Waterlands

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LingcodRetention open

Cape · California

Point Sur

36.31°N · 121.90°W · Cape · Monterey Bay

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Best score today · 9 AM · Lingcod

75/100Great
Now
589 AM PDT
Best window
9-11 AMEbb tide
Tide now
High3.8 ft

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

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24-hour conditions

Wednesday, Sep 23 · 7 PM

Time7P
Score56Good
Tide4.3 ft ▲Flooding
Current0.3 knmodeled · toward WNW
Wind15 kn NNWgusts 19 · steady
Sea stateRough6.4 ft · 9 s
Air temp63°Mild
WeatherPartly cloudy25% cloud
Water62°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

Point Sur

Depth
15-80 ftNearest water
Structure
Point · Outer · ExposedPoint · drop-off
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 Point Sur

Point Sur is a cape in Monterey Bay, California. Depth in the nearest water is 15-80 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, 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. Chinook salmon peak from June through August.

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

  • Sur Rock

    Bar · 1.7 mi

    76
    Top: CabezonPeak season
    • Cabezon 76
    • Kelp greenling 67
    • Rockfish 67

    9 kt NNWL 1:38 PM · 2.9 ftH 7:24 PM · 4.8 ft

  • Cooper Point

    Cape · 5.1 mi

    75
    Top: CabezonPeak season
    • Cabezon 75
    • Surfperch 68
    • Chinook salmon 67

    3 kt WNWL 1:38 PM · 2.9 ftH 7:24 PM · 4.8 ft

  • Molera Point

    Cape · 2.8 mi

    74
    Top: CabezonPeak season
    • Cabezon 74
    • Chinook salmon 66
    • Kelp greenling 66

    3 kt WNWL 1:38 PM · 2.9 ftH 7:24 PM · 4.8 ft

  • Kasler Point

    Cape · 7.4 mi

    74
    Top: CabezonPeak season
    • Cabezon 74
    • Chinook salmon 66
    • Kelp greenling 66

    6 kt NWL 1:38 PM · 2.9 ftH 7:24 PM · 4.8 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.