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RockfishRetention openSpecies here · tap to switch
Best score today · 8 PM · Rockfish
- Now
- 634 PM PDT
- Best window
- 8 PM-12 AMEbb tide
- Tide now
- Flooding4.1 ft ▲
Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine
Notify me when The Pinnacles 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, Oct 1 · 5 PM
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS + Open-Meteo Marine
100Tide: EbbingWind & pressure
ECMWF
77Wind: 9 kt NPressure: SteadyWater temp & sky
NDBC + Open-Meteo Marine
95Water temp: 62°F, primeLight: DuskSolunar: Major periodSeason & habitat · Striped bass
Species seasonality
67Season: PeakHabitat: Poor fitDepth: Out of range
Current regulations
What you can keep here today
Central Groundfish Management Area
Rockfish
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. Within the 10-fish RCG limit: no more than 1 copper rockfish, 2 canary rockfish, and 2 vermilion/sunset rockfish. RCG complex: all rockfish, cabezon, and kelp and rock greenlings combined. A descending device must be aboard when fishing from a boat. Yelloweye, cowcod, bronzespotted and quillback rockfish may not be kept.
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)
- 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)
- 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 today
Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed
When Rockfish is best here
Peak season for Rockfish · 1 more week at peak
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- This week
Spot profile
The Pinnacles
- Depth
- 70-140 ftDrop-off
- Structure
- Bar · Outer · ExposedBar · drop-off
- Season
- Peak seasonRockfish
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 The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles is a bar in Monterey Bay, California. Depth is 70-140 ft, with a drop-off. Its profile reads bar, outer water and exposed.
Waterlands scores 11 species here; the best right now are rockfish, lingcod and cabezon. It is peak season now for rockfish, cabezon, striped bass and surfperch, and shoulder season for lingcod, Pacific halibut, white seabass and Chinook salmon. Rockfish peak from May through September. Lingcod peak from April through May and from October through November. Cabezon peak from May through September.
Tackle & technique
- 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.
- 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.
Nearby spots
Other spots within an easy run
- Sunset Point63
Cape · 0.9 mi
Top: RockfishPeak season- Rockfish 63
- Cabezon 59
- Striped bass 58
9 kt NWH 6:28 PM · 4.6 ftL 1:59 AM · 0.5 ft
- Pescadero Point63
Cape · 1.0 mi
Top: RockfishPeak season- Rockfish 63
- Cabezon 59
- Striped bass 58
9 kt NWH 6:28 PM · 4.6 ftL 1:59 AM · 0.5 ft
- Carmel Bay63
Bay · 1.2 mi
Top: RockfishPeak season- Rockfish 63
- Lingcod 56
- Surfperch 52
9 kt NWH 6:28 PM · 4.6 ftL 1:59 AM · 0.5 ft
- Stillwater Cove61
Bay · 1.6 mi
Top: SurfperchPeak season- Surfperch 61
- Cabezon 58
- Rockfish 58
9 kt NWH 6:28 PM · 4.6 ftL 1:59 AM · 0.5 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.