Mission Bay is very dear to me. I grew up close to Mission Bay in the sixties, seventies, and eighties. Even stayed in San Diego there as an adult until my wife and I moved our family to Orange County. I remember going, as a kid, with my folks and siblings to all the parts of Mission Bay; Fiesta Island, DeAnza Cove, Crown Point, the list goes on. It is a wonderful park to experience. I do think it is overrun with other water activities such as water skiing and boating. Getting fishing in, whether by shore or on the water can be done but go early in the morning. This is your best time and by ten or eleven, it can be crazy with all the boaters even on the weekdays.
For this body of water, my research was from emailing back and forth from sandiego.gov, they have been a wealth of information in my quest to kayak fish. I found out there are swim zones where you are not allowed to fish or kayak fish. As well as reading the many signs along Mission, and particularly Fiesta Island.
I am one that follows the rules and regulations.
Fiesta Island, in my opinion, is one of the best areas to launch your kayak. Fiesta Island is open from 4am-10pm every day and there is a road going along it. Contrary to its name, it’s a peninsula not an island.
A little history-
Mission Bay started out as False Bay over a hundred years ago. Named for that because during low tide, there was hardly any water. Pretty much a marshland.
In the forties, the city made it into a water park by dredging the bay and naming it Mission Bay. Mission Bay is a great fishery with bass, spotted sand and kelp, halibut, guitarfish, croaker, bat rays, and leopard sharks are the more common species. Check appropriate limits and size before going. Mission Bay area is a free public area, no launch fees, no fishing fees, and no boat fees. However, a valid California fishing license is required.
Below, are the swim zones of Mission Bay. I am one that will stay out of those areas. This map is just a guideline and for reference.
There are signs, especially on the back side of Fiesta Island saying no beaching, anchoring, launching so, the west side is off limits, but the east side that faces the mainland is acceptable.
I hope this helps people wanting to kayak fish in Mission Bay.
Stay tuned for part two, my outing.
False Bay
Mission Bay
Swim Zones, no fishing
Backside of Fiesta Island
Mission Bay pics
