Whatever your experience level, spearfishing in San Diego waters will give you the biggest thrill! Spend your next vacation fishing the waters that the legendary group the “Bottom Scratchers” once fished. Bring back an epic story as well as your own dinner!

What to Catch

Although you’ll see lots of giant Black Seabass swimming around, these are illegal to shoot. Fair game includes White Seabass, Yellowtail Amberjack, Calico Bass, California Halibut, Mahi Mahi, the Pacific Barracuda, and the California Spiny Lobster.

Where to Go

The spearfishing hot spots are closely guarded. For exact locations, the best course of action is to fish with a guide or join a spearfishing club. You’ll learn the ropes from experienced spearos, and be taken to the best places. Generally, a lot of spearos begin at Children’s Pool, where there is some protection from the tide.

Keep an eye on current regulations. There are a lot of spots that are marine protected areas.

Mission Bay Jetty

This is the most well-known spot for spearos to launch from and offers excellent hunting grounds. You’ll catch the usual culprits, like Calico Bass, Spiny Lobster, and California Halibut.

Inshore Reefs

Without a guide, your best bet is to head out and explore the waters for yourself. The nearshore reefs are great for a variety of species, such as California Sheephead, Barred Sand Bass, Scallop, California Halibut, and plenty more.

Kelp Forests

Once you’ve located the kelp forests and beds, you know you’re going to be in for a great time. These can be found a mile from shore, outside the surf zone. Top catches here include White Seabass, Calcio Bass, Yellowtail Amberjack, and Pacific Barracuda.

Offshore Islands

For spearos with a boat, head offshore to the islands of San Clemente and Catalina. These lie in US waters and are great dive locations. In Mexican waters is Coronado Island, which is well worth the visit, just have your paperwork in order. Fish here are the same as those found inshore and in kelp forests, just more of them! Visibility also increases – although usually around 40 feet, you can sometimes see 100 feet ahead of you.

Outer Banks

For really experienced anglers, head to the outer banks, where pelagics are lured to the surface. Target the likes of Yellowfin, Bluefin, Skipjack, and Albacore Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Yellowtail Amberjack, and Shark. You might even see a Striped Marlin or two!

How to Fish

• The thicker and more insulated the gear, the more fun you’ll have under the water. Dive gloves should be a minimum of 3 mm and dive socks 4 mm. Use rubber weight belts instead of nylon, as these can stretch and will stay in place better. Always have a sharp knife on you – you don’t want to get entangled in the kelp forests.

• If you’re using an ambush technique, stay low and use the structures around you to help you move around. Use a speargun between 30–36 inches to help you with maneuverability. Once you’ve made your kill, get it topside ASAP before the Sharks move in!

• Once you’ve made a shot, some curious larger fish will pop in and see what’s going on. Your dive buddy should be ready to spear – Yellowtail Amberjack, Tuna, and Wahoo are notorious for this.

When to Go

Each fish has its own season. Overall, you can spearfish San Diego’s waters year-round. The Spiny Lobster season is from October to March. From March to October are the best months for White Seabass, Calcio Bass, California Halibut, and Yellowtail Amberjack.

It’s time to drop what you’re doing and come spearfishing in San Diego. This is the adventure of a lifetime, where you’ll catch big fish and have a great time doing it!