California Surf Fishing Guide
California coverage runs from Crescent City near the Oregon line through Humboldt, Mendocino and Sonoma counties, the San Francisco and San Mateo coast, Monterey Bay and the Central Coast, to Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego.
Striper Tracker covers 22 California surf-fishing beaches. Each one has its own page with the fish usually in season and where its live conditions come from, and opens on the West Coast map for live ocean temperature, tides, wind, waves, moon and hourly species scores.
Open the West Coast map →California beaches we cover
Northern California
Crescent City (South Beach)
Del Norte County · near Crescent City
Species: Redtail surfperch · Tides: NOAA 9419750 CRESCENT CITY
Samoa Beach
Humboldt County · near Eureka, Arcata
Species: Redtail surfperch · Tides: NOAA 9418767 HUMBOLDT BAY (North Spit)
Centerville Beach
Humboldt County · near Ferndale
Species: Redtail surfperch · Tides: NOAA 9418767 HUMBOLDT BAY (North Spit)
Ten Mile Beach (MacKerricher SP)
Mendocino County · near Fort Bragg
Species: Redtail surfperch · Tides: NOAA 9417426 NOYO HARBOR
Doran Regional Park
Sonoma County · near Bodega Bay
Species: Redtail surfperch and Barred surfperch · Tides: NOAA 9415625 Bodega Harbor entrance
Point Reyes Beach
Marin County · near Inverness, Point Reyes Station
Species: Redtail surfperch, Barred surfperch and Striped bass · Tides: NOAA 9415020 Point Reyes
Ocean Beach
San Francisco County · near San Francisco
Species: Redtail surfperch, Barred surfperch and Striped bass · Tides: NOAA 9414275 Ocean Beach, outer coast
Pacifica State Beach
San Mateo County · near Pacifica
Species: Redtail surfperch, Barred surfperch and Striped bass · Tides: NOAA 9414131 Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay State Beach
San Mateo County · near Half Moon Bay
Species: Redtail surfperch, Barred surfperch and Striped bass · Tides: NOAA 9414131 Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay
Central California
Manresa State Beach
Santa Cruz County · near Aptos, Watsonville
Species: Redtail surfperch, Barred surfperch and California halibut · Tides: NOAA 9413745 Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay
Marina State Beach
Monterey County · near Marina, Monterey
Species: Redtail surfperch, Barred surfperch and California halibut · Tides: NOAA 9413616 Moss Landing, Ocean Pier
Morro Strand State Beach
San Luis Obispo County · near Morro Bay
Species: Redtail surfperch, Barred surfperch and California halibut · Tides: NOAA 9412110 PORT SAN LUIS
Pismo State Beach
San Luis Obispo County · near Pismo Beach, Grover Beach
Species: Barred surfperch and California halibut · Tides: NOAA 9412110 PORT SAN LUIS
Jalama Beach
Santa Barbara County · near Lompoc
Species: Barred surfperch and California halibut · Tides: NOAA 9411406 Oil Platform Harvest
Southern California
Oxnard Beach (Silver Strand)
Ventura County · near Oxnard, Port Hueneme
Species: Barred surfperch, California corbina, Yellowfin croaker and California halibut · Tides: NOAA 9411065 Port Hueneme
Zuma Beach
Los Angeles County · near Malibu
Species: Barred surfperch, California corbina, Yellowfin croaker and California halibut · Tides: NOAA 9410840 Santa Monica, Municipal Pier
Dockweiler State Beach
Los Angeles County · near Playa del Rey, El Segundo
Species: Barred surfperch, California corbina, Yellowfin croaker and California halibut · Tides: NOAA 9410777 El Segundo, Santa Monica Bay
Huntington State Beach
Orange County · near Huntington Beach
Species: Barred surfperch, California corbina, Yellowfin croaker, Spotfin croaker and California halibut · Tides: NOAA 9410583 Balboa Pier, Newport Beach
Newport Beach
Orange County · near Newport Beach
Species: Barred surfperch, California corbina, Yellowfin croaker, Spotfin croaker and California halibut · Tides: NOAA 9410583 Balboa Pier, Newport Beach
Oceanside City Beach
San Diego County · near Oceanside
Species: Barred surfperch, California corbina, Yellowfin croaker, Spotfin croaker and California halibut · Tides: NOAA 9410230 La Jolla (Scripps Institution Wharf)
Torrey Pines State Beach
San Diego County · near Del Mar, La Jolla
Species: Barred surfperch, California corbina, Yellowfin croaker, Spotfin croaker and California halibut · Tides: NOAA 9410230 La Jolla (Scripps Institution Wharf)
Silver Strand State Beach
San Diego County · near Coronado, Imperial Beach
Species: Barred surfperch, California corbina, Yellowfin croaker, Spotfin croaker and California halibut · Tides: NOAA 9410120 Imperial Beach
California surf fishing seasons
Northern California
| Species | Peak season | Common | Occasional | In the live card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redtail surfperch | Oct–May | Jun–Sep | — | Hourly 0–100 conditions score |
| Barred surfperch | — | Mar–Apr, Nov–Dec | Jan–Feb, May–Oct | Hourly 0–100 conditions score |
| Striped bass | Jun–Aug | May, Sep | Apr, Oct | Hourly 0–100 conditions score |
Central California
| Species | Peak season | Common | Occasional | In the live card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redtail surfperch | — | — | Sep–Jun | Hourly 0–100 conditions score |
| Barred surfperch | Oct–May | Jun–Sep | — | Hourly 0–100 conditions score |
| California halibut | May–Aug | Apr, Sep | Mar, Oct–Nov | Season only (no score) |
Southern California
| Species | Peak season | Common | Occasional | In the live card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barred surfperch | Oct–Apr | May–Jun, Sep | Jul–Aug | Hourly 0–100 conditions score |
| California corbina | Jun–Sep | May, Oct | Apr, Nov | Hourly 0–100 conditions score |
| Yellowfin croaker | Jun–Sep | May, Oct | Mar–Apr, Nov–Dec | Hourly 0–100 conditions score |
| California halibut | Jun–Oct | May | Nov–Apr | Season only (no score) |
| Spotfin croaker | Jul–Sep | Jun, Oct | Apr–May, Nov | Hourly 0–100 conditions score |
Season levels come from Striper Tracker's regional West Coast species tables, not from catch reports or sightings at a particular beach. Months not listed are uncommon for that species in that region. A season level is not a rating of today's fishing.
How the fishing-conditions score works
The hourly score rates today's water temperature, tide, light and tidal range for each fish on a 0–100 scale, assuming the fish is there. It is a conditions score, not a catch forecast, and the season is shown beside it without changing the number. It is a provisional model.
Live conditions, the 24-hour tide chart and the hourly species scores are part of Striper Tracker Premium, the same one-time $1.99 unlock as the rest of the site. Season calendars and this guide are free.
Where the conditions come from
Tides from NOAA tide stations, ocean temperature from NOAA shore gauges or NASA JPL MUR satellite analysis, waves from NOAA NDBC buoys (wave height off the beach, not breaking surf), wind from the National Weather Service and moon phases for each beach. Each beach page names its own stations and known limits.
Licenses and regulations
Licenses, limits and seasons change. Check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) before you fish.