San Diego Tide Charts & Fishing
Sunday, September 20 · NOAA station 9410170 (San Diego Bay)
Tides live · forecast as of 12:42 AM PT
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
0.9 ft
· Slack water
Next high
7:55 AM
4.0 ft · in 7h 13m
Next low
12:02 PM
3.4 ft · in 11h 20m
Wind
2 mph NNW
Calm
Fishing score
41 /100
Fair
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sep 20 | Low | 12:34 AM | 0.9 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | High | 7:55 AM | 4.0 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Low | 12:02 PM | 3.4 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | High | 5:51 PM | 5.0 ft |
| Mon, Sep 21 | Low | 1:12 AM | 0.6 ft |
| Mon, Sep 21 | High | 7:58 AM | 4.3 ft |
| Mon, Sep 21 | Low | 12:47 PM | 2.9 ft |
| Mon, Sep 21 | High | 6:40 PM | 5.3 ft |
Today's Tide Times in San Diego
Today in San Diego, high tide arrives at 7:55 AM (4.0 ft) and again at 5:51 PM (5.0 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 12:34 AM (0.9 ft) and again at 12:02 PM (3.4 ft). That's a 4.0-foot swing — a solid mid-size swing with reliable current on each side of the extremes.
The sun rises at 6:35 AM and sets at 6:47 PM, under a first quarter (61% illuminated). With the moon near a quarter phase, tidal movement is on the mild side this week.
Tomorrow starts with a low tide at 1:12 AM (0.6 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
41/ 100
Best windows today
- 4:00 AM – 6:00 AMVery Good
- 7:30 PM – 9:30 PMVery Good
outgoing tide · light wind
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 6:35 AM
- Sunset
- 6:47 PM
First Quarter
61% illuminated
Neap tides — gentler water movement. Fish the dawn and dusk windows.
Conditions
69°F
Overcast
- Wind
- 2 mph NNWgusts 3
- Waves
- 2.8 ft @ 10s
- Water temp
- 74°F
Calm — Glass — perfect for topwater
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
77° / 63°
Very Good
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Mon, Sep 21
75° / 67°
Very Good
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Tue, Sep 22
75° / 68°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Wed, Sep 23
76° / 69°
Excellent
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Thu, Sep 24
77° / 70°
Excellent
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Fri, Sep 25
79° / 71°
Excellent
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Sat, Sep 26
80° / 71°
Excellent
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
What's Biting at San Diego
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Gear for These Conditions
TheAnglerStore →Matched to the species feeding at San Diego 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.
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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…
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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 →
San Diego Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in San Diego today?
High tide in San Diego today is at 7:55 AM (4.0 ft) and again at 5:51 PM (5.0 ft), measured at NOAA station 9410170 (San Diego Bay).
›What time is low tide in San Diego today?
Low tide in San Diego today is at 12:34 AM (0.9 ft) and again at 12:02 PM (3.4 ft).
›When is the best time to fish in San Diego today?
Today's best fishing window at San Diego is 7:30 PM–9:30 PM (rated Very Good, 74/100), driven by outgoing tide, light wind. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in San Diego in September?
In September, the most active species at San Diego are Spotted Bay Bass, California Yellowtail, Calico Bass, California Halibut, California Corbina. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›How accurate is this San Diego tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 9410170 (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 San Diego
San Diego calls itself the sportfishing capital of the world, and the bay backs it up. Spotted bay bass and halibut live on the eelgrass flats, bonefish (yes, really) show in the south bay, and the point at Cabrillo opens onto some of the best kelp fishing on the coast.