With Southern California’s spring saltwater fishing season fast approaching, now is the perfect time to discover San Diego as a world-renowned sportfishing paradise with fresh catches available just off the coast.

As the tuna industry sprang up in the early 1900s, thousands of fishermen, cannery workers and shipbuilders lived and worked along the bay, creating tight-knit communities in Little Italy and Point Loma. Today, San Diego Bay is home to the world’s largest sportfishing fleet, welcoming national and international visitors. With sunny blue skies and average temperatures in the 70s, anglers can enjoy saltwater fishing year-round in the bountiful waters of the Pacific Ocean. Depending on the season, yellowfin, bluefin, yellowtail, albacore, mahi mahi (dorado), marlin and mako can be caught offshore, while an inshore catch might include calico bass, halibut, rockfish, sheephead, croaker, corbina or white sea bass.

The following are the top five reasons anglers will love San Diego:

1. Multiple landings: San Diego Bay has three main landings that are home to dozens of state-of-the-art fishing vessels ranging from 60 to 124 feet in size and outfitted with the latest fish finding equipment and amenities. These include H&M Landing, Fisherman's Landing and Point Loma Sportfishing, located near downtown.
2. Variety: Anglers can cast their lines on a wide variety of daily ocean charter fishing trips, ranging from family friendly full- and half-day excursions to multiday trips to offshore islands, the outer banks and deep into Mexican waters. San Diego also has numerous private charters that offer anglers a more personal fishing experience.
3. Easy processing: Processing of fresh catches can be done by the boat crew or one of the local processing facilities that will not only fillet, vacuum seal and freeze the fish, but also conveniently ship the fillets home for guests.
4. Celebrating the craft: On April 19, visitors are invited to experience San Diego’s phenomenal fishing scene closer to shore at the Port of San Diego Day at the Docks, a popular local tradition set against the vibrant backdrop of San Diego’s sportfishing fleet in America’s Cup Harbor. The West Coast’s largest public celebration of sportfishing, Day at the Docks signals the official start of Southern California’s spring saltwater fishing season. Guests of all ages can enjoy free fishing, casting contests, rides on fishing boats, marine artist displays, great food, live entertainment and more.
5. Dockside fun: The new Tuna Harbor Dockside Market, a weekly open-air seafood market on Fish Harbor Pier by Seaport Village, provides fun times for fishing enthusiasts and tourists alike. Every Saturday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (arrive early for the best selection), fresh local seafood is displayed and available for purchase. Fishermen and women are more than happy to pose with their catches, ranging from tuna and halibut to box crabs, sea urchin and octopus, against a backdrop of fishing boats anchored in the harbor.  Guests also have the chance to engage with fishermen and aquafarmers about their methods used for catch and harvest.