect, with a full range of sizes lining the shoreline. For now, there’s no need to bring backup bait, but keep in mind that as soon as we get a few cool nights, sand crabs could start to thin out and become less reliable by the end of September.

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Conditions Report

• Water Temps: Consistent water temperatures are now holding steady above 72°F.
• Seaweed: While seaweed got a bit out of control in mid-August, it’s tapered back to more manageable conditions lately.
• Swell: Surf remains low and manageable. There’s a bit of swell coming through now, but it should remain overall mellow for a while.

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Surf Fishing Forecast – September Outlook

• Looking ahead, it seems the best of the light tackle fishing is likely behind us for the season. Croaker, corbina, and perch will still be available, but not at the pace we saw earlier in the summer.
• Shark fishing should remain strong through September.
• Lure fishing may pick up slightly as the water begins to cool, though it won’t reach the levels we had from May through July.
• You’ll likely see fish cruising in the waves when surf fishing around sunset if you look through the waves (when the sun is behind the waves). These fish are mullet and become very active in the fall.
• Overall, September fishing in San Diego will be more spotty and unpredictable. Some days the bite will be dead, and other days you’ll find hot action in the surf. With mellow surf, warm water, and beautiful late summer sunsets, it’s still a great time to be out on the beach casting into the waves.

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Comment Below

Been out fishing lately? Drop your own report in the comments and let me know what you’ve been seeing and catching!