La Jolla (Kayak & Kelp)
La Jolla Shores, San Diego · near La Jolla · San Diego
Fishing
At a glance
- Difficulty
- advanced
- Best season
- Late spring–summer for yellowtail/white seabass; halibut spring–fall; calico year-round
Permits and booking
- Licence required
- Yes
- Licence detail
- CA license (16+) required — this is shore/kayak, NOT a license-free pier. The Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve at the Cove is no-take; fish only outside reserve boundaries.
What is here
- Features
- Paddle to kelp in minutes · Trophy yellowtail & white seabass · Kayak rentals/guides on-site · Steep La Jolla Canyon close to shore
Worth knowing
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Good for a first timer
- No
Fishing detail
- Water type
- ocean-boat
- Water
- salt
- Methods
- Live bait · Jigging · Trolling · Casting
- Boat
- both
- Target species
- Yellowtail · White seabass · California halibut · Calico (kelp) bass
- Intl tip
- Book a guided kayak-fishing outfitter for your first outing — they supply the yak, bait, and canyon knowledge, and keep you clear of the reserve and sea-lion haul-outs.
The guide
La Jolla is the rare place where a paddler can reach genuine bluewater game fish without a big boat — the underwater canyon pus…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to La Jolla (Kayak & Kelp) — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 32.857, -117.256