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California Sheephead · Open

18 Spot (LA Harbor Rockpile)

33.69°N · 118.25°W

Species
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Best score for the day · 11 AM
86/100
GOOD

Now 26 · 10 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
10 PM
Now
Score
26
Tough
Tide
4.9 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
2 kn
WNW · steady
Sea state
Choppy
2.8 ft
Air temp
71°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
45% cloud
Hour 10 PM. Score 26 Tough. Tide 4.9ft Rising ▲. Current +0.6kn Flood. Wind 2kn WNW G4. Sea 2.8ft Chop. Air 71.4°.
Why this score
Current
0.5 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
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
Lingcod Catch & releaseOcean Whitefish Retention openBonito ClosedRockfish (Aggregate) ClosedCalifornia Halibut 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
~9 more weeks in shoulder
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff seasonRelease only
SPOT PROFILE
DEPTH
120-240 ft
LAUNCH
Not mapped
PEAK
Shoulder
STRUCTURE
—

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Angels Gate (LA Breakwater)
Groundfish Management Area —
86
Top: California SheepheadSHOULDER SEASON
California Sheephead 86 · California Halibut 86 · Barred Sand Bass 86
0006121824
2 kt W
H 10:51 PM · 1.6 m
L 4:47 AM · 0.3 m
Los Angeles Harbor - Cabrillo Beach Kelp / Angels Gate
Groundfish Management Area —
86
Top: California SheepheadSHOULDER SEASON
California Sheephead 86 · Yellowtail 86
0006121824
2 kt W
H 10:51 PM · 1.6 m
L 4:47 AM · 0.3 m
Horseshoe Kelp
Groundfish Management Area Southern
85
Top: Kelp Bass
Kelp Bass 85 · Barred Sand Bass 84 · California Sheephead 84
0006121824
5 kt W
H 10:51 PM · 1.6 m
L 4:47 AM · 0.3 m
LA Harbor (San Pedro) - Cabrillo Beach Reef
Groundfish Management Area Southern
84
Top: YellowtailPEAK SEASON
Yellowtail 84 · Barred Sand Bass 84 · California Sheephead 84
0006121824
2 kt W
H 10:51 PM · 1.6 m
L 4:47 AM · 0.3 m

The 18 Spot, also known as the LA Harbor Rockpile, is a rocky bottom structure off Santa Monica, California, sitting in water that runs 120 to 240 feet deep. The rockpile holds Lingcod through its September to February peak and supports a year-round Rockfish fishery, with California Sheephead most active from April to September and Ocean Whitefish concentrated in the June to August window. Anglers work the depth with vertical jigging using metal jigs or leadhead jigs with swimbaits for Lingcod, while dropper loop rigs baited with squid and cut mackerel produce Rockfish and Whitefish over the same hard bottom. California Sheephead come to bottom fishing with live shrimp, squid, or crab worked close to the rocks. In the warmer months, California Halibut show from March to July on drifted live anchovies and sardines, and Pacific Bonito move through from May to September, taking live bait chumming with anchovies and sardines.

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18 Spot (LA Harbor Rockpile) is one of the spots we track around Santa Monica. See every scored spot in California.

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