LivewellCalifornia · San Diego County · Coastal
San Diego Bay
Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for San Diego Bay, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.
15 species with advisories · contaminants: Mercury, PCBs
California also has statewide guidance
California publishes rules that apply to coastals across the state — 34 recommendations covering 17 species — in addition to anything listed for San Diego Bay below.
Strictest statewide rule: Rockfish: Black And Yellow, China, Copper, Gopher — For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated Mercury.
What's safe to eat from San Diego Bay
Barred Sand Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Black Perch
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
California Spiny Lobster
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Diamond Turbot
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to two meals per week due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Pacific Chub Mackerel
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Pile Perch
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to four meals per week. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Rainbow Surfperch
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to four meals per week. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Round Stingray
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Shark
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Shiner Perch
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Shovelnose Guitarfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Spotted Sand Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Spotted Turbot
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to two meals per week due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Topsmelt
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Yellowfin Croaker
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
How to prepare fish from San Diego Bay
Some contaminants build up in fat and skin, so cleaning and cooking can lower your exposure. Others — mercury and PFAS — are in the muscle itself and trimming does nothing.
PCBs
- Skin the fish — most of the contaminant sits in the fat just under the skin.
- Trim the fatty areas away: the belly flap, the top of the back, and the dark lateral line down each side.
- Cook on a rack — grill, broil, or bake — so the fat drips off the fillet.
- Throw the drippings out; don't use them for soup, sauce, or chowder.
- Choose smaller, younger fish — they've had less time to build it up.
Is it legal to keep?
These are California's statewide limits — a water-specific rule may override them. Always verify the current regulations before keeping a fish.
| Species | Size | Daily limit | Open season | Keep season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Smallmouth Bass | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Striped Bass | 18" min | 2 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Rainbow Trout | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | — | 25 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Channel Catfish | — | 10 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: California — California DFW
Getting on the water
- Boat ramp boat ramp 1.4 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 1.5 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 1.5 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 1.9 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 2.2 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 4.0 mi Directions
Access points from OpenStreetMap contributors.