Afternoon San Diego Bay Halibut & Seabass Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour afternoon charter targeting halibut and seabass speciesAccommodates up to six guests with all equipment and cleaning includedExplores calm San Diego Bay waters during golden hour timing
Picture this: it's 2PM on a beautiful San Diego afternoon, and instead of dealing with traffic or crowded beaches, you're casting lines into some of the most productive inshore waters on the West Coast. This 4-hour charter takes you into the heart of San Diego Bay and the nearby coastal zones where halibut, white seabass, and a variety of bass species call home. With space for just 6 anglers, you get that intimate, personalized experience that makes all the difference when you're trying to dial in on finicky fish. The afternoon timing is pure gold – you'll fish through the cooler evening hours when fish get active, and if you're lucky, you might even pull in that trophy as the sun starts painting the sky orange.
San Diego Bay offers some of the most consistent inshore fishing you'll find anywhere in Southern California. The protected waters stay calm most of the year, making this trip perfect for families with kids or anyone who gets a little green around the gills in rough seas. Your captain knows these waters like the back of their hand – every structure, every drop-off, every spot where the big halibut like to ambush their prey. You'll start in the bay targeting the flats and channels where halibut cruise, then work your way toward the kelp beds and rocky structure where the seabass hang out. The best part? All your bait, tackle, ice, and fish cleaning is handled, so you can focus on what really matters – putting fish in the boat. Don't worry about bringing a cooler or figuring out how to fillet your catch; they've got you covered from start to finish.
This isn't your typical party boat experience where you're shoulder-to-shoulder with 30 other people. With only 6 spots available, you have room to work different techniques and really dial in your presentation. For halibut, you'll be working the bottom with live bait – typically sardines or anchovies – on sliding sinker rigs that let the bait move naturally along the sand. The key is feeling that subtle tap-tap-drop that signals a flatfish has picked up your offering. For the seabass action, you might switch to iron jigs, swimbaits, or live mackerel depending on what's working that day. The tackle provided is top-shelf stuff – no cheap gear that'll fail when you hook into that 20-pound white seabass of a lifetime. Your captain will rig everything up and coach you through the techniques, whether you're a seasoned pro or this is your first time holding a fishing rod.
Kelp Bass are the workhorses of San Diego's inshore scene, and for good reason. These scrappy fighters typically run 2-5 pounds but don't let their size fool you – they'll test your drag and your patience with their hard runs toward the kelp. They're most active during the warmer months from spring through early fall, and they absolutely crush live sardines and small swimbaits. What makes kelp bass so special is their aggressive nature; when they're feeding, you can catch them one after another until your arms are sore. They're also fantastic eating, with white, flaky meat that's perfect for fish tacos or ceviche.
Spotted Bass bring a different kind of excitement to the mix. Also called "spotties" by locals, these fish are incredibly structure-oriented and love hanging around rocky reefs and kelp edges. They're typically smaller than their kelp bass cousins, running 1-3 pounds, but they make up for it with sheer numbers and willingness to bite. Summer and early fall are prime time, and they'll hit everything from live bait to small plastics. The spots along their sides make them easy to identify, and their curious nature means they often travel in schools – find one, and you've likely found a bunch.
Striped Bass are the wanderers of this group, moving through San Diego waters seasonally and providing some of the most explosive fishing when conditions align. These silver rockets can range from schoolie size around 18 inches up to true cows pushing 20-30 pounds. They're most common during their migration periods in spring and fall, and when you find them, it's game on. Stripers love live anchovies and sardines, but they'll also smash surface iron and swimbaits when they're in feeding mode. The fight is what legends are made of – long runs, head shakes, and pure power that'll have your reel screaming.
Pacific Halibut are the ultimate prize fish for many anglers, and San Diego Bay holds some true doormat-sized flatfish. These ambush predators can range from "chicken" halibut around 22 inches (the legal minimum) up to barn doors exceeding 40 pounds. They're available year-round but really turn on during the warmer months when baitfish are abundant. Halibut fishing requires patience – they'll often mouth your bait for what feels like an eternity before committing. But when you set the hook on a big flatfish, there's nothing quite like that heavy, bulldogging fight as they try to get back to the bottom. Plus, halibut are arguably the best eating fish in these waters.
Barred Sand Bass round out the lineup as consistent performers that rarely disappoint. These fish love sandy bottoms and structure edges, making San Diego Bay perfect habitat. They typically run 1-4 pounds and are active throughout most of the year, with peak action in summer and fall. Barred sand bass are notorious bait thieves – they'll pick apart your sardine or anchovy with surgical precision if you're not paying attention. They respond well to both live and dead baits, and their distinctive barred pattern makes them easy to identify. Like their cousins, they're excellent table fare and perfect for a fish dinner with the family.
Meet Lady Grace, your 36' Grand Banks trawler ready to chase halibut and seabass through San Diego Bay's productive waters. This restored fishing machine runs smooth with twin 120 HP diesels, giving you the power to reach those prime fishing spots where the big ones hide. Her spacious deck handles up to 6 anglers comfortably, while the onboard fish finder helps locate schools holding in the bay's structure. The flybridge gives you commanding views of the water, perfect for spotting bait balls and working birds that signal feeding fish below. When you need a break from battling seabass, retreat to the comfortable cabin equipped with a kitchen, bed, and head. Keep your catch fresh in the icebox and your drinks cold in the refrigerator between fishing sessions. GPS and radar keep you on the fish even when conditions change, while the multimedia system provides entertainment during the cruise to your fishing grounds. Lady Grace handles the bay's waters like the seasoned fishing platform she is, getting you to where halibut cruise the sandy bottoms and white seabass patrol the kelp edges. This isn't just transportation – it's your floating base camp for an afternoon of serious California fishing.
Paralabrax NebuliferBarred Sand Bass, or "sand bass" as we call them locally, are a Southern California classic. These greyish-green fish with dark vertical bars typically run 1-3 pounds, though bigger ones hit 5-8 pounds. They've got that characteristic "grumpy" look with their protruding lower jaw and large mouth. You'll find them over sandy bottoms near rocks and structure, usually in 60-100 feet of water, though they move shallower during their peak season from May through October. What's great about sand bass is they're cooperative - they'll hit just about anything and often travel in schools, so you can get into good numbers. The evening bite, especially around full moon, can be fantastic. They're also excellent table fare with mild, white meat. My tip for consistent success: fish at sunset and into the night using live squid if you've got it, or fresh dead squid works almost as well. Drop down to where you think they're holding, then work different depths until you find the school.
Paralabrax ClathratusKelp Bass are one of the most popular targets around San Diego, and for good reason. These scrappy fighters typically run 1-3 pounds, with larger ones pushing 5-8 pounds. You'll spot them by their olive-green color with distinctive calico-like markings on their bellies. They hang out in kelp forests and rocky structures, usually between 8-60 feet deep, though we often find them in shallower water during warmer months from May through October. What makes them fun is their immediate response - they hit hard then dive straight back into the kelp, testing your drag and skills. The meat's excellent eating too, with a mild, sweet flavor. Here's a local tip: soon as you hook one, get that fish away from the kelp fast. Keep steady pressure and reel quick - once they tangle up in there, you're usually done. Live squid or anchovies work best, but they'll hit most anything when they're feeding.
Hippoglossus StenolepisPacific Halibut are the giants of our flatfish - these diamond-shaped bottom dwellers can reach massive sizes, with most fish running 20-50 pounds and 100+ pounders being fairly common. They're muddy brown with dark spots, perfectly camouflaged on sandy bottoms. Around San Diego, we find them in deeper water, typically 80-300 feet, though they'll come shallower during summer months. That's your best season - summer into early fall when they're actively feeding and closer to shore. What makes halibut special is the surprise factor - you're sitting there thinking you're snagged on bottom, then that "rock" starts swimming away. The fight's more about endurance than speed, and the meat is absolutely premium eating. My local trick: use 1-2 pound weights to get down there, then bounce your rod tip every few minutes to keep that bait moving. They hunt by sight in shallower water, so live bait like anchovies or squid works best.
Micropterus PunctulatusNow, Spotted Bass are a bit different from what most folks expect in San Diego waters - these are actually freshwater fish that occasionally show up in our brackish areas. They're smaller than their saltwater cousins, usually running 1-3 pounds and topping out around 7 pounds. You can tell them apart by the rows of dark spots along their sides and that connected dorsal fin. They love hanging around structure - rocks, pilings, anything that provides cover in slower-moving water. Spring through fall gives you the best action when water temps are moderate. What's cool about these fish is they school up more than other bass, so where you catch one, there's usually more. They're also excellent fighters, diving deep rather than jumping like largemouth bass. The key with Spotted Bass is fishing tight to structure with smaller baits - they're aggressive but can be picky. Try working your lure right along the bottom near rocks or drop-offs.
Morone SaxatilisStriped Bass are the ultimate San Diego Bay gamefish - those iconic silver sides with black stripes running nose to tail make them unmistakable. Most fish we see run 10-30 pounds, but 40+ pounders show up regularly. They're structure-oriented, cruising sandy bottoms near drop-offs, rocks, and channels in 15-50 feet of water. Spring and fall are prime time when they're feeding heavily, but we catch them year-round. What guests love is that powerful run - they're not the fastest swimmers, but they're incredibly strong and fight hard all the way to the boat. Plus, they're fantastic eating with sweet, flaky white meat. They prefer moving water and feed best around dawn and dusk. Here's my go-to tip: use live bait like anchovies or sardines, and fish near current breaks where baitfish get pushed around. Stripers ambush from deeper water, so position your bait where the structure meets open sand.
San Diego, CA