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California Sheephead · Open

Newport Beach Artificial Reef (Tom Horn Reef)

33.56°N · 117.99°W

Species
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Best score for the day · 8 AM
84/100
GOOD

Now 79 · 3 PM PDT

BEST WINDOW
7 AM-4 PM
Tide flooding
14-Day Forecast
Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
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24-Hour Conditions

All times PDT

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Conditions
Time
3 PM
Now
Score
79
Good
Tide
2.2 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
Ebb
Wind
8 kn
W · steady
Sea state
Choppy
2.9 ft
Air temp
71°
Warm
Weather
Clear
8% cloud
Hour 3 PM. Score 79 Good. Tide 2.2ft Falling ▼. Current -1.5kn Ebb. Wind 8kn W G9. Sea 2.9ft Chop. Air 71.2°.
Why this score
Tide
Mid flood
Prime
Light
Low sun
Fair
Swell
2.2 ft
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

California Sheephead
Retention open
Daily limit
2 per day
Possession
2 in possession
Size
Minimum 12"
Gear
Boat-based anglers only.
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Boat-based anglers may retain California sheephead from March 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Divers and shore-based anglers are open year-round. Minimum size 12 inches total length.
Season
Mar 1 to Dec 31
Other species here
Lingcod Catch & releaseWhite Seabass Catch & releaseCabezon ClosedBarred Sand Bass Retention openCalico Bass ClosedRockfish (Aggregate) ClosedCalifornia Scorpionfish Retention open
Always check with CDFW

Source: CDFW · synced today

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When California Sheephead is best at this spot

Peak seasonCurrently in peak season for California Sheephead
~1 more week at peak
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff seasonRelease only
SPOT PROFILE
DEPTH
60-100 ft
LAUNCH
Not mapped
PEAK
Peak now
STRUCTURE

The Newport Beach Artificial Reef, also known as Tom Horn Reef, sits off Huntington Beach, California, where structured hardbottom rises across depths of 60 to 100 feet. The reef holds a mix of nearshore and deeper-water species, including Barred Sand Bass and Calico Bass that peak through the summer months, Barred Sand Bass from April to August and Calico Bass from June to August. White Seabass move through from March to July, while California Sheephead show two windows, March to April and July to September, and Rockfish hold across the reef year-round. Drift fishing with live anchovies, live sardines, or plastic swimbaits works the sand bass along the structure edges, and dropper loop rigs baited with squid or cut mackerel reach the rockfish and sheephead holding tight to the reef. For Calico Bass, plastics such as swimbaits and curl-tail grubs on leadhead jigs cover the shallower rock, while live squid targets White Seabass through their spring run.

CUSTOM ALERT
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Newport Beach Artificial Reef (Tom Horn Reef) is one of the spots we track around Huntington Beach. See every scored spot in California.

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