NWS zone PZZ455 · Northern California
Coastal waters from Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA out 10 nm fishing forecast
California · Pacific coast
Score now
- Named spots
- 28
- Species scored
- 12
- Tide stations
- 0
Overview
Coastal waters from Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA out 10 nm is NWS marine zone PZZ455 on the California Pacific coast, in the Northern California species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as open coast, near shore. It holds 28 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System.
12 species are scored here in this forecast; Cabezon, Rockfish, Surfperch, Striped bass and Albacore tuna are at peak season now.
At 7:00 AM it scores 74 (great), led by Cabezon. The best window for the rest of today is 7-11 AM (flood tide), peaking at 75 for Cabezon. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Fri, Oct 2 at 6 PM, scoring 81.
Best times to fish
Waterlands engine forecast computed 6:37 AM PDT.
Best window today
7-11 AM · Flood tide
Top species: Cabezon
Best hour of each day, next 14 days
Mon, Sep 21
75
9 AM
Cabezon
Tue, Sep 22
71
7 AM
Rockfish
Wed, Sep 23
74
11 PM
Striped bass
Thu, Sep 24
74
12 AM
Striped bass
Fri, Sep 25
73
7 AM
Rockfish
Sat, Sep 26
71
2 AM
Rockfish
Sun, Sep 27
70
8 AM
Striped bass
Mon, Sep 28
76
11 PM
Striped bass
Tue, Sep 29
79
5 PM
Striped bass
Wed, Sep 30
78
5 PM
Striped bass
Thu, Oct 1
76
6 PM
Striped bass
Fri, Oct 2
81
6 PM
Striped bass
Best day
Sat, Oct 3
75
2 AM
Striped bass
Sun, Oct 4
73
8 PM
Striped bass
Species · 12
Listed for the Northern California region. Scores are this hour; season is where the species is in its year.
Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (75)
Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (74)
Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 6 PM (81)
Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 AM (72)
Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 8 AM (71)
Shoulder season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 5 PM (70)
Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (62)
Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 5 PM (62)
Shoulder season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 AM (64)
Shoulder season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 AM (63)
Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20)
Named spots · 28
Ranked by score this hour. Each spot has its own hourly forecast, tide, current and regulations.
- Duffys ReefBar · 11 to 31 ft · Semi-exposedTop now: Rockfish77Great
- Small White RockBar · 7 to 44 ft · Semi-exposedTop now: Rockfish76Great
- Bear HarborBay · 15 to 24 ft · ExposedTop now: Cabezon75Great
- Point DelgadaCape · 0 to 8 ft · ExposedTop now: Surfperch72Great
- Rodgers BreakBar · 47 to 112 ft · ExposedTop now: Rockfish72Great
- Shelter CoveBay · 7 to 17 ft · Semi-exposedTop now: Surfperch72Great
- Bruhel PointCape · 4 to 17 ft · Semi-exposedTop now: Cabezon71Great
- Cabrillo PointCape · 5 to 132 ft · ExposedTop now: Rockfish71Great
- Caspar AnchorageBay · 30 ft · Semi-exposedTop now: Cabezon71Great
- Caspar PointCape · 11 to 77 ft · ExposedTop now: Rockfish71Great
- Mendocino BayBay · 16 to 67 ft · Semi-exposedTop now: Rockfish71Great
- Ten Mile River BluffCape · 8 to 18 ft · ExposedTop now: Cabezon71Great
16 more spots, A to Z
Nearest tide stations
Regulations
California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with CDFW Sep 21, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
This bay system’s spots fall in North of Point Arena (28 spots), North of Point Conception (28 spots), Fort Bragg salmon area (26 spots), Mendocino Management Area (26 spots), Klamath Management Zone (2 spots) and Northern Management Area (2 spots).
North of Point Arena (Pacific halibut) · CDFW
1 per day · 1 in possession
Season: Apr 1 to Nov 15, 2026
Changes to closed on Nov 16, 2026
Closes early if the California quota is reached. Check the CDFW Pacific halibut page before fishing. When angling, no more than one line with two hooks.
CDFW Current Ocean Recreational Fishing Regulations, Northern Region (updated August 31, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
Ocean waters north of Point Conception (34°27' N. lat.) · CDFW
25 per day
Season: No closed season on file
In addition to the general limit of 20 finfish.
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
2 per day · Minimum 18 in, total length
Season: No closed season on file
Angling, spearfishing or bow and arrow only. No sinker over 4 pounds, no power-driven gurdy or winch, no snagging. The CDFW San Francisco Bay District page states the same limits for the bay: two fish, 18 inches total length.
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
3 per day · Minimum 28 in, total length. Or twenty and one-half inches alternate length (Section 28.35).
Season: No closed season on file
CDFW pages disagree on the alternate length: the regulation text says 20.5 inches, the booklet summary table 21.5 inches, and the regional web pages 20 inches. Total length is 28 inches on all of them.
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
Fort Bragg Management Area · CDFW
No retention
Season: Sep 1 to Dec 31, 2026
CDFW expects 2027 season dates in April 2027.
CDFW Current Ocean Recreational Fishing Regulations, Mendocino Region (updated August 10, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
Mendocino Groundfish Management Area · CDFW
10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined) · No minimum size limit.
Season: Apr 1 to Dec 31, 2026
Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from groundfish seasons and depth limits. RCG complex: all rockfish, cabezon, and kelp and rock greenlings combined. A descending device must be aboard when fishing from a boat.
CDFW Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations (updated June 23, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
2 per day · 2 in possession · Minimum 22 in, total length
Season: No closed season on file
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined) · No minimum size limit.
Season: Apr 1 to Dec 31, 2026
Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from groundfish seasons and depth limits. RCG complex: all rockfish, cabezon, and kelp and rock greenlings combined. A descending device must be aboard when fishing from a boat. CDFW limits and seasons cover kelp and rock greenlings together.
CDFW Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations (updated June 23, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
2 per day · Minimum 22 in, total length
Season: Apr 1 to Dec 31, 2026
Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from groundfish seasons and depth limits. A descending device must be aboard when fishing from a boat.
CDFW Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations (updated June 23, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined) · No minimum size limit.
Season: Apr 1 to Dec 31, 2026
Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from groundfish seasons and depth limits. Within the 10-fish RCG limit: no more than 1 copper rockfish, 2 canary rockfish, and 2 vermilion/sunset rockfish. RCG complex: all rockfish, cabezon, and kelp and rock greenlings combined. A descending device must be aboard when fishing from a boat. Yelloweye, cowcod, bronzespotted and quillback rockfish may not be kept.
CDFW Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations (updated June 23, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
Klamath Management Zone (KMZ) · CDFW
No retention
Season: Sep 1 to Dec 31, 2026
Salmon may not be possessed on a vessel in this area while it is closed. CDFW expects 2027 season dates in April 2027.
CDFW Current Ocean Recreational Fishing Regulations, Northern Region (updated August 31, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
Northern Groundfish Management Area · CDFW
10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined) · No minimum size limit.
Season: Apr 1 to Dec 31, 2026
Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from groundfish seasons and depth limits. RCG complex: all rockfish, cabezon, and kelp and rock greenlings combined. A descending device must be aboard when fishing from a boat.
CDFW Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations (updated June 23, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
2 per day · 2 in possession · Minimum 22 in, total length
Season: No closed season on file
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined) · No minimum size limit.
Season: Apr 1 to Dec 31, 2026
Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from groundfish seasons and depth limits. RCG complex: all rockfish, cabezon, and kelp and rock greenlings combined. A descending device must be aboard when fishing from a boat. CDFW limits and seasons cover kelp and rock greenlings together.
CDFW Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations (updated June 23, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
2 per day · Minimum 22 in, total length
Season: Apr 1 to Dec 31, 2026
Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from groundfish seasons and depth limits. A descending device must be aboard when fishing from a boat.
CDFW Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations (updated June 23, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined) · No minimum size limit.
Season: Apr 1 to Dec 31, 2026
Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from groundfish seasons and depth limits. Within the 10-fish RCG limit: no more than 1 copper rockfish, 2 canary rockfish, and 4 vermilion/sunset rockfish. RCG complex: all rockfish, cabezon, and kelp and rock greenlings combined. A descending device must be aboard when fishing from a boat. Yelloweye, cowcod, bronzespotted and quillback rockfish may not be kept.
CDFW Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations (updated June 23, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
Statewide
3 per day · Minimum 36 in, total length
Season: No closed season on file
Closed in the Groundfish Exclusion Areas off southern California.
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
20 per day · Minimum 10.5 in, total length. Redtail surfperch only. No minimum size for other surfperch.
Season: No closed season on file
In San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay, surfperch are closed April 1 through July 31 and the limit is 5 (shiner perch excepted). 20 surfperch in combination, not more than 10 of any one species. Shiner perch have a separate limit of 20.
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
Other California bay systems
- Coastal Waters from Point Arena to Point Reyes California out to 10 nm27
- East Santa Barbara Channel from Pt. Conception to Pt. Mugu CA including Santa Cruz Island17
- Humboldt Bay28
- Humboldt Bay Bar
- Inner waters from Point Mugu to San Mateo Pt. CA including Santa Catalina and Anacapa Islands117
- Monterey Bay50
- Outer waters from Santa Cruz Island to San Clemente Island to 60 NM offshore including San Nicolas and Santa Barbara Islands9
- San Francisco Bay South of the Bay Bridge30
- San Pablo Bay, Suisun Bay, the West Delta and the San Francisco Bay north of the Bay Bridge159
- Waters from Pt. Sal to Santa Cruz Island CA and westward 60 nm including San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands61