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California Sheephead · Open

Newport Pipe

33.62°N · 117.97°W

Species
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Best score for the day · 10 AM
83/100
GOOD

Now 25 · 10 PM PDT

BEST WINDOW
7 AM-8 PM
Tide flooding
14-Day Forecast
Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
Mon
Sep 14
Tue
Sep 15
Wed
Sep 16
Thu
Sep 17
Fri
Sep 18
Sat
Sep 19
Sun
Sep 20
Mon
Sep 21
Tue
Sep 22
Wed
Sep 23
Thu
Sep 24
Fri
Sep 25

24-Hour Conditions

All times PDT

Tap or drag to read any hour

Conditions
Time
10 PM
Now
Score
25
Tough
Tide
4.9 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
3 kn
W · steady
Sea state
Choppy
2.8 ft
Air temp
72°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
100% cloud
Hour 10 PM. Score 25 Tough. Tide 4.9ft Rising ▲. Current +0.6kn Flood. Wind 3kn W G3. Sea 2.8ft Chop. Air 71.8°.
Why this score
Tide
Late flood
Prime
Light
Mid sun
Prime
Swell
2.3 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 during this window.
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Boat-based anglers may fish March 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Minimum size 12 inches total length.
Season
Mar 1 to Dec 31
Other species here
Lingcod Catch & releaseSculpin ClosedBarred Sand Bass Retention openCalico Bass ClosedLeopard Shark Retention openCalifornia Halibut Retention openKelp Bass Retention openCalifornia 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
60-120 ft
LAUNCH
Not mapped
PEAK
Peak now
STRUCTURE
—

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Newport Canyon
Groundfish Management Area —
83
Top: Leopard SharkOFF SEASON
Leopard Shark 83 · California Sheephead 82 · California Halibut 82
0006121824
3 kt W
H 10:50 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:45 AM · 0.3 m
Huntington Beach / Newport Beach Flats (Halibut Grounds)
Groundfish Management Area —
80
Top: California HalibutSHOULDER SEASON
California Halibut 80
0006121824
3 kt W
H 10:50 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:45 AM · 0.3 m
Newport Canyon
Groundfish Management Area —
85
Top: California HalibutSHOULDER SEASON
California Halibut 85 · Barred Sand Bass 85 · California Sheephead 85
0006121824
3 kt W
H 10:50 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:45 AM · 0.3 m
Newport Submarine Canyon
Groundfish Management Area —
83
Top: Yellowfin tunaPEAK SEASON
Yellowfin tuna 83
0006121824
3 kt W
H 10:50 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:45 AM · 0.3 m

Newport Pipe sits off Newport Beach, California, at 33.6150, -117.9650, where the bottom runs from 60 to 120 feet across structure that holds a mixed nearshore fishery. California Halibut peak from March through May and respond to drifting live bait such as live anchovies, sardines, or queenfish, while Barred Sand Bass turn on from May through July over the same drifts with squid strips and swimbaits. Calico Bass fish well from April through August on plastic swimbaits and paddletail plastics worked through the structure, and Sculpin stack up from May through October on dropper loop bottom rigs baited with squid strips and shrimp. As the year turns, Lingcod peak from September through January and take vertical jigs and heavy iron along the deeper edges. California Sheephead and Leopard Shark round out the bottom fishing, with sheephead worked on live shrimp and cut squid during their March–April and July–September windows.

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Newport Pipe is one of the spots we track around Newport Beach. See every scored spot in California.

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