It’s a fishing day

Santa Monica State Beach fishing conditions · California

Now until 5 pmCalifornia halibut

The bite peaks at 82. Water is 72°, inside their 55–72° range.

Log a trip here
Right now: 82 for California halibut, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

California halibut, 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. 821 pm
  2. 82
  3. 82
  4. 824 pm
  5. 72
  6. 72
  7. 727 pm
  8. 72
  9. 72
  10. 7210 pm
  11. 72
  12. 72Sun
  13. 721 am
  14. 72
  15. 72
  16. 724 am
  17. 72
  18. 72
  19. 727 am
  20. 72
  21. 72
  22. 7210 am
  23. 72
  24. 72
  25. 721 pm
  26. 72
  27. 72
  28. 724 pm
  29. 72
  30. 72
  31. 727 pm
  32. 72
  33. 72
  34. 7210 pm
  35. 72
  36. 72Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
72°F

California halibut range 55–72°

Wind
10 mph

From the northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:56 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
78°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.

California Halibut

California halibut

Paralichthys californicus

82Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

72°
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

Barred Surfperch

Barred surfperch

Amphistichus argenteus

46Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

72°
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. Above barred surfperch's active range (50–68°F) — fish move deep. 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

The water

  • Water temperature72°F
  • Seas3 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer30.00 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:56 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:19 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Major solunarTonight 9:50 pm–11:50 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:30 am–6:30 am
  • Major solunarTomorrow 10:10 am–12:10 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

Wide sand beach on either side of the Santa Monica Pier. Barred surfperch in the surf troughs year-round and California halibut on the sand from spring into fall.

Nearby

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

Redondo Beach14 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
92Go
Zuma Beach19 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
86Go
Alamitos Bay (Long Beach)28 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pmCoastal Flood Advisory
75Worth the trip

Questions people ask

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

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica State Beach?

Santa Monica State 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 Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica State Beach have?

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Santa Monica State Beach?

state agency regulations apply at Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica State Beach tidal water?

Yes. Santa Monica 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.