California · Southern California
STRIPED MARLIN FISHING
IN SAN DIEGO
San Diego is an excellent destination for striped marlin fishing, with peak season in September, October and good catches in November. Book a charter and target striped marlin with local experts.
About Striped Marlin Fishing in San Diego
The striped marlin is the premier Pacific billfish, found in the warm waters off Southern California and Hawaii. These electric-blue acrobats are one of the most beautiful fish in the ocean, known for their spectacular tail-walking jumps and aggressive strikes on trolled lures and live bait.
Striped Marlin are arguably the most beautiful billfish in the ocean, with an electric lavender-blue body crossed by vivid neon-blue vertical stripes that light up during feeding. Found in the warm waters off Southern California (September-November) and year-round in Hawaiian waters, striped marlin are famous for their spectacular aerial displays — tail-walking, greyhounding, and cartwheeling across the surface during the fight. They are the most commonly caught billfish in the Pacific and are the primary target of Hawaii's winter billfish season.
Scientific name: Kajikia audax
Striped Marlin Seasonal Calendar — San Diego
Month-by-month availability for striped marlin in San Diego, CA.
How to Catch Striped Marlin in San Diego
Techniques & Bait
Trolling rigged ballyhoo, trolling lures (Moldcraft, Black Bart), or live mackerel at 7-9 knots is the standard technique. In Southern California, kite fishing with live mackerel suspended near the surface is deadly. When fish are found free-jumping or tailing on the surface, switching to pitch baits (live mackerel or sardines cast to a sighted fish) produces exciting, visual hookups. Fly fishing for striped marlin — teasing fish to the boat with hookless lures, then presenting a large fly — is considered one of fly fishing's ultimate challenges.
Recommended Tackle
Stand-up: 5'6"-6'6" 30-50 lb class rod, lever-drag reel (Shimano Tiagra, Penn International), 30-50 lb line. Light tackle enthusiasts use 20 lb class gear for an extreme fight. Fly: 14-16 weight rod with 400+ yards of backing.
Best Deep Sea Fishing Fishing Spots in San Diego
Top spots where local captains target striped marlin and other deep sea fishing species.
9-Mile Bank
The 9-Mile Bank is a prominent offshore fishing ground west of Point Loma where a shallow underwater plateau rises from surrounding deep water, concentrating yellowtail, bluefin tuna, dorado, and yellowfin tuna. The bank is the premier offshore destination from San Diego and produces consistently through the warm-water season.
Coronado Islands
The Coronado Islands lie just south of the U.S.-Mexico border in Mexican waters, and their rocky reefs and kelp forests hold yellowtail, calico bass, barracuda, bonito, and bluefin tuna. San Diego charter boats make the short run to the Coronados for some of the most productive island fishing in the region.
La Jolla Canyon
La Jolla Canyon is a deep submarine canyon that comes remarkably close to the La Jolla coastline, creating upwelling that attracts swordfish, thresher sharks, mako sharks, and bluefin tuna. The canyon's proximity to San Diego makes it one of the most accessible deep-water fisheries in Southern California.
60-Mile Bank
The 60-Mile Bank is a distant offshore seamount that rises from the deep Pacific floor, concentrating yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, and wahoo over its peak during warm-water years. Long-range boats from San Diego target this bank for trophy tuna fishing on extended multi-day trips.
Other Species in San Diego
More fish you can target while visiting San Diego.
Rockfish
Yellowtail
Pacific Bluefin Tuna
White Seabass
Yellowfin Tuna
Mahi Mahi
Lingcod
Albacore Tuna
Striped Marlin Fishing in San Diego — FAQ
The peak months for Striped Marlin fishing in San Diego are September, October. During these months, Striped Marlin are most active and abundant in the San Diego area.
Striped Marlin fishing charters in San Diego are typically deep sea fishing trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Trolling rigged ballyhoo, trolling lures (Moldcraft, Black Bart), or live mackerel at 7-9 knots is the standard technique. In Southern California, kite fishing with live mackerel suspended near the surface is deadly. When fish are found free-jumping or tailing on the surface, switching to pitch baits (live mackerel or sardines cast to a sighted fish) produces exciting, visual hookups. Fly fishing for striped marlin — teasing fish to the boat with hookless lures, then presenting a large fly — is considered one of fly fishing's ultimate challenges.
No — when you book a charter in San Diego, your captain provides all required California fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Striped Marlin regulations in California include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Striped Marlin in San Diego, you may also catch Rockfish, Yellowtail, Pacific Bluefin Tuna, White Seabass, Yellowfin Tuna. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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