Species guide · Washington
Cabezon fishing in Washington
Scorpaenichthys marmoratus, a nearshore species also called cab, cabbie and marbled sculpin. Listed for the Pacific Northwest region. Shoulder season, about 31 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Admiralty Inlet at 63, one of 8 Washington bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Pacific Northwest
Shoulder season, about 31 more weeks- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Shoulder season
Peak: May to Aug. In season (shoulder or peak): all year.
Research notes, Pacific Northwest region
ODFW describes cabezon as available year round from kelp beds, rocky headlands and jetties. Oregon 2026 limits cabezon to one per day within the general marine bag starting July 1. WDFW notes common catches off the outer Washington coast and in Puget Sound.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 8
Washington bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's cabezon score this hour.
Best window today 9 AM-3 PM (73) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (73) · 23 named spots
Best window today 9 AM-7 PM (68) · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 AM (71) · 268 named spots
Best window today 9 AM-6 PM (71) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (71) · 308 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-1 PM (72) · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 AM (73) · 27 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-2 PM (72) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (72) · 11 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-3 PM (72) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (72) · 22 named spots
Best window today 6 AM-12 PM (66) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (71) · 8 named spots
Best window today 6 AM-1 PM (65) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 6 PM (67) · 20 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 46°F to 64°F, best between 50°F and 58°F.
- Water depth
- 3 to 100 ft of water.
- Structure
- Kelp, reef, jetty, point, pinnacle and grass, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide and high tide, with light current.Shore anglers on rocky headlands and jetties usually do best as the incoming tide covers the rocks and crevices where cabezon hunt crabs. Low confidence, based on ODFW shore-fishing guidance for the rocky-shore species group rather than cabezon-specific data.
- Light
- Some lift around dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 18 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
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.
- Methods
- bottom fishing with a fish-finder rig, poke poling, light jigging from kayak or skiff, spearfishing
- Lures
- lead-head jigs with crab or grub plastics, small swimbaits
- Bait
- sand shrimp, ghost shrimp, marine worms, squid, herring, crab pieces, mussels
Regulations
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with WDFW Sep 21, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
1 per day (9 bottomfish combined) · No minimum size.
Season: Mar 14 to Oct 17, 2026
Changes to closed on Oct 18, 2026
On all-depth halibut days with halibut on board, only certain bottomfish may be kept.
WDFW Columbia River halibut and bottomfish seasons page · verified Sep 13, 2026
1 per day (9 bottomfish combined) · No minimum size.
Season: Mar 14 to Oct 17, 2026
Changes to closed on Oct 18, 2026
WDFW South Coast halibut and bottomfish seasons page · verified Sep 13, 2026
1 per day (9 bottomfish combined) · No minimum size.
Season: Mar 14 to Oct 17, 2026
Changes to closed on Oct 18, 2026
The C-shaped yelloweye rockfish conservation area off the north coast is closed to halibut and bottomfish fishing.
WDFW North Coast halibut and bottomfish seasons page · verified Sep 13, 2026
1 per day (9 bottomfish combined) · No minimum size.
Season: Mar 14 to Oct 17, 2026
Changes to special rules on Oct 18, 2026
East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line cabezon stays open year-round. The C-shaped yelloweye rockfish conservation area off the north coast is closed to halibut and bottomfish fishing.
WDFW North Coast halibut and bottomfish seasons page · verified Sep 13, 2026