Yellowtail Fishing Reports — San Diego & Southern California
Southern California boats have landed 11,106 yellowtail in the last 30 days across 956 trips. The bite is on 3.5-day trips right now: the Pacific Voyager put 178 yellowtail on the deck for 16 anglers on September 17. Through September, the 2026 season is running 264% ahead of 2025 on the same dates.
When is yellowtail season in San Diego?
July through October, with the count peaking in August — 7,748 yellowtail in August 2025. Fish show as early as January; the season is effectively over by the turn of the year.
View as table
| Month | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | — |
| Feb | 7 | — |
| Mar | 3,198 | 11 |
| Apr | 3,280 | 417 |
| May | 2,147 | 417 |
| Jun | 9,179 | 795 |
| Jul | 12,930 | 4,890 |
| Aug | 19,049 | 7,748 |
| Sep | 10,039 | 2,280 |
| Oct | — | 3,818 |
| Nov | — | 1,155 |
| Dec | — | 324 |
Which boats are catching yellowtail right now?
Eight boats account for the bulk of the last 90 days. The leaders span Southern California landings. Every name links to that boat's page — schedule, reports, and booking.
| Boat | Landing | Yellowtail · 90d | Trips | Per trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission Belle | Point Loma | 2,491 | 61 | 41 |
| San Diego | Seaforth | 2,219 | 65 | 34 |
| Thunderbird | Newport | 1,762 | 38 | 46 |
| Freedom | 22nd Street | 1,547 | 43 | 36 |
| Pacific Voyager | Seaforth | 1,309 | 26 | 50 |
| Pacific Queen | Fisherman's | 1,232 | 18 | 68 |
| Polaris Supreme | Seaforth | 1,169 | 20 | 58 |
| Fury | Dana Wharf Sportfishing | 1,056 | 42 | 25 |
Does the moon phase matter for yellowtail?
The moon buckets are close in our data: since June 2025, dark-moon trips (under 25% illumination) averaged 0.61 fish per angler across 1,636 trips, versus 0.56 on the full moon (1,818 trips) — a raw split across 5,291 trips, not controlled for season. Tonight: waning gibbous, 90% illuminated.
What are your best chances of catching a yellowtail?
3.5-day trips led at 45.1 yellowtail per trip over the last 90 days across 33 trips. The next dark-moon windows are October 6–15 and November 4–14.
| Trip length | Avg yellowtail · 90d | Listed price · mid-50% |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4-day trips | 8.5 (596 trips) | $83–$140 (1,154 listings) |
| Full-day trips | 14.8 (720 trips) | $124–$240 (3,187 listings) |
| Overnight trips | 21.4 (261 trips) | $240–$340 (1,317 listings) |
| 1/2-day AM trips | 6.3 (394 trips) | $75–$80 (3,706 listings) |
| 1/2-day PM trips | 5.9 (233 trips) | $75–$80 (3,706 listings) |
| 1/2-day Twilight trips | 3.2 (34 trips) | $75–$80 (3,706 listings) |
| 1.5-day trips | 19.3 (132 trips) | $495–$570 (363 listings) |
| 2-day trips | 28.4 (189 trips) | $735–$932 (485 listings) |
| 2.5-day trips | 22.2 (98 trips) | $992–$1,242 (84 listings) |
| 3-day trips | 38.6 (94 trips) | $1,449–$1,811 (468 listings) |
| 3.5-day trips | 45.1 (33 trips) | $1,400–$1,700 (17 listings) |
| 4-day trips | 103.8 (11 trips) | $2,267–$2,584 (94 listings) |
Upcoming trips with open spots
Yellowtail FAQ
What is the best trip length for yellowtail?
Over the last 90 days, 3.5-day trips led at 45.1 yellowtail per trip across 33 trips.
Do I need a passport for a yellowtail trip?
Many yellowtail trips fish the Coronado Islands — inside 12 miles of Mexico, where a passport (book or card), FMM, and Mexican fishing permit are all required, arranged with your ticket. Offshore trips beyond 12 miles need only the permit. Confirm with the landing when you book.
How many yellowtail can I keep?
In U.S. waters, up to 10 yellowtail within the 20-finfish CDFW daily bag; in Mexican waters, no more than 5 yellowtail within the 10-fish daily limit. Rules change — verify current CDFW / CONAPESCA regulations before your trip.
What months are best for yellowtail?
The count peaks July–October. August 2025 was the single best month on record here: 7,748 yellowtail.
Keep exploring
Counts sourced from 956 trips reported by Southern California landings, August 30, 2026 – September 29, 2026. Every figure on this page is computed from that data.