ReelCaster
Back to map
California Sheephead · Open

Santa Barbara

34.39°N · 119.72°W

Species
tap to switch species
Best score for the day · 8 AM
88/100
GOOD

Now 25 · 11 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
11 PM
Now
Score
25
Tough
Tide
4.9 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
5 kn
ENE · steady
Sea state
Choppy
3.1 ft
Air temp
67°
Warm
Weather
Clear
2% cloud
Hour 11 PM. Score 25 Tough. Tide 4.9ft Rising ▲. Current +0.3kn Slack. Wind 5kn ENE G8. Sea 3.1ft Chop. Air 66.6°.
Why this score
Current
0.4 kn light
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
Open year-round to divers and shore-based anglers only (not boat-based anglers outside specified season).
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Open year-round to divers and shore-based anglers. Open to boat-based anglers March 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Daily bag/possession limit is 2 fish. Minimum size 12 inches total length.
Other species here
Calico Bass ClosedBarred Sand Bass Retention openBonito ClosedWhite Seabass Retention openSquid ClosedLeopard Shark Retention openCalifornia Halibut Retention openKelp Bass 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

Shoulder seasonShoulder season for California Sheephead
~13 more weeks in shoulder
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season
SPOT PROFILE
DEPTH
20-80 ft
Rock
LAUNCH
Not mapped
PEAK
Shoulder
STRUCTURE
Kelp Reef
Outer Exposed

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Gato Canyon
Groundfish Management Area —
87
Top: California ScorpionfishSHOULDER SEASON
California Scorpionfish 87 · California Halibut 87 · Yellowtail 87
0006121824
3 kt S
H — · 0.0 m
L 5:17 AM · 0.4 m
San Pedro Point
Groundfish Management Area —
84
Top: California HalibutSHOULDER SEASON
California Halibut 84 · Barred Sand Bass 84 · White Seabass 84
0006121824
16 kt W
H — · 0.0 m
L 5:10 AM · 0.3 m
West Anacapa Island
Groundfish Management Area —
85
Top: California HalibutSHOULDER SEASON
California Halibut 85 · California Sheephead 85 · Barred Sand Bass 85
0006121824
4 kt E
H — · 0.0 m
L 5:10 AM · 0.3 m
Cat Rock
Groundfish Management Area —
85
Top: California HalibutSHOULDER SEASON
California Halibut 85 · California Sheephead 85 · White Seabass 85
0006121824
4 kt E
H — · 0.0 m
L 5:10 AM · 0.3 m

Santa Barbara is an outer-exposed kelp reef set over rocky bottom off the California coast, with fishing depths running from 20 to 80 feet. The reef holds a strong lineup of targets, including Kelp Bass and White Seabass peaking March through August, California Halibut from April through August, California Sheephead through the summer from June to September, and California Scorpionfish concentrating in May and June. White Seabass respond to live bait fishing with live squid, sardines, or mackerel worked through the kelp, while California Halibut come to drift fishing over the sand-and-rock edges with live anchovies, smelt, or sardines. Sheephead and Scorpionfish hold tight to the rock and take bottom-fished market squid, cut mackerel, and shrimp, and Kelp Bass move on live anchovies and sardines or plastics such as swimbaits and leadhead jigs. The mix of rock structure and standing kelp across this depth band keeps fish stacked on the reef through the warmer months.

CUSTOM ALERT
Notify me when Santa Barbara scores 75+
Email free · SMS available with Reelcaster Pro
Got questions?

Santa Barbara is one of the spots we track around Santa Barbara. See every scored spot in California.

Looking for the full interactive map? Open Explore.