Waterlands

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Leopard sharkRetention open

Bar · California

Wycoff Ledge

34.02°N · 120.39°W · Bar · Waters from Pt. Sal to Santa Cruz Island CA and westward 60 nm including San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands

LOADING MAP

Best score today · 5 PM · Leopard shark

67/100Great
Now
304 AM PDT
Best window
4-8 PMFlood tide
Tide now
Flooding0.6 ft ▲

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

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24-hour conditions · rolling from now

Conditions · 4 AM · now

Time4ANOW
Score30Fair
Tide0.6 ft ▲Flooding
Current0.8 knmodeled · toward SSW
Wind19 kn NNWgusts 26 · easing
Sea stateVery rough7.9 ft · 9 s
Air temp65°Mild
WeatherClear9% cloud
Water67°FObserved

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

Southern Groundfish Management Area

IN EFFECT NOW

Leopard shark

Retention open
Daily limit
3 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 36 in, total length
Season
No closed season on file
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Closed in the Groundfish Exclusion Areas off southern California.

From CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026), read Sep 13

Other species here

  • Albacore tuna Retention open (10 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 (5 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))
  • Kelp greenling Retention open (10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined))
  • 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 yesterday

Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed

When Leopard shark is best here

Peak season for Leopard shark · 1 more week at peak

Leopard shark season by week of the year. Peak season for Leopard shark · 1 more week at peak.
  • Peak
  • Shoulder
  • Off
  • This week

Leopard shark in California

Spot profile

Wycoff Ledge

Depth
40-150 ftDrop-off
Structure
Ledge · Outer · ExposedLedge · drop-off
Season
Peak seasonLeopard shark

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 Wycoff Ledge

Wycoff Ledge is a bar in Waters from Pt. Sal to Santa Cruz Island CA and westward 60 nm including San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands, California. Depth is 40-150 ft, with a drop-off. Its profile reads ledge, outer water and exposed.

Waterlands scores 9 species here; the best right now are barred sand bass, California halibut and California yellowtail. It is peak season now for California halibut, California yellowtail and leopard shark, and shoulder season for barred sand bass, kelp bass, lingcod and rockfish. Barred sand bass peak from June through August. California halibut peak from May through September. California yellowtail peak from July through September.

Tackle & technique

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.
Barred sand bass
Barred sand bass hold on the sand and rock edge of reefs, artificial reefs, breakwaters and bays, mostly in less than 90 feet of water. In summer they stack up over sand flats in 60 to 120 feet to spawn, and a plastic or live anchovy bounced on the bottom under the boat will catch them. A sudden drop in water temperature from upwelling can shut the bite off for a day or two.
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.

Nearby spots

Other spots within an easy run

  • Simonton Cove

    Bay · 2.7 mi

    46
    Top: California yellowtailPeak season
    • California yellowtail 46
    • Lingcod 41
    • Surfperch 41

    19 kt NNWH 9:08 AM · 4.3 ftL 2:34 PM · 1.8 ft

  • Tyler Bight

    Bay · 1.6 mi

    30
    Top: Barred sand bassShoulder season
    • Barred sand bass 30
    • California halibut 30
    • Kelp bass 30

    19 kt NNWH 9:08 AM · 4.3 ftL 2:34 PM · 1.8 ft

  • Crook Point

    Cape · 1.8 mi

    30
    Top: Barred sand bassShoulder season
    • Barred sand bass 30
    • California halibut 30
    • Kelp bass 30

    12 kt NNWH 9:08 AM · 4.3 ftL 2:34 PM · 1.8 ft

  • Adams Cove

    Bay · 3.0 mi

    30
    Top: Barred sand bassShoulder season
    • Barred sand bass 30
    • California halibut 30
    • Kelp bass 30

    19 kt NNWH 9:08 AM · 4.3 ftL 2:34 PM · 1.8 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.