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Leopard sharkRetention openSpecies here · tap to switch
Best score today · 7 AM · Leopard shark
- Now
- 304 AM PDT
- Best window
- 6-10 AMFlood tide
- Tide now
- Flooding1.1 ft ▲
Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine
Notify me when Carmel Bay 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 · 4 AM · now
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS + Open-Meteo Marine
77Tide: FloodingCurrent: 0.2 knWind & pressure
ECMWF
100Wind: 6 kt NWPressure: SteadyWater temp & sky
NDBC + Open-Meteo Marine
56Seas over the limit · capped at 30Water temp: 62°F, primeLight: NightSolunar: Between periodsSeas: 4.7 ftSeason & habitat · Leopard shark
Species seasonality
50Season: ShoulderHabitat: Usable structureDepth: Out of 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 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))
- 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 Leopard shark is best here
Shoulder season for Leopard shark · 5 more weeks at shoulder
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- This week
Spot profile
Carmel Bay
- Depth
- 200-450 ftDrop-off
- Structure
- Bay · Outer · ExposedBay · drop-off
- Season
- Shoulder 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 Carmel Bay
Carmel Bay is a bay in Monterey Bay, California. Depth is 200-450 ft, with a drop-off. Its profile reads bay, outer water and exposed.
Waterlands scores 11 species here; the best right now are rockfish, lingcod and surfperch. It is peak season now for rockfish, surfperch, striped bass and cabezon, and shoulder season for lingcod, Pacific halibut, Chinook salmon and white seabass. Rockfish peak from May through September. Lingcod peak from April through May and from October through November. Surfperch peak in May and from July 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.
- 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.
Nearby spots
Other spots within an easy run
- Pescadero Point67
Cape · 1.2 mi
Top: Striped bassPeak season- Striped bass 67
- Rockfish 65
- Cabezon 61
6 kt NWH 9:03 AM · 3.8 ftL 1:38 PM · 2.9 ft
- Pinnacle Point67
Cape · 1.3 mi
Top: Striped bassPeak season- Striped bass 67
- Rockfish 65
- Cabezon 61
6 kt NWH 9:03 AM · 3.8 ftL 1:38 PM · 2.9 ft
- North Point67
Cape · 1.3 mi
Top: Striped bassPeak season- Striped bass 67
- Rockfish 65
- Cabezon 61
6 kt NWH 9:03 AM · 3.8 ftL 1:38 PM · 2.9 ft
- The Pinnacles65
Bar · 1.2 mi
Top: RockfishPeak season- Rockfish 65
- Lingcod 58
- Striped bass 57
6 kt NWH 9:03 AM · 3.8 ftL 1:38 PM · 2.9 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.