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California Sheephead · Open

Pendleton Artificial Reef (Camp Pendleton Reef)

33.38°N · 117.62°W

Species
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Best score for the day · 2 PM
82/100
GOOD

Now 25 · 8 PM PDT

BEST WINDOW
7 AM-8 PM
Tide ebbing
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
8 PM
Now
Score
25
Tough
Tide
3.0 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
2 kn
WSW · steady
Sea state
Choppy
3.0 ft
Air temp
71°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
31% cloud
Hour 8 PM. Score 25 Tough. Tide 3.0ft Rising ▲. Current +1.4kn Flood. Wind 2kn WSW G3. Sea 3.0ft Chop. Air 70.5°.
Why this score
Tide
Mid ebb
Prime
Light
Sun overhead
Prime
Swell
2.4 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 (this seasonal 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
White Seabass Catch & releaseLingcod Catch & releaseCabezon ClosedCalico Bass ClosedRockfish (Aggregate) ClosedCalifornia Halibut Retention openKelp Bass 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
15-50 ft
Sand
LAUNCH
Not mapped
PEAK
Peak now
STRUCTURE
Flat
Outer Exposed

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Pendleton Artificial Reef (Camp Pendleton Reef)
Groundfish Management Area —
84
Top: California SheepheadSHOULDER SEASON
California Sheephead 84
0006121824
3 kt SW
H 10:50 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:45 AM · 0.3 m
San Mateo Point
Groundfish Management Area —
82
Top: California SheepheadPEAK SEASON
California Sheephead 82 · Leopard Shark 82 · California Halibut 81
0006121824
2 kt W
H 10:50 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:45 AM · 0.3 m
San Mateo Point
Groundfish Management Area Southern
82
Top: Barred Sand BassSHOULDER SEASON
Barred Sand Bass 82 · Yellowtail 82 · California Sheephead 82
0006121824
3 kt SW
H 10:50 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:45 AM · 0.3 m
San Mateo Point
Groundfish Management Area —
85
Top: YellowtailPEAK SEASON
Yellowtail 85 · California Sheephead 82 · California Halibut 81
0006121824
2 kt W
H 10:50 PM · 1.5 m
L 4:45 AM · 0.3 m

Pendleton Artificial Reef is an outer-exposed sand flat off San Diego, where structure placed on the bottom draws fish across depths of 15 to 50 feet. Calico Bass hold here through their June and July peak, taking plastics on leadheads such as swimbaits and paddle tails, with surface iron and live sardines working the same water. White Seabass move through from March into July and respond to live squid and live sardines, while California Halibut fish well March through June on drifts with live anchovies and swimbaits along the sand. Rockfish and Lingcod use the deeper reef edges, with Lingcod concentrating October through February for vertical jigging with metal jigs and swimbaits on lead heads, and dropper-loop rigs baited with squid or mackerel strips producing across the aggregate. California Sheephead round out the reef through late summer, taking squid strips and cut squid worked hard on the bottom.

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Pendleton Artificial Reef (Camp Pendleton Reef) is one of the spots we track around San Diego. See every scored spot in California.

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