As of November 17, 2024, the fishing scene in the Pacific Ocean off California's coastline is looking promising, despite some challenging conditions.

### Tidal and Weather Report
Today, the tides are mixed, with a high tide early in the morning and a low tide in the late afternoon. The weather is expected to be partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain, which could work in your favor as cloudy days often improve fishing conditions. Sunrise is at around 6:30 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 4:45 PM.

### Fish Activity
Yesterday saw some decent catches across various locations. Off the coast of San Diego, the American Angler reported a good day for yellowtail and yellowfin tuna, despite the tough conditions. The Excel also managed to catch some nice yellowtail, with one notable catch being a 274-pound tuna hooked on a sardine and a sinker rig[3].

In Northern California, anglers were catching limits of rockfish and Dungeness crab. The Avenger out of Morro Bay brought in 90 rockfish on a half-day morning trip[5].

### Best Lures and Bait
For rockfish and lingcod, using lures such as spinners, spoons, and hoochie/spinner combos have been productive. However, bait has been the key to bigger catches; sardines and small herring have been particularly effective for larger species like tuna and yellowtail[2][3].

### Hot Spots
If you're heading out today, consider the lower banks off San Diego for tuna and yellowtail. The waters around Emeryville, Berkeley, and Monterey are also excellent for rockfish, lingcod, and crab. For those in Northern California, Morro Bay and the areas around Crescent City have been yielding good results for rockfish and Dungeness crab[2][3][5].

Overall, it's a good time to get out on the water, especially with the cloud cover and tidal shifts that could bring more fish to the surface. Make sure to check the latest regulations and gear up before you head out.