I'm trying to get out on the water the week of November 16, and I can't decide between a lobster trip and a rockfish trip. Rain is in the forecast, and I'd lean San Diego if I can.
So I did what I'd tell anyone to do: I checked the counts, the open seats and the weather before booking.
Here's what came back, and what I'd pick.
Watch the wind, not the rain
The rain is the smaller problem. The San Diego forecast puts the best rain chances on Monday the 16th, at 45%, and Tuesday the 17th, at 35%.
Wind is what turns a hoop net night or a rockfish trip miserable, and Sunday the 15th is the breeziest day in the outlook, averaging around 8 to 9 knots off San Diego. Our marine forecast only reaches the 16th right now, so I'll check again Thursday before I book anything for midweek.
Lobster: two boats are near the limit
Rain barely matters on a hoop net trip. Wind and swell do.
Here's how the boats running hoop nets did from October 20 to November 8, per angler on their reported trips:
| Boat | Landing | Trips | Lobster | Per angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triton | LA Harbor | 9 | 549 | 6.54 |
| Tradition | H&M, San Diego | 14 | 768 | 5.95 |
| Gail Force | LA Harbor | 10 | 377 | 4.14 |
The limit is 7 per person. Triton and Tradition are both running close to it, and Tradition has done it over more trips than anyone.
In San Diego, Tradition out of H&M is the one I'd book. Book it through H&M directly.
If you'll drive to LA, Triton's Catalina lobster combos were listed at $210 with open seats most nights next week, as of November 10.
Rockfish: go north
If it's rockfish, San Diego is the wrong place for it right now. Rockfish per angler, landing-wide, November 2 to 8:
| Landing | Per angler |
|---|---|
| Morro Bay | 8.11 |
| Stardust, Santa Barbara | 5.02 |
| Channel Islands, Oxnard | 3.02 |
| 22nd Street, San Pedro | 1.65 |
| Long Beach | 1.23 |
| H&M, San Diego | 0.38 |
Long Beach and San Pedro are the closest, but they're well behind Santa Barbara and Oxnard. If it's rockfish, the drive north is worth it.
What I'd pick
Rockfish closes January 1. Lobster runs to March 17.
If you only get one trip in before the new year, the deadline argues for rockfish, up north.
If it has to be San Diego, lobster on Tradition is the better trip, and early-week rain won't hurt it much.
I'll post how it goes.
Every trip with current prices and open seats is at findyournextcatch.com/trips. Prices and seats change daily, so check before you book. Check CDFW for current regulations before you go.
How to check my work
Lobster numbers are per angler on each boat's reported hoop net trips. Rockfish numbers are landing-wide: every rockfish divided by every angler who sailed from a landing that reported rockfish that day, so a boat targeting rockfish usually does better than the number shown. You can see the same counts at /intel.