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BoatGroundfish Management Area SouthernCalifornia Halibut · Open

Carlsbad Kelp

33.13°N · 117.35°W

BoatGroundfish Management Area SouthernCalifornia Halibut · Open

Carlsbad Kelp Fishing Forecast

Updated today

California Halibut fishing at Carlsbad Kelp looks good today.
The best time to go is 7 AM to 7 PM, with the tide flooding.

ReelCaster scores every hour at Carlsbad Kelp from 0 to 100, reading the tide, current, wind and weather for California Halibut. The higher the score, the better your odds. Green means go.

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Carlsbad Kelp, on the live map

Every spot is scored for today, out of 100. Green is worth the trip, amber is fair, red is slow.

Species

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Best score for the day · 10 AM
87/100
GOOD

Now 87 · 11 AM PDT

BEST WINDOW
7 AM-7 PM
Tide flooding
CDFW · Groundfish Management Area Southern · California Halibut openRegulations ↗5 per day · min 22"

14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
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24-Hour Conditions

All times PDT

Tap or drag to read any hour

Conditions
Time
11 AM
Now
Score
87
Good
Tide
4.6 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
1 kn
S · steady
Sea state
Easy
3 ft @ 13 s SW
Air temp
72°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
100% cloud
Hour 11 AM. Score 87 Good. Tide 4.6ft Rising ▲. Current +0.8kn Flood. Wind 1kn S G2. Sea 3 ft @ 13 s SW Easy. Air 71.6°.

Why this score

Current
0.5 kn light
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

California Halibut
Retention open
Daily limit
5 per day
Possession
5 in possession
Size
Minimum 22"
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Open year-round. Daily bag and possession limit is 5 fish south of Point Sur, Monterey County. Minimum size 22 inches total length.
Other species here
California Scorpionfish Retention openBarred Sand Bass Retention openWhite Seabass Retention openCalifornia Barracuda Retention openKelp Bass Retention openLeopard Shark Retention openCalifornia Sheephead Retention open
Always check with CDFW ↗

Source: CDFW · Groundfish Management Area Southern · synced today

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When California Halibut is best at this spot

Off seasonOff season for California Halibut
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season

SPOT PROFILE

DEPTH
100-600 ft
Sand
STRUCTURE
Flat
Outer Exposed

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Barn Kelp
Groundfish Management Area Southern
87
Top: YellowtailSHOULDER SEASON
Yellowtail 87 · White Seabass 87 · California Halibut 87
0006121824
1 kt S
H 1:14 PM · 1.6 m
L 9:22 PM · -0.0 m
Scripps Canyon
Groundfish Management Area Southern
84
Top: SablefishSHOULDER SEASON
Sablefish 84 · Yellowfin tuna 79 · Dorado 79
0006121824
3 kt SW
H 1:16 PM · 1.6 m
L 9:24 PM · -0.0 m
Point Loma Kelp Beds
Groundfish Management Area Southern
86
Top: California SheepheadSHOULDER SEASON
California Sheephead 86 · White Seabass 86 · California Halibut 85
0006121824
4 kt SW
H 1:14 PM · 1.6 m
L 9:22 PM · -0.0 m
San Diego Trough / 43 Fathom Spot
Groundfish Management Area Southern
86
Top: LingcodSHOULDER SEASON
Lingcod 86 · Ocean Whitefish 83 · Sablefish 83
0006121824
3 kt SE
H 1:02 PM · 1.6 m
L 9:24 PM · -0.0 m

About Carlsbad Kelp

Carlsbad Kelp is an outer, exposed sand flat off San Diego, running from about 100 to 600 feet deep. California halibut hold across the flat and peak from March through June, worked most effectively by drift fishing with live anchovies, live sardines, or swimbaits over the sand. White seabass move through from March into July, with live bait fishing on live squid, sardine, or mackerel the dominant approach across this depth range. Barred sand bass concentrate from June through August and respond to drifting live anchovies, sardines, or squid near the bottom, while California barracuda run April through September and come to trolled diving plugs, feathers, and spoons. The open exposure keeps bait and predators moving through the water column, making live bait and drift presentations reliable through the deeper stretches.

CUSTOM ALERT
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Carlsbad Kelp is one of the spots we track around Oceanside. More spots in Oceanside · All of California.

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