Waterlands

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SurfperchRetention open

Bar · California

Aumentos Rock

36.63°N · 121.92°W · Bar · Monterey Bay

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Best score today · 8 AM · Surfperch

70/100Great
Now
301 PM PST
Best window
1 PM-12 AMMoving water
Tide now
Flooding2.3 ft ▲

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

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24-hour conditions

Thursday, Nov 5 · 4 PM

Time4P
Score48Good
Tide1.6 ft ▲Flooding
Current0.2 knmodeled · toward SE
Wind4 kn WNWgusts 16 · steady
Sea stateRough6.6 ft · 11 s
Air temp64°Mild
WeatherClear0% cloud
Water67°FBias corrected

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)

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

Aumentos Rock

Depth
20-80 ftDrop-off
Structure
Ledge · Outer · ExposedLedge · 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 Aumentos Rock

Aumentos Rock is a bar in Monterey Bay, California. Depth is 20-80 ft, with a drop-off. Its profile reads ledge, outer water and exposed.

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

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.
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.
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

  • Lucas Point

    Cape · 0.3 mi

    30
    Top: CabezonShoulder season
    • Cabezon 30
    • California halibut 30
    • Kelp greenling 30

    2 kt WH 5:40 PM · 4.5 ftL 12:17 AM · 0.4 ft

  • Lovers Point

    Cape · 0.6 mi

    30
    Top: CabezonShoulder season
    • Cabezon 30
    • California halibut 30
    • Kelp greenling 30

    2 kt WH 5:40 PM · 4.5 ftL 12:17 AM · 0.4 ft

  • Point Pinos

    Cape · 0.7 mi

    30
    Top: CabezonShoulder season
    • Cabezon 30
    • California halibut 30
    • Kelp greenling 30

    2 kt WH 5:40 PM · 4.5 ftL 12:17 AM · 0.4 ft

  • Point Alones

    Cape · 1.5 mi

    30
    Top: CabezonShoulder season
    • Cabezon 30
    • California halibut 30
    • Kelp greenling 30

    18 kt SH 5:40 PM · 4.5 ftL 12:17 AM · 0.4 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.