Fishing the Banks
SoCal Fishing the Banks
The Inner Banks consists of a number of spots within 25 miles from San Diego to the north, south and west (strait out). Often the inner banks can be the best fishing of all, but usually favors the height of the season months (as in July and August). Once it hits, its hit hard, and places like the 9 mile bank offer a good opportunity for avid fishermen to catch the big ones, without having to move far away.
We were catching Bluefin Tuna on the nine mile bank in the summer of 2019. First time the big blue was so close to San Diego in a long time. Everybody’s had a nice time. A quick trip from the bait barge to the banks of the North Nine Mile is just about an hour on a larger boat, and less than 1 hour on a smaller boat.
The 9 Mile Bank stretches about 10 miles and is about 14 miles on a 220 degree heading from Mission Bay to the top of the 9 Mile Bank. It is a mountain range underwater which is as shallow as 330 ft. The “Inner Banks” is the area nine miles from Point Loma, San Diego, about 30 miles south.
Under a time limit, the Middle Banks have leading pelagic fisheries. In these waters you’ll find Bluefin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, Dorado, and Yellowtail floating on the second line of banks just off the San Diego coastline. The most common fishing methods here are the patty hopping.
The best way to fish patties that float on the surface of the water, you can find what you are searching for underneath. Certain techniques such as trolling, kite fishing, and balloon fishing and free-lining on the boil of your bait.
The Outer Banks is a bit of a trip, but this is your destination if you want the Bluefin and the big Yellowfin! U.S. waters are brimming with Tuna during the summer, and the pre-season and post-season, the Tuna bite arrives a month early in Mexican waters and remains a month after the Tuna has stopped biting in California.
Any of these boats from the fleets of La Jolla, for the boats from Dana Landing. For San Diego boats from H&M Landing, Point Loma Sport fishing, and Fisherman’s Landing. Private Charter boats are also available for rent from 2-6 people! Let TunaGodz.com help book your trip.
