LJ Shores Links

My favorite links (since 1999) for planning kayak fishing days in La Jolla.  This page relates only to launching kayaks at the "Beach and Tennis Club" area of La Jolla Shores.  Other nearby beaches can have radically different wave sizes. The street Avenida De La Playa provides beach access to this famous and historical launch spot (Google Map) where the waves are often gentle and small. 

Scripps Nearshore Buoy Link – If the wave height at this link is reading under 3 feet just go fishing. Two feet is ideal.   Less than ideal launch conditions happen when the "wave height" shows over 3 feet AND the "average period" (bottom graph) shows under 10 seconds.  The Launch ratings list shown below will help.  

Wind Forecast – pretty reliable wind forecast at Scripps pier area

Current Wind – current wind conditions from Windy.com

Tide Graph – low tides below 2 feet diminish the surf, and very high tides can add some wave size

La Jolla Launch Camera – live video feed at the La Jolla shores launch area, Marine Room

La Jolla Launch Camera 2 – live video feed of the beach just south of the launch

La Jolla Launch Cameras 3 & 4 – live video feed of the wave conditions around Scripps pier, including the underwater piling camera.

MPA Map - The kayak launch spot is inside a Marine Protected Area (MPA). Do not fish in the red or blue areas on this map. Fishing for live bait like mackerel is allowed within the blue area which includes Scripps pier.

BigwatersEdge.com Forums – old kayak fishing information forum

Launch ratings below only apply to this kayak launch spot at the LJ Beach and Tennis Club: 

2 feet at 14 seconds => VERY VERY EASY

2 feet at 10 seconds => VERY EASY

2 feet at 6 seconds => EASY 

3 feet at 14 seconds => EASY

3 feet at 10 seconds => EASY

3 feet at 6 seconds => MODERATE (inexperienced can get flipped)

4 feet at 14 seconds => EASY

4 feet at 6 seconds => ROUGH

5 feet at 14 seconds => VERY EASY

5 feet at 7 seconds => EXTREME ROUGH

6 feet at 18 seconds => EASY

6 feet at 12 seconds => EASY

6 feet at 6 seconds => EXTREME ROUGH

7 feet at 20 seconds => EASY (click on the photo at top right of this page and see note (2)).  

Notes:

(1)    A 14' kayak pointing directly out toward sea cannot be flipped end over end by a 3-foot incoming wave.   But a kayak parallel to the incoming waves can be easily flipped, even by a tiny one foot wave!  When launching we always keep the bow pointed straight out to sea, at any cost. 👍🌊

(2)   The LJ Shores launch location is at the end of a very deep underwater canyon where canyon bathymetry can massively dampen wave size at the launch during long-period, winter swells.  Plus, the launch is protected from south swells by Point La Jolla.  The most difficult launch waves occur here on west and northwest 'wind swells' - prevalent during springtime, and happening occasionally during summertime.

 (3) ⚙️ On the Scripps Nearshore Buoy page you can set the displayed time zone to Pacific time by clicking the settings gear ⚙️ icon in the menu bar.   When you visit the site in the future you will see the buoy graph shown in Pacific time (not UTC).