Santa Cruz Fishing Report
Updated . Scores and conditions are for this date and refresh through the day.
Fair windows around Santa Cruz on October 31, 2026. Black Rockfish, peak window 8 AM to 2 PM, 6 fishable hours.
Forecast scores cover 6 of 6 spots around Santa Cruz today.
Conditions
- Water
- 65°F
- Wind
- 6 kt from the NW
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.
- Black RockfishPeak window 8 AM to 2 PM6 fishable hours
Leading spot: Santa Cruz West Breakwater Light
jigging (metal jigs, swimbaits, leadhead jigs)
- Blue RockfishPeak window 8 AM to 2 PM6 fishable hours
Leading spot: Santa Cruz West Breakwater Light
jigging (metal jigs, shrimp flies, swimbaits)
- CabezonPeak window 8 AM to 2 PM6 fishable hours
Leading spot: Santa Cruz West Breakwater Light
rockfishing (shrimp flies, metal jigs, swimbaits)
- California HalibutPeak window 8 AM to 2 PM6 fishable hours
Leading spot: Santa Cruz West Breakwater Light
drift fishing (live anchovies, live smelt, shiner perch)
- LingcodPeak window 8 AM to 2 PM6 fishable hours
Leading spot: Santa Cruz West Breakwater Light
jigging (metal jigs, swimbaits, lead-head jigs)
- Copper RockfishPeak window 8 AM to 1 PM5 fishable hours
Leading spot: Point Santa Cruz Hump
bottom fishing (shrimp flies, squid strips, swimbaits)
In a strong month
These species rate good or better in October on the season curves for Santa Cruz. A species with no curve is left off, not called closed.
- Lingcod · good
- Black Rockfish · good
Tides
Read from MONTEREY, MONTEREY BAY. Santa Cruz has no tide gauge of its own; this is the station most of its spots use.
- high tide4:55 AM · 3.9 ft
- low tide8:33 AM · 3.4 ft
- high tide2:32 PM · 5.5 ft
- low tide10:27 PM · -0.5 ft
What you can keep in Santa Cruz today
- LingcodKeep2 a day · min 22"Open at all 6 spots we cover
- California HalibutKeep5 a day · min 22"Open at all 4 spots we cover
- Copper RockfishKeep1 a dayOpen at all 5 spots we cover
- Black RockfishKeep10 a dayOpen at all 4 spots we cover
- Blue RockfishKeep10 a dayOpen at all 3 spots we cover
- CabezonKeep10 a dayOpen at all 4 spots we cover
- Chinook SalmonClosedShut at all 6 spots 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 Cruz
›What is the Santa Cruz fishing report for October 31, 2026?
Fair windows around Santa Cruz on October 31, 2026. Black Rockfish, peak window 8 AM to 2 PM, 6 fishable hours.
›Which species is the forecast scoring around Santa Cruz today?
Black Rockfish, Blue Rockfish, Cabezon, California Halibut, Lingcod and Copper Rockfish have a forecast window or fishable hours around Santa Cruz on October 31, 2026.
›What is the water temperature in Santa Cruz today?
The daylight water reading for Santa Cruz on October 31, 2026 is 65°F.
›How is the wind for fishing in Santa Cruz today?
The daylight mean wind around Santa Cruz on October 31, 2026 is 6 kt from the NW.
›Which species are in a strong month around Santa Cruz in October?
On the season curves for Santa Cruz, Lingcod (good) and Black Rockfish (good) rate good or better in October. A species with no curve is left off, not called closed.