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.  The street Avenida De La Playa provides beach access to this famous and historical launch spot (Google Map)  

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 10 seconds => VERY EASY

2 feet at 6 seconds => EASY 

3 feet at 12 seconds => EASY

3 feet at 6 seconds => MODERATE

4 feet at 12 seconds => EASY

4 feet at 6 seconds => ROUGH

5 feet at 15 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 launch* (click the photo at top right of this page for the photo).  An example of this reading was 12/24/2024.  As seen in the photos, the waves at the launch spot were knee-high but the waves at point La Jolla and at Blacks Beach were 10 to 20 feet high. Not kidding. 

Notes:

The launch location is at the end of a very deep underwater canyon where canyon bathymetry can massively dampen wave sizes in winter.  The launch is protected from south swells by Point La Jolla as well in summer.  The biggest waves occur here on 'wind swells' prevalent during springtime and happening occasionally during summertime.

⚙️ 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).