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CabezonRetention openChannel · California
Carquinez Strait
38.05°N · 122.19°W · Channel · San Pablo Bay, Suisun Bay, the West Delta and the San Francisco Bay north of the Bay Bridge
Species here · tap to switch
Best score today · 10 PM · Cabezon
- Now
- 5812 PM PDT
- Best window
- 9-11 PMFlood tide
- Tide now
- Flooding5.3 ft ▲
Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine
Notify me when Carquinez Strait 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 · rolling from now
Conditions · 12 PM · now
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS
100Tide: FloodingCurrent: 0.7 kn floodWind & pressure
ECMWF
97Wind: 3 kt NNWPressure: SteadyWater temp & sky
NDBC + Open-Meteo Marine
21Water temp: 68°F, hotLight: Bright sunSolunar: Near a majorSeason & habitat · Cabezon
Species seasonality
68Season: PeakHabitat: Poor fitDepth: In rangeRegulations: Retention open
Current regulations
What you can keep here today
San Francisco Groundfish Management Area
Cabezon
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. All groundfish fishing is prohibited at Cordell Bank. RCG complex: all rockfish, cabezon, and kelp and rock greenlings combined. 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))
- 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)
- 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 today
Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed
When Cabezon is best here
Peak season for Cabezon · 1 more week at peak
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- This week
Spot profile
Carquinez Strait
- Depth
- 35-90 ftDrop-off
- Structure
- Channel · Inner · ProtectedChannel · drop-off
- Season
- Peak seasonCabezon
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 Carquinez Strait
Carquinez Strait is a channel in San Pablo Bay, Suisun Bay, the West Delta and the San Francisco Bay north of the Bay Bridge, California. Depth is 35-90 ft, with a drop-off. Its profile reads channel, inner water and protected.
Waterlands scores 11 species here; the best right now are California halibut, leopard shark and rockfish. It is peak season now for rockfish, surfperch, cabezon and striped bass, and shoulder season for California halibut, leopard shark, Pacific halibut and lingcod. California halibut peak from May through August. Leopard shark peak from May through August. Rockfish peak from May through September.
Tackle & technique
- 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.
- California halibut
- California halibut are ambush feeders that lie on sand or mud bottom, mostly in water shallower than 100 feet and often inside bays, harbors and estuaries. Drift or slow-troll a live anchovy or sardine on a sliding sinker rig, or bounce a swimbait along the bottom over flats, channel edges and sandy areas near structure. Keep the bait within a foot or two of the bottom and give a fish time to turn the bait before setting the hook.
- Leopard shark
- Leopard sharks cruise shallow mudflats, sloughs and channel edges in bays, most often in less than 15 feet of water, and follow the flooding tide onto the flats to feed on crabs, worms, clams and small fish. Anchor or fish from shore or a pier with a sliding sinker rig and a chunk of squid, mackerel or ghost shrimp on the bottom. The bite is often better into the evening and at night.
Nearby spots
Other spots within an easy run
- Southhampton Bay68
Bay · 0.8 mi
Top: Leopard sharkShoulder season- Leopard shark 68
- California halibut 67
- Surfperch 67
3 kt NNWL 5:55 PM · 2.0 ftH 11:40 PM · 5.6 ft
- Point Carquinez66
Cape · 1.2 mi
Top: CabezonPeak season- Cabezon 66
- Rockfish 66
- Striped bass 63
3 kt NNWH 12:48 PM · 4.5 ftL 6:13 PM · 1.6 ft
- Dillon Point64
Cape · 0.5 mi
Top: CabezonPeak season- Cabezon 64
- Surfperch 62
- Rockfish 60
3 kt NNWL 5:55 PM · 2.0 ftH 11:40 PM · 5.6 ft
- Commodore Jones Point64
Cape · 0.9 mi
Top: CabezonPeak season- Cabezon 64
- Rockfish 63
- Striped bass 63
3 kt NNWH 12:48 PM · 4.5 ftL 6:13 PM · 1.6 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.