Encinitas is a seaside city in north county San Diego that’s identified for its quite a few quaint seashores under the bluffs. It begins at Cardiff Seaside or Seaside Reef on the finish of Solana Seaside and Desk Tops, and it ends the place Grandview Seaside meets South Pontos in Carlsbad. On this article, I’ll be over-viewing every thing it’s good to find out about surf fishing in Encinitas and all the person seashores that make up “Encinitas Seaside”. We’ll speak tides, frequent species, entry factors, parking and rather more.
Overview of Surf Fishing at Encinitas Seashores
| Parking Data | See Particular person Seaside Sections |
| Ease of Entry | Often Steep Staircases Down To Sand |
| Tides | Beneath a 4-5-foot Excessive Tide |
| Crowds | Much less Crowded Than Most |
| Terrain Sort | Intermixed Sand/Reef/Pebbles |
| No Fishing Areas | Swami’s – Learn Beneath |
| Really helpful Gear and Sort out | Surf Fishing Gear and Sort out |
As talked about in my article on surf fishing Solana seaside, north county seashores are usually smaller, extra particular stretches of sand which were given names. So that you sometimes don’t hear them known as “Solana Seaside” or “Encinitas Seaside”..
The seashores that make up Encinitas embrace (south to north) Seaside Reef, Cardiff State Seaside, Cardiff Reef, San Elijo State Seaside, Pipes Seaside, Swamis Seaside, D Avenue Seaside, Moonlight State Seaside, Stonesteps Seaside, Leucadia State Seaside (Beacons), and Grandview Seaside.
I do know that’s a variety of seashores, however don’t fear. I’ll ensure you’ve acquired all the information you want for surf fishing Encinitas and all of the little seashores that make it such.
Parking and Entry for Encinitas Seashores
| Seaside | Parking | Entry |
| Seaside Reef, Cardiff State Seaside | South lot right here and road parking. | Straightforward Entry |
| Cardiff Reef | North lot right here and road parking. | Straightforward Entry |
| San Elijo State Seaside, Pipes Seaside | Pak on the PCH above the bluffs in entrance of the campgrounds. | Stairway |
| Swamis Seaside | There’s a lot situated right here. Moreover, there’s a superb quantity of parking on the PCH. | Stairway |
| D Avenue Seaside, Moonlight Seaside | Avenue parking close to right here. | Straightforward Entry |
| Stonesteps Seaside | Avenue parking close to right here. | Stairway |
| Leucadia State Seaside, Beacons | Lot and road parking right here. | Quick Pathway |
| Grandview Seaside | Lot right here. | Stairway |
Surf Fishing Encinitas: YouTube Video
What Fish Can You Catch Surf Fishing in Encinitas
When surf fishing in Encinitas, you may goal something from corbina, croaker and surfperch on the sunshine sort out model, halibut and bass on the swimbaits and jerkbaits, sharks and rays on the shark setup, and even sheephead and bass on shrimp or related bait.
Since all of Encinitas is intermittent reef and sand, you’ll must depend on data of species and which habitats every prefers. As an example, the sandier the seaside, you need to goal corbina, surfperch, croaker and so forth. together with sharks. The extra reef there may be, you may throw swimbaits for halibut and bass and so forth. See under for the frequent species you’ll catch in So Cal and click on on them to study extra about catching them.
Bait and Gear & Sort out
From Might by August, sand crabs must be your primary selection of bait for all the sunshine sort out species (corbina, croaker and so forth.) on the sandy stretched of Encinitas, If sand crabs aren’t obtainable (often from October-April), go for clams or mussel meat. See the drop-down under for my precise gear and sort out for gentle sort out surf fishing.
For lures, each jerkbaits and swimbaits work effectively. As talked about in related articles, the denser the reef and construction, the extra doubtless I’m to decide on swimbaits over jerkbaits.
Sharking right here for me simply depends upon the time of 12 months, time of day, tides and crowds. The south portion at Cardiff has extra sand which permits for fishing at larger tides and fewer snags. Among the north sections will be actually good, nonetheless. You simply must undergo some trial and error concerning snags. See under for my sharking gear and bait suggestions.
The place to Legally Fish in Encinitas
The next MPA’s must be famous – San Elijo Lagoon SMCA (No-Take) and Swami’s SMCA and Swami’s SMCA (picture).
Swamis’s SMCA begins close to the San Elijo Lagoon inlet and ends close to Moonlight State Seaside. For precise coordinates, confer with this hyperlink (picture). To my data, you may fish the surf at Swami’s Seaside and you may even hold your catch as long as it’s of authorized dimension and limits. It must be leisure and by hook and line, however you CANNOT use sand crabs as they’re among the many “prohibited take”.
Appears form of bizarre to me that they’d be involved about sand crabs as they’re actually in all places however they’re throughout the crustaceans and invertebrates class so we can not use sand crabs at Swami’s State Seaside. Do your analysis earlier than you fish this space as you do NOT need to get fined for unlawful take of any kind. However, Spotfin, corbina, and different species are good right here.
Tides For Fishing Encinitas Seashores
Any tide is sweet for corbina, surfperch, and croaker in addition to for sharking. For lures, you sometimes desire a low sufficient tide to show some construction. The chart under exhibits the max tides at which you’ll be able to fish these seashores because of water ranges reaching the bluffs. For those who’re seeking to study extra about how tides have an effect on surf fishing, confer with the 2 articles under.
| Seaside | Max Tide Peak To Fish |
| Seaside Reef, Cardiff State Seaside | 5 ft |
| Cardiff Reef | 5 ft |
| San Elijo State Seaside, Pipes Seaside | 2.5 ft |
| Swamis Seaside | 3.5 ft |
| D Avenue Seaside, Moonlight Seaside | 4 ft |
| Stonesteps Seaside | 3.5 |
| Leucadia State Seaside, Beacons | 3.5 |
| Grandview Seaside | 3.5 |
Sort of Seaside Construction in Encinitas
All of Encinitas is intermittent reef with sand. Cardiff has essentially the most sand whereas the inlet at Cardiff reef, San Elijo, Swamis, Beacons, and Grandview can all have a lot of reef relying on the time of 12 months. Typically sand covers all of them, different instances, there’s a variety of reef uncovered. For this, you’ll must test it out by yourself.
For those who’ve learn a few of my previous articles, you’d know that each winter, some seasonal sand loss happens. How a lot and the place depends upon the storms and swell instructions we had. Usually late winter and early spring present essentially the most quantity of uncovered reef in San Diego the place summertime options most of that sand coming again and masking our shoreline reefs.
Searching for extra guides on native seashores. comply with the hyperlink within the picture under! And if you happen to’re focused on reserving me as your information, attain out to me right here at my San Diego surf fishing information web page.
