Waterlands

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Kelp greenlingRetention open

Bar · California

Southeast Reef

37.47°N · 122.48°W · Bar · San Pablo Bay, Suisun Bay, the West Delta and the San Francisco Bay north of the Bay Bridge

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Best score today · 5 PM · Kelp greenling

67/100Great
Now
309 AM PDT
Best window
5-9 PMFlood tide
Tide now
Flooding4.5 ft ▲

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

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14-day forecast

Best days to fish

Best: Wed · 72

24-hour conditions · rolling from now

Conditions · 9 AM · now

Time9ANOW
Score30Fair
Tide4.5 ft ▲Flooding
Current0.3 knmodeled · toward NW
Wind1 kn SEgusts 5 · steady
Sea stateRough6.8 ft · 9 s
Air temp60°Mild
WeatherPartly cloudy47% cloud
Water66°FObserved

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

San Francisco Groundfish Management Area

IN EFFECT NOW

Kelp greenling

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. CDFW limits and seasons cover kelp and rock greenlings together.

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 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))
  • 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)
Always check with CDFW ↗Fishing license ↗

Source: CDFW · synced today

Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed

When Kelp greenling is best here

Shoulder season for Kelp greenling · 1 more week at shoulder

Kelp greenling season by week of the year. Shoulder season for Kelp greenling · 1 more week at shoulder.
  • Peak
  • Shoulder
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Kelp greenling in California →

Spot profile

Southeast Reef

Depth
35-60 ftSlope
Structure
Reef · Outer · ExposedReef · slope
Season
Shoulder seasonKelp greenling

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 Southeast Reef

Southeast Reef is a bar in San Pablo Bay, Suisun Bay, the West Delta and the San Francisco Bay north of the Bay Bridge, California. Depth is 35-60 ft, with a slope. Its profile reads reef, outer water and exposed.

Waterlands scores 11 species here; the best right now are rockfish, lingcod and Pacific halibut. It is peak season now for rockfish, surfperch, cabezon and striped bass, and shoulder season for lingcod, Pacific halibut, Chinook salmon and California halibut. Rockfish peak from May through September. Lingcod peak from April through May and from October through November. Pacific halibut peak from May through July.

Tackle & technique

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.
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.

Nearby spots

Other spots within an easy run

View all on map →
  • Wash Rock

    Bar · 0.2 mi

    60
    Top: RockfishPeak season
    • Rockfish 60
    • Lingcod 55
    • Pacific halibut 53

    1 kt SEH 9:50 AM · 4.7 ftL 3:22 PM · 2.1 ft

  • Kings Rock

    Bar · 1.4 mi

    60
    Top: RockfishPeak season
    • Rockfish 60
    • Lingcod 55
    • Surfperch 54

    1 kt SEH 9:50 AM · 4.7 ftL 3:22 PM · 2.1 ft

  • Whaleman Harbor

    Bay · 3.2 mi

    60
    Top: SurfperchPeak season
    • Surfperch 60
    • Rockfish 56
    • Lingcod 52

    1 kt SEH 9:50 AM · 4.7 ftL 3:22 PM · 2.1 ft

  • Half Moon Bay

    Bay · 1.0 mi

    57
    Top: SurfperchPeak season
    • Surfperch 57
    • Chinook salmon 51
    • Rockfish 51

    1 kt SEH 9:50 AM · 4.7 ftL 3:22 PM · 2.1 ft

Open in the tide map

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.