Waterlands

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CabezonRetention open

Cape · California

Cypress Point

36.58°N · 121.98°W · Cape · Monterey Bay

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Best score today · 7 PM · Cabezon

77/100Great
Now
727 AM PDT
Best window
6-11 PMEbb tide
Tide now
High3.4 ft

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

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24-hour conditions · rolling from now

Conditions · 7 AM · now

Time7ANOW
Score72Great
Tide3.4 ftHigh
Current0.6 knmodeled · toward NNW
Wind8 kn NNEgusts 11 · steady
Sea stateRough4.1 ft · 10 s
Air temp59°Mild
WeatherPartly cloudy33% cloud
Water61°FObserved

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

Central Groundfish Management Area

IN EFFECT NOW

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 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)
  • 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

Peak season for Cabezon · 1 more week at peak

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

Cabezon in California

Spot profile

Cypress Point

Depth
3-80 ftNearest water
Structure
Point · Outer · ExposedPoint · drop-off
Season
Peak seasonCabezon

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 Cypress Point

Cypress Point is a cape in Monterey Bay, California. Depth in the nearest water is 3-80 ft, with a drop-off. Its profile reads point, outer water and exposed.

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

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.
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.
Chinook salmon
Chinook hold near bait off points, kelp edges and tide rips, usually suspended 20 to 120 feet down and deeper as the sun gets higher. Troll slowly, under 2 mph, with a flasher and herring, hoochie or spoon on a downrigger, or mooch a plug-cut herring at the depth where the sounder shows bait. Winter blackmouth and feeder kings sit within 10 feet of the bottom in 60 to 200 feet.

Nearby spots

Other spots within an easy run

  • Stillwater Cove

    Bay · 2.3 mi

    74
    Top: SurfperchPeak season
    • Surfperch 74
    • Cabezon 72
    • California halibut 66

    8 kt NNEH 7:14 AM · 3.4 ftL 9:18 AM · 3.5 ft

  • Sunset Point

    Cape · 0.8 mi

    72
    Top: CabezonPeak season
    • Cabezon 72
    • Chinook salmon 69
    • Surfperch 68

    8 kt NNEH 7:14 AM · 3.4 ftL 9:18 AM · 3.5 ft

  • Pescadero Point

    Cape · 2.0 mi

    72
    Top: CabezonPeak season
    • Cabezon 72
    • Surfperch 70
    • Chinook salmon 69

    8 kt NNEH 7:14 AM · 3.4 ftL 9:18 AM · 3.5 ft

  • The Pinnacles

    Bar · 1.7 mi

    66
    Top: CabezonPeak season
    • Cabezon 66
    • Pacific halibut 64
    • Rockfish 64

    8 kt NNEH 7:14 AM · 3.4 ftL 9:18 AM · 3.5 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.