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Leopard sharkRetention openSpecies here · tap to switch
Best score today · 4 PM · Leopard shark
- Now
- 307 PM PST
- Best window
- 8 PM-12 AMEbb tide
- Tide now
- High4.2 ft
Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine
Notify me when Black Point scores 75+
Checked every morning against the 14-day forecast. Free by push and email.
14-day forecast
Best days to fish
24-hour conditions · rolling from now
Conditions · 7 PM · now
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS + Open-Meteo Marine
78Tide: High slackCurrent: 0.2 knWind & pressure
ECMWF
100Wind: 6 kt NPressure: SteadyWater temp & sky
NDBC + Open-Meteo Marine
58Seas over the limit · capped at 30Water temp: 67°F, primeLight: NightSolunar: Near a majorSeas: 6.9 ftSeason & habitat · Leopard shark
Species seasonality
30Off season · capped at 35Season: Off seasonHabitat: Poor fitDepth: In rangeRegulations: Retention open
Current regulations
What you can keep here today
Central Groundfish Management Area
Leopard shark
Retention open- Daily limit
- 3 per day
- Possession
- Not published
- Size
- Minimum 36 in, total length
- Season
- No closed season on file
- Annual quota
- Not published
- Other
- Closed in the Groundfish Exclusion Areas off southern California.
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))
- 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 today
Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed
When Leopard shark is best here
Out of season for Leopard shark · shoulder season starts in 17 weeks
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- This week
Spot profile
Black Point
- Depth
- 7-30 ftNearest water
- Structure
- Point · Outer · ExposedPoint · slope
- Season
- Off seasonLeopard shark
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 Black Point
Black Point is a cape in Monterey Bay, California. Depth in the nearest water is 7-30 ft, with a slope. Its profile reads point, outer water and exposed.
Waterlands scores 9 species here; the best right now are lingcod, surfperch and rockfish. It is peak season now for lingcod and kelp greenling, and shoulder season for surfperch, rockfish, cabezon and striped bass. Lingcod peak from April through May and from October through November. Surfperch peak in May and from July through September. Rockfish peak from May through September.
Tackle & technique
- Leopard shark
- Leopard sharks cruise shallow mudflats, sloughs and channel edges in bays, most often in less than 15 feet of water, and follow the flooding tide onto the flats to feed on crabs, worms, clams and small fish. Anchor or fish from shore or a pier with a sliding sinker rig and a chunk of squid, mackerel or ghost shrimp on the bottom. The bite is often better into the evening and at night.
- 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.
- 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.
Nearby spots
Other spots within an easy run
- Soquel Point50
Cape · 1.0 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 50
- Surfperch 44
- Rockfish 40
6 kt NL 12:49 AM · 0.8 ftH 7:25 AM · 5.2 ft
- Santa Cruz Anchorage50
Bay · 1.1 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 50
- Surfperch 50
- Rockfish 40
6 kt NL 12:49 AM · 0.8 ftH 7:25 AM · 5.2 ft
- Pleasure Point50
Cape · 1.3 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 50
- Surfperch 44
- Rockfish 40
6 kt NL 12:49 AM · 0.8 ftH 7:25 AM · 5.2 ft
- Steamer Lane50
Channel · 1.8 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 50
- Surfperch 44
- Rockfish 35
6 kt NL 12:49 AM · 0.8 ftH 7:25 AM · 5.2 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.
