This page covers mahi-mahi, also called dorado, fished out of San Diego Bay. Dorado are documented here on multi-day offshore trips, and recent autumn trip listings are the clearest local evidence. For the bay, landings and ramps, see the San Diego port page. For identification and biology, see the mahi-mahi fishing guide.
When mahi-mahi are around San Diego
Autumn is the documented window out of San Diego. Multi-day trips name dorado as a target from October into early November, and a three-day trip in mid-October landed 27 dorado. Because dorado follow warm water, a warm autumn is the year to expect the best trips. For the wider region, see the Southern California mahi-mahi guide (see also the wider Pacific Southwest guide).
Where boats run
San Diego Bay is a crescent-shaped harbor that reaches the Pacific through one dredged entrance between Point Loma and North Island. Currents near the entrance usually run 0.5 to 5 knots, depending on the tide and the direction of the channel. South of the Zuñiga jetty the current sets slightly toward Zuñiga Shoal on the ebb, and a crosscurrent from Ballast Point can cause a sudden sheer. Leave room on the Zuñiga side when you turn out, and check conditions yourself before you run.
Multi-day trips out of the bay report dorado without naming a ground, bank or distance for them. The Coronado Islands, about 15 miles south of Point Loma in Mexican waters, are a common destination for San Diego boats, and Mexico’s own licensing applies there. Cortez Bank is a popular offshore bank, but neither the Coronado Islands nor Cortez Bank is documented as a dorado ground for this port. Radiation fog is most common from September through April, and it sits heaviest around the entrance late at night and early in the morning.
Grounds and structure
No single ground is documented as the dorado spot for this port. The grounds that San Diego’s boats are documented fishing include the Point Loma kelp beds, Tanner Bank, Cortez Bank and La Jolla Canyon. Offshore, the multi-day trips work the open water rather than a named bank, so the water temperature and the floating weed are the better guide.
How mahi-mahi are fished out of San Diego
No method is documented for dorado from San Diego. For multi-day trips, use the general approach: troll along the edges of floating kelp and debris, scan for birds and bait, and pitch to fish that come up. Keep a hooked fish in the water beside the boat so the school stays near.
Who fishes them
Three operators are documented for dorado out of San Diego:
- H&M Landing, where a three-day trip in mid-October landed 27 dorado.
- Fisherman’s Landing, which lists dorado among its targets alongside wahoo and tuna.
- Pacific Queen Sportfishing, whose trips are listed on the Fisherman’s Landing site.
FAQ
When is the best time for dorado out of San Diego?
Autumn is the documented window, with October and early November trips naming dorado as a target. A warm autumn is the year to expect the best trips.
Do the dorado run close to the bay?
No ground near the bay is documented for dorado. The multi-day trips go offshore to find the warm water and the floating weed.
Which landing should I call?
H&M Landing and Fisherman’s Landing are documented for dorado, and so are the Pacific Queen trips listed on the Fisherman’s Landing site. Ask about current catches before booking.
Does fog affect early departures?
Yes. Radiation fog is most common from September through April and sits heaviest around the entrance. The sound signals at Point Loma and Ballast Point and a radar can help you find your way out, and check conditions yourself before you leave.
