Waterlands

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Leopard sharkRetention open

Cape · California

Sharp Point

41.24°N · 124.11°W · Cape · Humboldt Bay

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Best score today · 6 AM · Leopard shark

75/100Great
Now
304 AM PST
Best window
5-7 AMEbb tide
Tide now
Flooding5.0 ft ▲

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

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24-hour conditions · rolling from now

Conditions · 4 AM · now

Time4ANOW
Score30Fair
Tide5.0 ft ▲Flooding
Current0.2 knmodeled · toward NNE
Wind1 kn ENEgusts 7 · steady
Sea stateModerate3.6 ft · 11 s
Air temp43°Cold
WeatherClear17% cloud
Water55°FObserved

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

Northern Groundfish Management Area

IN EFFECT NOW

Leopard shark

Retention open
Daily limit
3 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 36 in, total length
Season
No closed season on file
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Closed in the Groundfish Exclusion Areas off southern California.

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))
  • 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))
  • 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 Leopard shark is best here

Out of season for Leopard shark · shoulder season starts in 18 weeks

Leopard shark season by week of the year. Out of season for Leopard shark · shoulder season starts in 18 weeks.
  • Peak
  • Shoulder
  • Off
  • This week

Leopard shark in California →

Spot profile

Sharp Point

Depth
15-40 ft
Structure
Point · Outer · Exposed
Season
Off seasonLeopard shark

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 Sharp Point

Sharp Point is a cape in Humboldt Bay, California. Depth is 15-40 ft. Its profile reads point, outer water and exposed.

Waterlands scores 9 species here; the best right now are kelp greenling, lingcod and striped bass. It is peak season now for kelp greenling and lingcod, and shoulder season for striped bass, cabezon, rockfish and surfperch. Kelp greenling peak from October through November. Lingcod peak from April through May and from October through November. Striped bass peak from June through July and from September through October.

Tackle & technique

Leopard shark
Leopard sharks cruise shallow mudflats, sloughs and channel edges in bays, most often in less than 15 feet of water, and follow the flooding tide onto the flats to feed on crabs, worms, clams and small fish. Anchor or fish from shore or a pier with a sliding sinker rig and a chunk of squid, mackerel or ghost shrimp on the bottom. The bite is often better into the evening and at night.
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.

Nearby spots

Other spots within an easy run

  • Rocky Point

    Cape · 7.3 mi

    70
    Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season
    • Kelp greenling 70
    • Lingcod 68
    • Striped bass 63

    9 kt NH 5:14 AM · 5.4 ftL 10:14 AM · 3.5 ft

  • Abalone Point

    Cape · 7.5 mi

    70
    Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season
    • Kelp greenling 70
    • Lingcod 68
    • Striped bass 63

    9 kt NH 5:14 AM · 5.4 ftL 10:14 AM · 3.5 ft

  • Lookout Point

    Cape · 3.1 mi

    68
    Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season
    • Kelp greenling 68
    • Lingcod 66
    • Striped bass 60

    1 kt ENEH 5:14 AM · 5.4 ftL 10:14 AM · 3.5 ft

  • Mussel Point

    Cape · 6.1 mi

    68
    Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season
    • Kelp greenling 68
    • Lingcod 66
    • Striped bass 60

    1 kt ENEH 5:14 AM · 5.4 ftL 10:14 AM · 3.5 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.