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Kelp greenlingRetention openSpecies here · tap to switch
Best score today · 9 AM · Kelp greenling
- Now
- 308 AM PST
- Best window
- 8-11 AMEbb tide
- Tide now
- Ebbing5.8 ft ▼
Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine
Notify me when Outer Reach 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
Thursday, Nov 5 · 8 AM
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS
100Tide: FloodingCurrent: 0.6 kn floodWind & pressure
ECMWF
97Wind: 4 kt NEPressure: RisingWater temp & sky
NDBC + Open-Meteo Marine
55Water temp: 57°F, warmLight: DawnSolunar: Near a majorSeas: 6.0 ftSeason & habitat · Kelp greenling
Species seasonality
75Season: PeakHabitat: Poor fitDepth: In range
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
Peak season for Kelp greenling · 4 more weeks at peak
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- This week
Spot profile
Outer Reach
- Depth
- 10-35 ft
- Structure
- Channel · Inner · Protected
- Season
- Peak 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 Outer Reach
Outer Reach is a channel in Humboldt Bay, California. Depth is 10-35 ft. Its profile reads channel, inner water and protected.
Waterlands scores 9 species here; the best right now are lingcod, surfperch and rockfish. It is peak season now for lingcod and kelp greenling, and shoulder season for surfperch, rockfish, cabezon and striped bass. Lingcod peak from April through May and from October through November. Surfperch peak in May and from July through September. Rockfish peak from May through September.
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.
- 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.
- 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
- Samoa Channel64
Channel · 0.4 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 64
- Surfperch 52
- Rockfish 48
4 kt SEL 12:02 PM · 3.3 ftH 5:57 PM · 6.3 ft
- Eureka Channel64
Channel · 0.6 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 64
- Surfperch 52
- Rockfish 48
4 kt SEL 12:02 PM · 3.3 ftH 5:57 PM · 6.3 ft
- Inner Reach64
Channel · 1.3 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 64
- Surfperch 52
- Rockfish 48
4 kt SEL 12:02 PM · 3.3 ftH 5:57 PM · 6.3 ft
- Arcata Channel63
Channel · 2.4 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 63
- Surfperch 52
- Rockfish 48
4 kt SEL 12:08 PM · 3.3 ftH 6:04 PM · 6.4 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.