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Kelp greenlingRetention openCape · California
Punta Gorda
40.26°N · 124.36°W · Cape · Coastal waters from Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA out 10 nm
Species here · tap to switch
Best score today · 11 PM · Kelp greenling
- Now
- 301 AM PDT
- Best window
- 11 PM-12 AMEbb tide
- Tide now
- Ebbing2.3 ft ▼
Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine
Notify me when Punta Gorda 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 · 1 AM · now
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS + Open-Meteo Marine
44Tide: EbbingCurrent: 0.4 knWind & pressure
ECMWF
70Wind: 6 kt NPressure: SteadyWater temp & sky
NDBC + Open-Meteo Marine
34Seas over the limit · capped at 30Water temp: 56°F, primeLight: NightSolunar: Between periodsSeas: 7.9 ftSeason & habitat · Kelp greenling
Species seasonality
72Season: ShoulderHabitat: Usable structureDepth: In rangeRegulations: Retention open
Current regulations
What you can keep here today
Northern Groundfish Management Area
Kelp greenling
Retention open- Daily limit
- 10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined)
- Possession
- Not published
- Size
- No minimum size limit.
- 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. 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.
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))
- Leopard shark Retention open (3 per day)
- Lingcod Retention open (2 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 Kelp greenling is best here
Shoulder season for Kelp greenling · 1 more week at shoulder
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- This week
Spot profile
Punta Gorda
- Depth
- 7-30 ft
- Structure
- Point · Outer · Exposed
- Season
- Shoulder seasonKelp greenling
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 Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda is a cape in Coastal waters from Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena CA out 10 nm, California. Depth is 7-30 ft. Its profile reads point, outer water and 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
- Kelp greenling
- Kelp greenling are solitary bottom fish of rocky shores, jetties and kelp beds, usually in water shallower than 60 feet. Use a small number 4 to 6 hook with sand shrimp or marine worms, or a small lead-head grub, dropped to the bottom and reeled up slightly. Larger fish show in October and November when they spawn close to shore, and mornings tend to fish best.
- 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
- Rodgers Break60
Bar · 5.2 mi
Top: RockfishPeak season- Rockfish 60
- Lingcod 56
- Surfperch 42
6 kt NL 3:54 AM · 0.5 ftH 10:28 AM · 5.0 ft
- Cape Mendocino54
Cape · 13 mi
Top: RockfishPeak season- Rockfish 54
- Lingcod 49
- Surfperch 40
17 kt NL 4:43 AM · 0.5 ftH 11:09 AM · 5.0 ft
- Blunts Reef30
Bar · 14 mi
Top: CabezonPeak season- Cabezon 30
- California halibut 30
- Kelp greenling 30
17 kt NL 4:43 AM · 0.5 ftH 11:09 AM · 5.0 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.