Waterlands

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California halibutRetention open

Cape · California

Sharp Point

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

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Best score today · 6 AM · California halibut

75/100Great
Now
309 AM PST
Best window
1-7 PMHigh slack
Tide now
Ebbing3.8 ft ▼

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

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24-hour conditions

Tuesday, Nov 10 · 7 AM

Time7A
Score30Fair
Tide3.9 ft ▲Flooding
Current0.5 knmodeled · toward NNE
Wind5 kn SSEgusts 15 · steady
Sea stateRough6.9 ft · 11 s
Air temp53°Cool
WeatherPartly cloudy23% cloud
Water58°FModel

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

Northern 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)

Source: CDFW · synced yesterday

Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed

When California halibut is best here

Out of season for California halibut · shoulder season starts in 22 weeks

California halibut season by week of the year. Out of season for California halibut · shoulder season starts in 22 weeks.
  • Peak
  • Shoulder
  • Off
  • This week

California halibut in California →

Spot profile

Sharp Point

Depth
15-40 ft
Structure
Point · Outer · Exposed
Season
Off 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 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 lingcod, kelp greenling and striped bass. It is peak season now for lingcod and kelp greenling, and shoulder season for striped bass, rockfish, cabezon and surfperch. Lingcod peak from April through May and from October through November. Kelp greenling peak from October through November. Striped bass peak from June through July and from September through October.

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.
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.
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.

Nearby spots

Other spots within an easy run

  • Rocky Point

    Cape · 7.3 mi

    68
    Top: LingcodPeak season
    • Lingcod 68
    • Kelp greenling 63
    • Striped bass 60

    4 kt NNEL 10:14 AM · 3.5 ftH 3:54 PM · 6.2 ft

  • Abalone Point

    Cape · 7.5 mi

    68
    Top: LingcodPeak season
    • Lingcod 68
    • Kelp greenling 63
    • Striped bass 60

    4 kt NNEL 10:14 AM · 3.5 ftH 3:54 PM · 6.2 ft

  • Lookout Point

    Cape · 3.1 mi

    65
    Top: LingcodPeak season
    • Lingcod 65
    • Kelp greenling 60
    • Striped bass 58

    2 kt ESEL 10:14 AM · 3.5 ftH 3:54 PM · 6.2 ft

  • Mussel Point

    Cape · 6.1 mi

    65
    Top: LingcodPeak season
    • Lingcod 65
    • Kelp greenling 60
    • Striped bass 58

    2 kt ESEL 10:14 AM · 3.5 ftH 3:54 PM · 6.2 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.