Waterlands

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CabezonRetention open

Cape · California

Sharp Point

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

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Best score today · 6 AM · Cabezon

75/100Great
Now
594 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

Monday, Nov 2 · 9 AM

Time9A
Score30Fair
Tide4.4 ft ▼Ebbing
Current0.1 knmodeled · toward N
Wind4 kn ESEgusts 10 · steady
Sea stateVery rough7.0 ft · 17 s
Air temp50°Cool
WeatherOvercast98% cloud
Water55°FBias corrected

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

Northern Groundfish Management Area

IN EFFECT NOW

Cabezon

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.

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))
  • 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)
  • 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 Cabezon is best here

Shoulder season for Cabezon · 4 more weeks at shoulder

Cabezon season by week of the year. Shoulder season for Cabezon · 4 more weeks at shoulder.
  • Peak
  • Shoulder
  • Off
  • This week

Cabezon in California →

Spot profile

Sharp Point

Depth
15-40 ft
Structure
Point · Outer · Exposed
Season
Shoulder seasonCabezon

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

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.
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.