Waterlands

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California halibutRetention open

Cape · California

Millerton Point

38.11°N · 122.85°W · Cape · Coastal Waters from Point Arena to Point Reyes California out to 10 nm

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Best score today · 7 PM · California halibut

71/100Great
Now
3011 AM PDT
Best window
7-10 PMFlood tide
Tide now
Flooding4.6 ft ▲

Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine

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24-hour conditions · rolling from now

Conditions · 11 AM · now

Time11ANOW
Score30Fair
Tide4.6 ft ▲Flooding
Current0.3 knmodeled · toward NW
Wind2 kn Wgusts 9 · steady
Sea stateRough6.0 ft · 9 s
Air temp70°Warm
WeatherClear4% cloud
Water57°FObserved

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

San Francisco Groundfish Management Area

IN EFFECT NOW

California halibut

Retention open
Daily limit
2 per day
Possession
2 in possession
Size
Minimum 22 in, total length
Season
No closed season on file
Annual quota
Not published

From CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 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))
  • 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)
  • 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)

Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed

When California halibut is best here

Shoulder season for California halibut · 5 more weeks at shoulder

California halibut season by week of the year. Shoulder season for California halibut · 5 more weeks at shoulder.
  • Peak
  • Shoulder
  • Off
  • This week

California halibut in California

Spot profile

Millerton Point

Depth
4-5 ftNearest water
Structure
Point · Inner · Protected
Season
Shoulder seasonCalifornia halibut

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 Millerton Point

Millerton Point is a cape in Coastal Waters from Point Arena to Point Reyes California out to 10 nm. Depth in the nearest water is 4-5 ft. Its profile reads point, inner water and protected.

Waterlands scores 12 species here; the best right now are cabezon, surfperch and kelp greenling. It is peak season now for cabezon, surfperch, rockfish and striped bass, and shoulder season for kelp greenling, lingcod, Pacific halibut and white seabass. Cabezon peak from May through September. Surfperch peak in May and from July through September. Kelp greenling peak from October through November.

Tackle & technique

California halibut
California halibut are ambush feeders that lie on sand or mud bottom, mostly in water shallower than 100 feet and often inside bays, harbors and estuaries. Drift or slow-troll a live anchovy or sardine on a sliding sinker rig, or bounce a swimbait along the bottom over flats, channel edges and sandy areas near structure. Keep the bait within a foot or two of the bottom and give a fish time to turn the bait before setting the hook.
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.
Surfperch
Surfperch feed in the troughs and holes within about 30 feet of the waterline, just outside the first set of breakers. Cast a two-hook high-low or Carolina rig with size 4 to 2 hooks and a 1 to 6 ounce pyramid sinker and let the surge work it through the trough. Fish the incoming tide on beaches with a steep drop, and switch to jetties, pilings and bays when the surf is too big.

Nearby spots

Other spots within an easy run

  • Willow Point

    Cape · 1.3 mi

    67
    Top: CabezonPeak season
    • Cabezon 67
    • Surfperch 66
    • Kelp greenling 61

    2 kt WH 11:18 AM · 4.6 ftL 5:14 PM · 2.0 ft

  • Duck Cove

    Bay · 3.6 mi

    66
    Top: SurfperchPeak season
    • Surfperch 66
    • Cabezon 62
    • Kelp greenling 61

    3 kt WNWH 11:15 AM · 4.4 ftL 6:05 PM · 1.8 ft

  • Home Bay

    Bay · 5.0 mi

    66
    Top: CabezonPeak season
    • Cabezon 66
    • Surfperch 62
    • Kelp greenling 60

    2 kt WH 11:18 AM · 4.6 ftL 5:14 PM · 2.0 ft

  • Tomales Bay

    Bay · 5.3 mi

    66
    Top: SurfperchPeak season
    • Surfperch 66
    • Cabezon 62
    • Kelp greenling 61

    3 kt WNWH 11:27 AM · 4.3 ftL 5:22 PM · 2.1 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.