It’s a fishing day

Half Moon Bay State Beach fishing conditions · California

Tonight 11 pm to tonight 1 amBarred surfperch

The bite peaks at 57.

Coastal Flood Advisory until Tuesday 12 pmBeach Hazards Statement until Monday 10 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 48 for barred surfperch, sit it outTap 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. 481 pm
  2. 48
  3. 48
  4. 524 pm
  5. 45
  6. 45
  7. 537 pm
  8. 53
  9. 53
  10. 5310 pm
  11. 57
  12. 57Sun
  13. 531 am
  14. 53
  15. 45
  16. 454 am
  17. 45
  18. 49
  19. 497 am
  20. 53
  21. 53
  22. 5310 am
  23. 57
  24. 57
  25. 531 pm
  26. 53
  27. 53
  28. 534 pm
  29. 57
  30. 53
  31. 537 pm
  32. 53
  33. 53
  34. 4510 pm
  35. 49
  36. 49Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Barred surfperch range 50–68°

Wind
5 mph

From the west-northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:06 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
67°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

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

57MarginalTonight 11 pm to tonight 1 am

Water

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

Why

Barred surfperch prefers incoming tide. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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

Redtail Surfperch

Redtail surfperch

Amphistichus rhodoterus

22Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Redtail surfperch bite in 48–62° water, best near 55°.

Why

Redtail surfperch prefers incoming tide. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Redtail surfperch is here Mar–Aug. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

10.5" minimum · 10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 10½" total length minimum. 20/day in combination of all surfperch (shiner perch separate), 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: Mar–Aug. More on redtail surfperch

California Halibut

California halibut

Paralichthys californicus

22Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

California halibut prefers incoming tide. 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 · 2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 2/person/day north of Point Sur, Monterey County. 22" total length minimum.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · North of Point Sur

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Oct. More on California halibut

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.08 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:06 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:42 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:40 pm–4:40 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 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 chain of open sand beaches south of Pillar Point, with no pier. Barred and redtail surfperch in the surf year-round and California halibut in summer.

Nearby

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

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Half Moon Bay State Beach?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Half Moon Bay 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 Half Moon Bay State Beach?

Half Moon Bay State Beach is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Barred Surfperch, Redtail Surfperch, California Halibut. 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 Half Moon Bay 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 Half Moon Bay 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 Half Moon Bay State Beach have?

Half Moon Bay State Beach has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Half Moon Bay State Beach?

state agency regulations apply at Half Moon Bay 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 Half Moon Bay State Beach tidal water?

Yes. Half Moon Bay 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.