Waterlands

UPDATEDAUTO-REFRESH 5 MIN

Kelp greenlingRetention open

Cape · California

Sharp Point

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

LOADING MAP

Best score today · 6 AM · Kelp greenling

75/100Great
Now
715 AM PST
Best window
5-7 AMEbb tide
Tide now
High5.4 ft

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

Notify me when Sharp Point scores 75+

Checked every morning against the 14-day forecast. Free by push and email.

Sign in to set an alert

24-hour conditions

Friday, Nov 13 · 12 AM

Time12A
Score35Fair
Tide3.6 ft ▲Flooding
Wind14 kn SEgusts 32 · steady
Air temp50°Cool
WeatherOvercast68% chance of rain
Water58°FPersisted

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

Northern Groundfish Management Area

IN EFFECT NOW

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

Kelp greenling season by week of the year. Peak season for Kelp greenling · 4 more weeks at peak.
  • Peak
  • Shoulder
  • Off
  • This week

Kelp greenling in California →

Spot profile

Sharp Point

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

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.
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.
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

    72
    Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season
    • Kelp greenling 72
    • Cabezon 63
    • Lingcod 60

    8 kt NL 10:14 AM · 3.5 ftH 3:54 PM · 6.2 ft

  • Abalone Point

    Cape · 7.5 mi

    72
    Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season
    • Kelp greenling 72
    • Cabezon 63
    • Lingcod 60

    8 kt NL 10:14 AM · 3.5 ftH 3:54 PM · 6.2 ft

  • Lookout Point

    Cape · 3.1 mi

    71
    Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season
    • Kelp greenling 71
    • Cabezon 61
    • Lingcod 58

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

  • Mussel Point

    Cape · 6.1 mi

    71
    Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season
    • Kelp greenling 71
    • Cabezon 61
    • Lingcod 58

    2 kt EL 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.