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LingcodRetention openBay · California
Cuffeys Cove
39.14°N · 123.73°W · Bay · Coastal waters from Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA out 10 nm
Species here · tap to switch
Best score today · 7 AM · Lingcod
- Now
- 3012 AM PDT
- Best window
- 5 PM-12 AMFlood tide
- Tide now
- Ebbing3.2 ft ▼
Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine
Notify me when Cuffeys Cove scores 75+
Checked every morning against the 14-day forecast. Free by push and email.
14-day forecast
Best days to fish
24-hour conditions · rolling from now
Conditions · 12 AM · now
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS + Open-Meteo Marine
100Tide: EbbingCurrent: 0.3 knWind & pressure
ECMWF
100Wind: 10 kt NNWPressure: SteadyWater temp & sky
NDBC + Open-Meteo Marine
18Seas over the limit · capped at 30Water temp: 56°F, warmLight: NightSolunar: Near a majorSeas: 8.6 ftSeason & habitat · Lingcod
Species seasonality
55Season: ShoulderHabitat: Poor fitDepth: In rangeRegulations: Retention open
Current regulations
What you can keep here today
Mendocino Groundfish Management Area
Lingcod
Retention open- Daily limit
- 2 per day
- Possession
- Not published
- Size
- Minimum 22 in, total length
- Season
- Apr 1 to Dec 31, 2026
- Annual quota
- Not published
- Other
- 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.
From CDFW Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations (updated June 23, 2026), read Sep 13
Other species here
- Albacore tuna Retention open (25 per day)
- Barred sand bass Retention open (4 per day (5 kelp bass, barred sand bass and spotted sand bass combined))
- Cabezon Retention open (10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined))
- California halibut Retention open (2 per day)
- Chinook salmon Closed (No retention)
- Coho salmon Closed (No retention)
- Kelp bass Retention open (5 per day (5 kelp bass, barred sand bass and spotted sand bass combined))
- Kelp greenling Retention open (10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined))
- Leopard shark Retention open (3 per day)
- Mahi-mahi Retention open (10 per day)
- Pacific bluefin tuna Retention open (2 per day)
- Pacific halibut Retention open (1 per day)
- Rockfish Retention open (10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined))
- Sablefish Retention open (10 per day)
- Striped bass Retention open (2 per day)
- Surfperch Retention open (20 per day)
- White seabass Retention open (3 per day)
- Yellowfin tuna Retention open (10 per day)
- Yellowtail Retention open (10 per day)
Source: CDFW · synced yesterday
Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed
When Lingcod is best here
Shoulder season for Lingcod · 1 more week at shoulder
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- This week
Spot profile
Cuffeys Cove
- Depth
- 15-20 ft
- Structure
- Bay · Outer · Semi-exposed
- Season
- Shoulder seasonLingcod
NOAA NCEI DEM, sampled Sep 14 on a 464 m grid. Depths are feet below mean sea level, not chart datum (MLLW), so they can differ from a chart by a few feet. Not for navigation.
About this spot
Fishing Cuffeys Cove
Cuffeys Cove is a bay in Coastal waters from Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA out 10 nm, California. Depth is 15-20 ft. Its profile reads bay, outer water and semi-exposed.
Waterlands scores 12 species here; the best right now are albacore tuna, cabezon and California halibut. It is peak season now for albacore tuna, cabezon, rockfish and striped bass, and shoulder season for California halibut, kelp greenling, leopard shark and lingcod. Albacore tuna peak from September through October. Cabezon peak from May through September. California halibut peak from May through August.
Tackle & technique
- Lingcod
- Lingcod ambush prey from rock outcrops, reef edges and kelp where current runs, most often in 30 to 300 feet, and males move shallow to guard nests in winter. Drift over the reef bouncing a lead-head swimbait or metal jig on the bottom, or fish herring or squid on a heavy leader, since their teeth cut light line. From jetties and rocky shore, work bait or jigs along the rocks on the incoming tide.
- Albacore tuna
- Albacore hold 30 to 100 miles off Oregon and Washington in clear blue water around 60 to 65 degrees, usually along a temperature break. Troll clones, cedar plugs and diving plugs at 6 to 8 knots until a fish hits, then stop and work the school near the surface with live anchovies, swimbaits or iron. Bar conditions and the long run decide most trips before the fish do.
- Cabezon
- Cabezon sit in rock crevices, kelp beds and jetty boulders from the intertidal zone to about 100 feet and feed mostly on crabs and small fish. Fish a fish-finder rig with sand shrimp, squid or crab right on the bottom in the rocks, or drag a lead-head grub slowly through the kelp. Expect snags, and do not eat the roe, which is toxic.
Nearby spots
Other spots within an easy run
- Biggar Rock36
Cape · 5.0 mi
Top: Pacific halibutShoulder season- Pacific halibut 36
- Albacore tuna 30
- Cabezon 30
10 kt NNWL 3:40 AM · 0.4 ftH 10:19 AM · 4.7 ft
- Saint Anthonys Point30
Cape · 0.6 mi
Top: Albacore tunaPeak season- Albacore tuna 30
- Cabezon 30
- California halibut 30
10 kt NNWL 3:40 AM · 0.4 ftH 10:19 AM · 4.7 ft
- Greenwood Cove30
Bay · 0.8 mi
Top: Albacore tunaPeak season- Albacore tuna 30
- Cabezon 30
- California halibut 30
10 kt NNWL 3:40 AM · 0.4 ftH 10:19 AM · 4.7 ft
- Whitesboro Cove30
Bay · 5.7 mi
Top: Albacore tunaPeak season- Albacore tuna 30
- Cabezon 30
- California halibut 30
10 kt NNWL 3:40 AM · 0.4 ftH 10:19 AM · 4.7 ft
Scores and forecasts are for planning only and can be wrong. Conditions on the water change fast; check the marine forecast before you go. Regulations change during the season, so confirm limits and closures with CDFW before you keep a fish.