It’s a fishing day

Doheny State Beach fishing conditions · California

Now until 5 pmBarred surfperch

The bite peaks at 76.

Log a trip here
Right now: 76 for barred surfperch, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Barred surfperch, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 761 pm
  2. 76
  3. 76
  4. 764 pm
  5. 62
  6. 62
  7. 627 pm
  8. 62
  9. 62
  10. 6210 pm
  11. 62
  12. 62Sun
  13. 621 am
  14. 62
  15. 62
  16. 624 am
  17. 62
  18. 62
  19. 627 am
  20. 62
  21. 62
  22. 6210 am
  23. 62
  24. 62
  25. 621 pm
  26. 62
  27. 62
  28. 624 pm
  29. 62
  30. 62
  31. 627 pm
  32. 62
  33. 62
  34. 6210 pm
  35. 62
  36. 62Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Barred surfperch range 50–68°

Wind
15 mph

From the west

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:54 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
82°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are California regulations for these waters.

Barred Surfperch

Barred surfperch

Amphistichus argenteus

76Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Barred surfperch bite in 50–68° water, best near 60°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Barred surfperch prefers incoming tide. Holds 1–12 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum size. 20/person/day in combination of all surfperch (shiner perch separate), with no more than 10 of any one species. Open year-round.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round. More on barred surfperch

Kelp Bass

Kelp bass

Paralabrax clathratus

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Kelp bass bite in 60–74° water, best near 67°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Kelp bass is here Apr–Oct. Holds 5–100 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14" total length (10" alternate length) minimum. 5/person/day in any combination of kelp bass, barred sand bass and spotted sand bass, with no more than 4 barred sand bass. Fillets at least 7½" with a 1" patch of skin.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on kelp bass

California Halibut

California halibut

Paralichthys californicus

41Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. California halibut bite in 55–72° water, best near 64°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. California halibut is here Mar–Oct. Holds 4–60 ft down.

Keep

22" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 22" total length minimum. 5/person/day south of Point Sur (Monterey County); 2/day north of it. Open year-round.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Oct. Likes an incoming tide. More on California halibut

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer29.97 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:54 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:15 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 9:50 pm–11:50 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:30 am–6:30 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. California CDFW has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A sand beach at the mouth of San Juan Creek beside the Dana Point Harbor breakwater. Barred surfperch and California halibut along the beach; calico (kelp) bass on the breakwater rocks.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Newport Harbor15 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pmCoastal Flood Advisory
75Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Doheny State Beach?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Doheny State Beach you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Doheny State Beach?

Doheny State Beach is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Barred Surfperch, California Halibut, Kelp Bass. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Doheny State Beach?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Doheny State Beach against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Doheny State Beach have?

Doheny State Beach has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Doheny State Beach?

state agency regulations apply at Doheny State Beach. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Doheny State Beach tidal water?

Yes. Doheny State Beach sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.