Fall yellowtail run pushes north as Central Coast water cools

What's biting

What's next

Expect the temperature spread between the two stations to narrow over the next few days as cooler water continues working south through the transition out of summer upwelling. Today's afternoon lows, 3:22 PM at Port San Luis and 3:49 PM at Monterey, set up the better structure bite on the dropping tide; plan around that window if targeting nearshore rock or kelp edges. The moon is in its waning crescent phase, so tidal swings stay moderate into the weekend before building again toward the next new moon. If the yellowtail bite reported off Point Loma holds through the month, as Western Outdoor News — Saltwater's crew-trip report suggests it's doing, that run typically works north along the coast through fall, making it worth watching for Central Coast boats in the coming weeks.

Anglers planning a trip around the Monterey or Port San Luis low should give themselves a window on either side of 3:30 PM for structure to clear and current to ease.

Context

October sits squarely in the Central Coast's seasonal transition, as the summer upwelling pattern that keeps nearshore water cool gives way to the warmer, calmer stretch typical of early fall. A yellowtail push originating further south and working northward is a normal fall pattern for the California coast, tied to water temperatures easing into a range the migratory fish will follow. With a waning crescent moon, tidal ranges stay on the smaller side this week, which tends to make current-driven bites more consistent than during the bigger swings around a full or new moon.