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CabezonRetention openSpecies here · tap to switch
Best score today · 12 AM · Cabezon
- Now
- 4611 AM PST
- Best window
- 4-10 PMEbb tide
- Tide now
- Flooding3.6 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.
14-day forecast
Best days to fish
24-hour conditions
Saturday, Nov 7 · 12 AM
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS + Open-Meteo Marine
44Tide: EbbingCurrent: 0.9 knWind & pressure
ECMWF
100Wind: 4 kt ENEPressure: SteadyWater temp & sky
NDBC + Open-Meteo Marine
2Seas over the limit · capped at 30Water temp: 67°F, hotLight: NightSolunar: Between periodsSeas: 8.9 ftSeason & habitat · Cabezon
Species seasonality
65Season: ShoulderHabitat: Usable structureDepth: In range
Current regulations
What you can keep here today
Central Groundfish Management Area
Cabezon
Retention open- Daily limit
- 10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined)
- Possession
- Not published
- Size
- No minimum size limit.
- 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. RCG complex: all rockfish, cabezon, and kelp and rock greenlings combined. 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))
- 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)
- 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 Cabezon is best here
Shoulder season for Cabezon · 4 more weeks at shoulder
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- This week
Spot profile
Cooper Point
- Depth
- 25-60 ft
- Structure
- Point · Outer · Exposed
- Season
- Shoulder seasonCabezon
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 9 species here; the best right now are lingcod, kelp greenling and striped bass. It is peak season now for lingcod and kelp greenling, and shoulder season for striped bass, rockfish, cabezon and surfperch. Lingcod peak from April through May and from October through November. Kelp greenling peak from October through November. Striped bass peak from June through July and from September through October.
Tackle & technique
- 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.
- 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
- Grimes Point62
Cape · 6.4 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 62
- Kelp greenling 56
- Striped bass 53
7 kt NWH 2:32 PM · 4.9 ftL 10:21 PM · -0.2 ft
- Molera Point60
Cape · 2.4 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 60
- Kelp greenling 56
- Striped bass 53
7 kt NWH 2:49 PM · 4.9 ftL 10:27 PM · -0.2 ft
- Sur Rock58
Bar · 3.6 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 58
- Kelp greenling 50
- Rockfish 48
15 kt NNWH 2:49 PM · 4.9 ftL 10:27 PM · -0.2 ft
- Point Sur56
Cape · 5.1 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 56
- Kelp greenling 49
- Striped bass 47
15 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.