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California Sheephead · Open

Cat Rock

34.00°N · 119.42°W

Species
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Best score for the day · 12 PM
85/100
GOOD

Now 26 · 11 PM PDT

BEST WINDOW
7 AM-4 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

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Conditions
Time
11 PM
Now
Score
26
Tough
Tide
4.9 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
4 kn
ESE · steady
Sea state
Rough
4.0 ft
Air temp
71°
Warm
Weather
Clear
1% cloud
Hour 11 PM. Score 26 Tough. Tide 4.9ft Rising ▲. Current +0.3kn Slack. Wind 4kn ESE G4. Sea 4.0ft Rough. Air 71.4°.
Why this score
Current
0.3 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
Lingcod Catch & releaseCalico Bass ClosedBonito ClosedWhite Seabass Retention openLeopard Shark Retention openCalifornia Halibut Retention openCalifornia 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

Peak seasonCurrently in peak season for California Sheephead
~1 more week at peak
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season
SPOT PROFILE
DEPTH
1-65 ft
Rock
LAUNCH
Not mapped
PEAK
Peak now
STRUCTURE
Drop Off
Outer Exposed

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

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
Anacapa Island
Groundfish Management Area —
85
Top: California SheepheadPEAK SEASON
California Sheephead 85 · Barred Sand Bass 85 · White Seabass 85
0006121824
4 kt E
H — · 0.0 m
L 5:10 AM · 0.3 m
Middle Anacapa Island
Groundfish Management Area —
85
Top: California SheepheadPEAK SEASON
California Sheephead 85 · Barred Sand Bass 85 · Yellowtail 85
0006121824
3 kt E
H — · 0.0 m
L 5:10 AM · 0.3 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

Cat Rock is an outer-exposed rocky drop-off off Ventura, California, where the bottom falls from the shallows down to about 65 feet. The structure holds California Halibut and Calico Bass through their spring-into-summer peak from March to August, while White Seabass move in from February to July and Lingcod hold on the rock through winter and again from October to December. Halibut come to drift fishing with live anchovies, live smelt, squid, or sardines across the sloping bottom, and Calico Bass respond to plastics like swimbaits, plastic grubs, and flukes worked tight to the rock. Lingcod hold near the deeper structure and take vertical jigging with metal jigs, swimbaits, or leadhead jigs, and White Seabass fall to live bait fishing with live squid, live sardines, or live mackerel. California Sheephead peak from July to September over the same rocky ground and take bait fishing with live shrimp, market shrimp, squid, or mussels.

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Cat Rock is one of the spots we track around Ventura. See every scored spot in California.

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