Waterlands

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RockfishRetention open

Cape · California

Indian Point

32.69°N · 117.14°W · Cape · Inner waters from Point Mugu to San Mateo Pt. CA including Santa Catalina and Anacapa Islands

LOADING MAP

Best score today · 7 AM · Rockfish

67/100Great
Now
553 PM PDT
Best window
4-8 PMFlood tide
Tide now
Flooding2.1 ft ▲

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

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24-hour conditions · rolling from now

Conditions · 3 PM · now

Time3PNOW
Score55Good
Tide2.1 ft ▲Flooding
CurrentSlack0.0 kn
Wind7 kn WSWgusts 18 · steady
Sea stateModerate2.7 ft · 10 s
Air temp78°Warm
WeatherClear12% cloud
Water78°FObserved

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

Southern Groundfish Management Area

IN EFFECT NOW

Rockfish(nearshore)

Retention open
Daily limit
10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined)
Possession
Not published
Size
No minimum size limit.
Season
Jul 1 to Sep 30, 2026
Annual quota
Not published
Changes
Closed from Oct 1
Other
Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from groundfish seasons and depth limits. Closed in the Groundfish Exclusion Areas (Section 27.50). Within the 10-fish RCG limit: no more than 1 copper rockfish, 2 canary rockfish, and 2 vermilion/sunset rockfish. RCG complex: all rockfish, cabezon, and kelp and rock greenlings combined. Boat-based take only shoreward of the 50-fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area line. A descending device must be aboard when fishing from a boat. Yelloweye, cowcod, bronzespotted and quillback rockfish may not be kept.

From CDFW Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations (updated June 23, 2026), read Sep 13

Other species here

  • Albacore tuna Retention open (10 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 (5 per day)
  • Chinook salmon Retention open (2 per day (2 salmon combined))
  • 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)
  • 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)

Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed

When Rockfish is best here

Shoulder season for Rockfish · 9 more weeks at shoulder

Rockfish season by week of the year. Shoulder season for Rockfish · 9 more weeks at shoulder.
  • Peak
  • Shoulder
  • Off
  • This week

Rockfish in California

Spot profile

Indian Point

Depth
6-35 ft
Structure
Point · Inner · Semi-exposed
Season
Shoulder seasonRockfish

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 Indian Point

Indian Point is a cape in Inner waters from Point Mugu to San Mateo Pt. CA including Santa Catalina and Anacapa Islands, California. Depth is 6-35 ft. Its profile reads point, inner water and semi-exposed.

Waterlands scores 9 species here; the best right now are lingcod, rockfish and California halibut. It is peak season now for California halibut, California yellowtail and leopard shark, and shoulder season for lingcod, rockfish, kelp bass and surfperch. Lingcod peak in April and from November through December. Rockfish peak from April through June. California halibut peak from May through September.

Tackle & technique

Rockfish
Rockfish live on rocky reefs, pinnacles and kelp from the shoreline out past 300 feet, with black and blue rockfish schooling mid-water over shallow reefs and copper, quillback, yelloweye and vermilion sitting tight to deeper bottom. Drift over the structure with a shrimp fly above a lead-head grub or metal jig, or a squid strip, and reel up a few cranks after touching bottom to cut snags. Use a descending device to release any fish brought up from deep water.
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.
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.

Nearby spots

Other spots within an easy run

  • South San Diego Bay

    Bay · 2.0 mi

    58
    Top: California halibutPeak season
    • California halibut 58
    • Surfperch 52
    • Lingcod 49

    7 kt WSWH 8:00 PM · 6.0 ftL 2:42 AM · 0.2 ft

  • San Diego Bay

    Bay · 2.8 mi

    58
    Top: California halibutPeak season
    • California halibut 58
    • Surfperch 52
    • Lingcod 49

    7 kt WSWH 8:00 PM · 6.0 ftL 2:42 AM · 0.2 ft

  • North San Diego Bay

    Bay · 3.6 mi

    57
    Top: California halibutPeak season
    • California halibut 57
    • Surfperch 51
    • Lingcod 49

    7 kt WSWH 7:56 PM · 5.8 ftL 2:32 AM · 0.2 ft

  • Silver Strand

    Cape · 2.0 mi

    55
    Top: LingcodShoulder season
    • Lingcod 55
    • Rockfish 55
    • California halibut 50

    7 kt WSWH 8:00 PM · 6.0 ftL 2:42 AM · 0.2 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.