National City Tide Charts & Fishing
Saturday, August 15 · NOAA station 9410152 (National City, San Diego Bay)
Updated 5:38 AM PT
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
-0.0 ft
▼ Falling · 0.1 ft/hr
Next high
11:56 AM
5.7 ft · in 6h 18m
Next low
5:44 AM
-0.0 ft · in 6m
Wind
4 mph NW
Calm
Fishing score
63 /100
Good
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug 15 | Low | 5:44 AM | -0.0 ft |
| Sat, Aug 15 | High | 11:56 AM | 5.7 ft |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Low | 6:00 PM | 1.2 ft |
| Sat, Aug 15 | High | 11:51 PM | 5.6 ft |
| Sun, Aug 16 | Low | 6:13 AM | 0.6 ft |
| Sun, Aug 16 | High | 12:31 PM | 5.7 ft |
| Sun, Aug 16 | Low | 6:52 PM | 1.3 ft |
Today's Tide Times in National City
Today in National City, high tide arrives at 11:56 AM (5.7 ft) and again at 11:51 PM (5.6 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 5:44 AM (-0.0 ft) and again at 6:00 PM (1.2 ft). That's a 5.7-foot swing — big, fast-moving water that concentrates feeding fish.
The sun rises at 6:12 AM and sets at 7:33 PM, under a waxing crescent (5% illuminated). With the moon near its spring-tide phase, expect stronger-than-average water movement all week.
Tomorrow starts with a low tide at 6:13 AM (0.6 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
63/ 100
Best windows today
- 7:30 AM – 9:30 AMExcellent
- 8:00 PM – 10:00 PMExcellent
strong incoming tide · dusk bite window · light wind
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 6:12 AM
- Sunset
- 7:33 PM
Waxing Crescent
5% illuminated
Spring tides — strong water movement. Prime solunar days.
Conditions
70°F
Partly cloudy
- Wind
- 4 mph NWgusts 5
- Waves
- 3.2 ft @ 14s
- Water temp
- 73°F
Calm — Glass — perfect for topwater
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
79° / 69°
Excellent
Best: 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Sun, Aug 16
79° / 69°
Excellent
Best: 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Mon, Aug 17
84° / 72°
Very Good
Best: 9:00 AM–11:00 AM
Tue, Aug 18
84° / 73°
Excellent
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Wed, Aug 19
86° / 74°
Excellent
Best: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
Thu, Aug 20
88° / 74°
Excellent
Best: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
Fri, Aug 21
92° / 77°
Excellent
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
What's Biting at National City
Activity ratings reflect typical feeding seasons — not legal seasons. Regulations, closures, and size/bag limits change; always check current CDFW regulations before keeping any fish.
Calico Bass
Paralabrax clathratus
Season: April – October
Baits: Weedless swimbaits, Live anchovies, Plastics
Cast tight to kelp stringers and boiler rocks. Moving water turns the kelp line into a feeding lane.
California Halibut
Paralichthys californicus
Season: April – September
Baits: Live anchovies, Swimbaits, Hair raisers
Drag baits slowly along sandy bottom near structure edges. Slow retrieve — halibut ambush from below.
Spotted Bay Bass
Paralabrax maculatofasciatus
Season: Year-round
Baits: Plastics on leadheads, Small swimbaits, Ghost shrimp
Hit dock pilings, riprap, and eelgrass edges on moving water. A 3-inch plastic on a ¼ oz head is the bay standard.
California Corbina
Menticirrhus undulatus
Season: June – September
Baits: Sand crabs, Bloodworms, Ghost shrimp
Sight-fish skinny water at first light on an incoming tide. Long fluorocarbon leaders — corbina are famously picky.
California Yellowtail
Seriola dorsalis
Season: May – October
Baits: Live mackerel, Surface irons, Yo-yo jigs
Kelp lines and current seams. When birds work bait on the surface, throw the iron and wind fast.
Gear for These Conditions
TheAnglerStore →Matched to the species feeding at National City right now.
Surf Rods
Daiwa FT Surf Spinning Rod — 9', 2-Piece Medium
The short one, for jetties, piers and beaches where you don't need to reach the horizon. Easier to control in a crowd and easier to fit in a car.
$34.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Line & Leader
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid — 20 lb, 300 yd
Seven HMPE fibers plus one GORE Performance Fiber, braided at 32 picks per inch. The GORE fiber is what makes this line quiet through the guides and stubborn…
$34.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Terminal Tackle
Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Offset Circle Sea Hook — 4/0, 50-Pack
The circle hook does the work for you: no strike, just let the rod load and the hook finds the corner of the jaw on its own.
$15.97Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Terminal Tackle
MO's Bank Sinkers — 3 oz, 26-Pack
The everyday surf weight for moderate current — heavy enough to hold a bait through a push, light enough to cast on a medium rod all morning.
$29.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
National City Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in National City today?
High tide in National City today is at 11:56 AM (5.7 ft) and again at 11:51 PM (5.6 ft), measured at NOAA station 9410152 (National City, San Diego Bay).
›What time is low tide in National City today?
Low tide in National City today is at 5:44 AM (-0.0 ft) and again at 6:00 PM (1.2 ft). Today includes a minus tide — a good window for exploring structure that's normally underwater.
›When is the best time to fish in National City today?
Today's best fishing window at National City is 8:00 PM–10:00 PM (rated Excellent, 90/100), driven by strong incoming tide, dusk bite window, light wind. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in National City in August?
In August, the most active species at National City are Calico Bass, California Halibut, Spotted Bay Bass, California Corbina, California Yellowtail. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›Is this the tide chart for Chula Vista?
Yes — National City (NOAA station 9410152) is the closest official tide prediction station to Chula Vista, California, so these are the tide times anglers and boaters in Chula Vista plan around.
›How accurate is this National City tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 9410152 (National City, San Diego Bay) and are the same data used in official tide tables. Actual water levels can vary with storms and barometric pressure, so treat predictions as planning guidance, not navigation data.
About National City
NOAA maintains tide predictions for National City as part of its Southern California station network. This page tracks station 9410152 (National City, San Diego Bay) live: today's highs and lows, the week ahead, sun and moon, and the conditions that decide whether it's worth wetting a line — all in one view. National City is the closest NOAA tide station to Chula Vista, California — if you fish, paddle, or boat out of Chula Vista, these are the tide predictions to plan around.