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SurfperchRetention openSpecies here · tap to switch
Best score today · 9 AM · Surfperch
- Now
- 3311 AM PST
- Best window
- 3-7 PMFlood tide
- Tide now
- Ebbing2.6 ft ▼
Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine
Notify me when Ragged 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
Thursday, Nov 12 · 7 AM
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS + Open-Meteo Marine
98Tide: FloodingCurrent: 1.1 knWind & pressure
ECMWF
93Wind: 8 kt SPressure: FallingWater temp & sky
Open-Meteo Marine
34Water temp: 68°F, warmLight: DawnSolunar: Between periodsSeas: 7.1 ftSeason & habitat · Surfperch
Species seasonality
48Season: ShoulderHabitat: Poor fitDepth: In range
Current regulations
What you can keep here today
Central Groundfish Management Area
Surfperch
Retention open- Daily limit
- 20 per day
- Possession
- Not published
- Size
- Minimum 10.5 in, total length. Redtail surfperch only. No minimum size for other surfperch.
- Season
- No closed season on file
- Annual quota
- Not published
- Other
- In San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay, surfperch are closed April 1 through July 31 and the limit is 5 (shiner perch excepted). 20 surfperch in combination, not more than 10 of any one species. Shiner perch have a separate limit of 20.
From CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 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))
- 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)
- 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 Surfperch is best here
Shoulder season for Surfperch · 25 more weeks at shoulder
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- This week
Spot profile
Ragged Point
- Depth
- 10-80 ftDrop-off
- Structure
- Point · Outer · ExposedPoint · drop-off
- Season
- Shoulder seasonSurfperch
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 Ragged Point
Ragged Point is a cape in Monterey Bay, California. Depth is 10-80 ft, with a drop-off. Its profile reads point, outer water and exposed.
Waterlands scores 9 species here; the best right now are lingcod, rockfish and striped bass. It is peak season now for lingcod and kelp greenling, and shoulder season for rockfish, striped bass, cabezon and surfperch. Lingcod peak from April through May and from October through November. Rockfish peak from May through September. Striped bass peak from June through July and from September through October.
Tackle & technique
- 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.
- 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.
- Rockfish
- Rockfish live on rocky reefs, pinnacles and kelp from the shoreline out past 300 feet, with black and blue rockfish schooling mid-water over shallow reefs and copper, quillback, yelloweye and vermilion sitting tight to deeper bottom. Drift over the structure with a shrimp fly above a lead-head grub or metal jig, or a squid strip, and reel up a few cranks after touching bottom to cut snags. Use a descending device to release any fish brought up from deep water.
Nearby spots
Other spots within an easy run
- Harlech Castle Rock65
Bar · 5.3 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 65
- Rockfish 55
- Kelp greenling 47
6 kt NL 1:43 PM · 0.8 ftH 7:38 PM · 4.3 ft
- White Rock Number Two64
Bar · 5.0 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 64
- Rockfish 54
- Surfperch 34
7 kt WNWL 1:51 PM · 0.7 ftH 7:45 PM · 4.1 ft
- Breaker Point61
Cape · 1.2 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 61
- Rockfish 52
- Striped bass 50
6 kt NL 1:43 PM · 0.8 ftH 7:38 PM · 4.3 ft
- San Simeon Point61
Cape · 11 mi
Top: LingcodPeak season- Lingcod 61
- Rockfish 51
- Striped bass 50
6 kt NL 1:43 PM · 0.8 ftH 7:38 PM · 4.3 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.