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LingcodRetention openBay · California
Oakland Outer Harbor
37.81°N · 122.32°W · Bay · San Francisco Bay South of the Bay Bridge
Species here · tap to switch
Best score today · 9 PM · Lingcod
- Now
- 647 AM PST
- Best window
- 3 PM-12 AMEbb tide
- Tide now
- High5.3 ft
Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine
Notify me when Oakland Outer Harbor 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
Friday, Nov 13 · 3 PM
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS
100Tide: EbbingCurrent: 0.8 kn ebbWind & pressure
ECMWF
64Wind: 13 kt SPressure: Falling fastWater temp & sky
NDBC + Open-Meteo Marine
67Water temp: 65°F, hotLight: DuskSolunar: Major periodSeason & habitat · Lingcod
Species seasonality
90Season: PeakHabitat: Usable structureDepth: In range
Current regulations
What you can keep here today
San Francisco Groundfish Management Area
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. All groundfish fishing is prohibited at Cordell Bank. 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 (2 per day)
- 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)
- 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 Lingcod is best here
Peak season for Lingcod · 4 more weeks at peak
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- This week
Spot profile
Oakland Outer Harbor
- Depth
- 6-50 ftSlope
- Structure
- Bay · Inner · Semi-exposedBay · slope
- Season
- Peak seasonLingcod
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 Oakland Outer Harbor
Oakland Outer Harbor is a bay in San Francisco Bay South of the Bay Bridge, California. Depth is 6-50 ft, with a slope. Its profile reads bay, inner water and semi-exposed.
Waterlands scores 9 species here; the best right now are kelp greenling, cabezon and surfperch. It is peak season now for kelp greenling and lingcod, and shoulder season for cabezon, surfperch, striped bass and rockfish. Kelp greenling peak from October through November. Cabezon peak from May through September. Surfperch peak in May and from July through September.
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.
- 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.
- 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
- Outer Harbor Entrance Channel72
Bay · 1.0 mi
Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season- Kelp greenling 72
- Surfperch 65
- Lingcod 64
3 kt EL 12:22 PM · 2.6 ftH 5:42 PM · 5.4 ft
- Oakland Inner Harbor72
Bay · 2.3 mi
Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season- Kelp greenling 72
- Cabezon 63
- Lingcod 61
3 kt EL 12:33 PM · 2.8 ftH 5:54 PM · 5.4 ft
- Oakland Middle Harbor71
Bay · 0.9 mi
Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season- Kelp greenling 71
- Cabezon 63
- Surfperch 63
3 kt EL 12:22 PM · 2.6 ftH 5:42 PM · 5.4 ft
- Bar Channel69
Bay · 2.0 mi
Top: Kelp greenlingPeak season- Kelp greenling 69
- Surfperch 63
- Lingcod 61
3 kt EL 12:24 PM · 2.7 ftH 5:46 PM · 5.3 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.