San Clemente Island Deep Sea Fishing Guide

San Clemente Island, located in Southern California, is a popular sea angling destination known for its abundant fish stocks and stunning ocean views. This comprehensive guide will help you plan a successful sea angling trip. 🚢Transportation Departing from Long Beach Harbor, the boat trip takes approximately three hours. We recommend choosing a reputable charter boat service to ensure safety and comfort. Boats typically depart around 5pm, arriving at the fishing spot around 8 or 9pm. Alternatively, boats depart around 3 or 4am, set sail at 6am, and arrive at noon. 🕐Best Time for Sea Angling Season: The peak season for sea angling in Southern California starts in July, as the warmer water temperatures increase fish activity. Time of Day: Mornings and evenings are generally the best times for fishing. Tides: During the new and full moons, the tides are highest, and fish tend to gather near the shore to feed. ✅Fishing Gear Rod: Choose a medium-weight rod, 7 to 10 feet long, preferably made of fiberglass or carbon fiber. Line: We recommend using 20 to 30 lb nylon line or ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene line. Bait: Live bait such as small fish or worms is effective. You can also use soft plastic lures and hard baits. Other Accessories: These include floats, sinkers, hooks, rigs, tackle boxes, knives, rod holders, and life jackets. Target Fish Species and Fishing Methods Bluefin Tuna: Use kites and balloons to assist in fishing, placing flying fish bait at a distance from the boat. Grouper: Grouper can be caught year-round, but there are quantity limits. Other Species: Species such as rockfish and flatfish have no limits year-round. ‼️Important Notes Ensure you have a valid fishing license, which typically costs $45 per person. Adhere to local fishing regulations, including size and quantity limits for different species. After catching a large fish, quickly dispatch, bleed, and gut it. Prioritize safety by wearing a life jacket and following the captain's instructions.