Waterlands

UPDATEDAUTO-REFRESH 5 MIN

LingcodRetention open

Cape · California

Cooper Point

36.25°N · 121.84°W · Cape · Monterey Bay

LOADING MAP

Best score today · 7 PM · Lingcod

82/100Great
Now
493 PM PDT
Best window
6-9 PMEbb tide
Tide now
Flooding4.5 ft ▲

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

Notify me when Cooper Point scores 75+

Checked every morning against the 14-day forecast. Free by push and email.

Sign in to set an alert

24-hour conditions

Monday, Sep 21 · 9 PM

Time9P
Score60Good
Tide4.3 ft ▼Ebbing
Current0.4 knmodeled · toward WSW
Wind3 kn NNWgusts 7 · steady
Sea stateRough4.5 ft · 9 s
Air temp60°Mild
WeatherClear6% cloud
Water61°FBias corrected

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

Central Groundfish Management Area

IN EFFECT NOW

Lingcod

Retention open
Daily limit
2 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 22 in, total length
Season
Apr 1 to Dec 31, 2026
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from groundfish seasons and depth limits. A descending device must be aboard when fishing from a boat.

From CDFW Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations (updated June 23, 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))
  • Leopard shark Retention open (3 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)

Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed

When Lingcod is best here

Shoulder season for Lingcod · 1 more week at shoulder

Lingcod season by week of the year. Shoulder season for Lingcod · 1 more week at shoulder.
  • Peak
  • Shoulder
  • Off
  • This week

Lingcod in California

Spot profile

Cooper Point

Depth
25-60 ft
Structure
Point · Outer · Exposed
Season
Shoulder seasonLingcod

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 Cooper Point

Cooper Point is a cape in Monterey Bay, California. Depth is 25-60 ft. Its profile reads point, outer water and exposed.

Waterlands scores 11 species here; the best right now are cabezon, surfperch and rockfish. It is peak season now for cabezon, surfperch, rockfish and striped bass, and shoulder season for Chinook salmon, kelp greenling, Pacific halibut and lingcod. Cabezon peak from May through September. Surfperch peak in May and from July through September. Rockfish peak from May through September.

Tackle & technique

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.
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.
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

  • Molera Point

    Cape · 2.4 mi

    62
    Top: CabezonPeak season
    • Cabezon 62
    • Surfperch 59
    • Rockfish 58

    8 kt NWH 4:03 PM · 4.6 ftL 12:15 AM · 0.8 ft

  • Grimes Point

    Cape · 6.4 mi

    61
    Top: CabezonPeak season
    • Cabezon 61
    • Pacific halibut 60
    • Surfperch 59

    8 kt NWH 3:43 PM · 4.6 ftL 12:10 AM · 0.8 ft

  • Sur Rock

    Bar · 3.6 mi

    51
    Top: CabezonPeak season
    • Cabezon 51
    • Rockfish 50
    • Pacific halibut 49

    21 kt NNWH 4:03 PM · 4.6 ftL 12:15 AM · 0.8 ft

  • Point Sur

    Cape · 5.1 mi

    50
    Top: CabezonPeak season
    • Cabezon 50
    • Pacific halibut 49
    • Surfperch 49

    21 kt NNWH 4:03 PM · 4.6 ftL 12:15 AM · 0.8 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.