Santa Barbara Fishing Report
Updated . Scores and conditions are for this date and refresh through the day.
Fair windows around Santa Barbara on October 31, 2026. Bonito, peak window 12 PM to 7 PM, 8 fishable hours. Kelp Bass is the species recent catch reports point to around Santa Barbara.
Forecast scores cover 4 of 4 spots around Santa Barbara today.
Conditions
- Water
- 71°F
- Wind
- 6 kt from the SW
Daylight readings across the spots that scored. Wind is the mean, not the gust.
Best windows today
Each window is the forecast at the spot leading that species today. Fishable hours are a count, and they can fall outside the peak window when the bite splits.
- BonitoPeak window 12 PM to 7 PM8 fishable hours
Leading spot: Gato Canyon
- YellowtailPeak window 12 PM to 7 PM8 fishable hours
Leading spot: Gato Canyon
live bait fishing (live sardines, live mackerel, live anchovies)
- California HalibutPeak window 4 PM to 6 PM6 fishable hours
Leading spot: Santa Barbara
drift fishing (live anchovies, live smelt, sardines)
- California ScorpionfishPeak window 4 PM to 6 PM6 fishable hours
Leading spot: Santa Barbara
bottom fishing (squid, cut mackerel, shrimp)
- California SheepheadPeak window 4 PM to 6 PM6 fishable hours
Leading spot: Santa Barbara
bottom fishing (live shrimp, market squid, cut mackerel)
- Kelp BassPeak window 4 PM to 6 PM6 fishable hours
Leading spot: Santa Barbara
bait fishing (live anchovies, live sardines, squid)
- White SeabassPeak window 4 PM to 6 PM6 fishable hours
Leading spot: Santa Barbara
live bait fishing (live squid, live sardines, live mackerel)
In a strong month
These species rate good or better in October on the season curves for Santa Barbara. A species with no curve is left off, not called closed.
- Lingcod · excellent
- California Sheephead · good
- Nearshore Rockfish · good
Tides
Read from Gaviota State Park, Pacific Ocean. Santa Barbara has no tide gauge of its own; this is the station most of its spots use.
- high tide4:21 AM · 3.4 ft
- low tide7:05 AM · 3.3 ft
- high tide1:38 PM · 5.4 ft
- low tide9:48 PM · -0.2 ft
27 recent reports of fish landed around Santa Barbara in the last 21 days across 1 spot. Counted from posts that reported a landing, not from a count of fish.
What you can keep in Santa Barbara today
- California HalibutKeep5 a day · min 22"Open at all 4 spots we cover
- Kelp BassKeep5 a day · min 14"Open at all 3 spots we cover
- White SeabassKeep3 a day · min 28"Open at all 1 spot we cover
- YellowtailKeep10 a day · min 24"Open at all 1 spot we cover
- California SheepheadKeep2 a day · min 12"Open at all 2 spots we cover
- California ScorpionfishKeep5 a dayOpen at all 4 spots we cover
- LingcodClosedShut at all 2 spots we cover
- Nearshore RockfishClosedShut at all 1 spot we cover
Rules differ between groundfish management areas and change in season. Check CDFW for the groundfish management area you are fishing before you keep anything.
Common questions about Santa Barbara
›What is the Santa Barbara fishing report for October 31, 2026?
Fair windows around Santa Barbara on October 31, 2026. Bonito, peak window 12 PM to 7 PM, 8 fishable hours. Kelp Bass is the species recent catch reports point to around Santa Barbara.
›Which species is the forecast scoring around Santa Barbara today?
Bonito, Yellowtail, California Halibut, California Scorpionfish, California Sheephead, Kelp Bass and White Seabass have a forecast window or fishable hours around Santa Barbara on October 31, 2026.
›What is the water temperature in Santa Barbara today?
The daylight water reading for Santa Barbara on October 31, 2026 is 71°F.
›How is the wind for fishing in Santa Barbara today?
The daylight mean wind around Santa Barbara on October 31, 2026 is 6 kt from the SW.
›What is biting in Santa Barbara right now?
Kelp Bass is the species recent catch reports point to around Santa Barbara.
›Which species are in a strong month around Santa Barbara in October?
On the season curves for Santa Barbara, Lingcod (excellent), California Sheephead (good) and Nearshore Rockfish (good) rate good or better in October. A species with no curve is left off, not called closed.