Waterlands

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SurfperchRetention open

Cape · California

Arrowhead Point

36.56°N · 121.94°W · Cape · Monterey Bay

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Best score today · 12 AM · Surfperch

71/100Great
Now
4412 PM PST
Best window
4-7 PMEbb tide
Tide now
Flooding4.1 ft ▲

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

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24-hour conditions

Thursday, Nov 12 · 3 PM

Time3P
Score40Fair
Tide2.4 ft ▼Ebbing
Wind7 kn NWgusts 22 · steady
Air temp63°Mild
WeatherMostly cloudy40% chance of rain
Water67°FPersisted

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

Central Groundfish Management Area

IN EFFECT NOW

Surfperch

Retention open
Daily limit
20 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 10.5 in, total length. Redtail surfperch only. No minimum size for other surfperch.
Season
No closed season on file
Annual quota
Not published
Other
In San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay, surfperch are closed April 1 through July 31 and the limit is 5 (shiner perch excepted). 20 surfperch in combination, not more than 10 of any one species. Shiner perch have a separate limit of 20.

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
  • 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)
  • 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 Surfperch is best here

Shoulder season for Surfperch · 25 more weeks at shoulder

Surfperch season by week of the year. Shoulder season for Surfperch · 25 more weeks at shoulder.
  • Peak
  • Shoulder
  • Off
  • This week

Surfperch in California →

Spot profile

Arrowhead Point

Depth
5-50 ftDrop-off
Structure
Point · Inner · Semi-exposedPoint · drop-off
Season
Shoulder seasonSurfperch

NOAA NCEI DEM, sampled Sep 14 on a 3.4 m grid. Depths are feet below NAVD 88, not chart datum (MLLW), so they can differ from a chart by a few feet. Not for navigation.

About this spot

Fishing Arrowhead Point

Arrowhead Point is a cape in Monterey Bay, California. Depth is 5-50 ft, with a drop-off. Its profile reads point, inner water and semi-exposed.

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

Tackle & technique

Surfperch
Surfperch feed in the troughs and holes within about 30 feet of the waterline, just outside the first set of breakers. Cast a two-hook high-low or Carolina rig with size 4 to 2 hooks and a 1 to 6 ounce pyramid sinker and let the surge work it through the trough. Fish the incoming tide on beaches with a steep drop, and switch to jetties, pilings and bays when the surf is too big.
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

  • Pescadero Point

    Cape · 0.6 mi

    62
    Top: LingcodPeak season
    • Lingcod 62
    • Kelp greenling 56
    • Rockfish 52

    10 kt NNWH 2:49 PM · 4.9 ftL 10:27 PM · -0.2 ft

  • The Pinnacles

    Bar · 1.6 mi

    62
    Top: LingcodPeak season
    • Lingcod 62
    • Rockfish 52
    • Kelp greenling 50

    10 kt NNWH 2:49 PM · 4.9 ftL 10:27 PM · -0.2 ft

  • Carmel Bay

    Bay · 1.5 mi

    60
    Top: LingcodPeak season
    • Lingcod 60
    • Rockfish 50
    • Surfperch 40

    10 kt NNWH 2:49 PM · 4.9 ftL 10:27 PM · -0.2 ft

  • Stillwater Cove

    Bay · 0.2 mi

    56
    Top: LingcodPeak season
    • Lingcod 56
    • Kelp greenling 55
    • Surfperch 50

    10 kt NNWH 2:49 PM · 4.9 ftL 10:27 PM · -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.