It’s a fishing day

Pismo Beach fishing conditions · California

Now until 5 pmBarred surfperch

The bite peaks at 84. Water is 68°, inside their 50–68° range.

Log a trip here
Right now: 84 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. 841 pm
  2. 84
  3. 84
  4. 844 pm
  5. 74
  6. 74
  7. 747 pm
  8. 74
  9. 74
  10. 7410 pm
  11. 74
  12. 74Sun
  13. 741 am
  14. 74
  15. 74
  16. 744 am
  17. 74
  18. 74
  19. 747 am
  20. 74
  21. 74
  22. 7410 am
  23. 74
  24. 74
  25. 741 pm
  26. 74
  27. 74
  28. 744 pm
  29. 74
  30. 74
  31. 747 pm
  32. 74
  33. 74
  34. 7410 pm
  35. 74
  36. 74Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
68°F

Barred surfperch range 50–68°

Wind
10 mph

From the northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:03 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
79°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

84Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

68°
40°50–68° · ideal 60°78°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside barred surfperch's active range. 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. Likes an incoming tide. More on barred surfperch

California Halibut

California halibut

Paralichthys californicus

84Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

68°
45°55–72° · ideal 64°82°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside California halibut's active range. 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 temperature68°F
  • Barometer30.06 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:03 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:30 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:40 am–6:40 am
  • Major solunarTomorrow 10:20 am–12:20 pm

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 long sand beach around the Pismo Beach Pier, north of the Oceano Dunes. Barred surfperch are the staple in the surf; California halibut show up on the sand in summer.

Nearby

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

Avila Beach7 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
84Worth the trip
Morro Bay (Morro Strand State Beach)22 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
84Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Pismo Beach?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Pismo Beach?

Pismo Beach is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Barred 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 Pismo 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 Pismo 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 Pismo Beach have?

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Pismo Beach?

state agency regulations apply at Pismo 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 Pismo Beach tidal water?

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