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Kelp greenlingRetention openSpecies here · tap to switch
Best score today · 4 PM · Kelp greenling
- Now
- 616 AM PST
- Best window
- 1-11 PMEbb tide
- Tide now
- High4.3 ft
Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine
Notify me when Mitchell Cove 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
Tuesday, Nov 3 · 7 AM
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS + Open-Meteo Marine
85Tide: EbbingCurrent: WeakWind & pressure
ECMWF
100Wind: 4 kt SPressure: SteadyWater temp & sky
NDBC + Open-Meteo Marine
37Water temp: 66°F, hotLight: DawnSolunar: Major periodSeas: 6.0 ftSeason & habitat · Kelp greenling
Species seasonality
90Season: PeakHabitat: Usable structureDepth: In range
Current regulations
What you can keep here today
Central Groundfish Management Area
Kelp greenling
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. CDFW limits and seasons cover kelp and rock greenlings together.
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 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))
- 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 Kelp greenling is best here
Peak season for Kelp greenling · 4 more weeks at peak
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- This week
Spot profile
Mitchell Cove
- Depth
- Up to 30 ftSlope
- Structure
- Bay · Outer · ExposedBay · slope
- Season
- Peak seasonKelp greenling
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 Mitchell Cove
Mitchell Cove is a bay in Monterey Bay, California. Depth is up to 30 ft, with a slope. Its profile reads bay, outer water and exposed.
Waterlands scores 9 species here; the best right now are kelp greenling, surfperch and cabezon. It is peak season now for kelp greenling and lingcod, and shoulder season for surfperch, cabezon, striped bass and rockfish. Kelp greenling peak from October through November. Surfperch peak in May and from July through September. Cabezon peak from May through September.
Tackle & technique
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Nearby spots
Other spots within an easy run
- Santa Cruz Anchorage64
Bay · 1.6 mi
Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season- Kelp greenling 64
- Surfperch 57
- Lingcod 55
3 kt NNEL 10:43 AM · 2.8 ftH 4:12 PM · 4.6 ft
- Black Point62
Cape · 2.7 mi
Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season- Kelp greenling 62
- Lingcod 55
- Cabezon 52
3 kt NNEL 10:43 AM · 2.8 ftH 4:12 PM · 4.6 ft
- Soquel Point62
Cape · 3.6 mi
Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season- Kelp greenling 62
- Lingcod 55
- Cabezon 52
3 kt NNEL 10:43 AM · 2.8 ftH 4:12 PM · 4.6 ft
- Steamer Lane56
Channel · 0.9 mi
Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season- Kelp greenling 56
- Lingcod 55
- Surfperch 51
3 kt NNEL 10:43 AM · 2.8 ftH 4:12 PM · 4.6 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.