Today's Best Fishing & Tide Times for
Santa Cruz, United States 🇺🇸

Solunar
Tides
Weather
7-Day
Spots

How to use our fishing calendar

Planning your next fishing trip in Santa Cruz, United States ? Today is a good day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular solunar tables, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, nearby tide chart, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...

  • Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise solunar tables and the best moon phases.
  • Use the Tide Clock section to sync bite times with high and low tide chart.
  • Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
  • Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.

Santa Cruz, California offers year-round saltwater and freshwater fishing with easy access to the Pacific Ocean, Monterey Bay, and nearby reservoirs. Anglers target rockfish, halibut, striped bass, salmon, lingcod and more from beaches, boats, and the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf, making this coastal town a top fishing destination on the Central Coast. read more...

Tide Station:

Sun and Moon Times

The sun will be at it's highest point at . Today we have 14:37 hours of daylight. For shallow water fishing the twilight periods are often the most productive fishing times, especially on days when a major or minor time will coincide with twilight. In low light conditions predators have better cover for their ambush and often hunt in shallow water.
  • Nautical Twilight begins:
    Sunrise:
  • Sunset:
    Nautical Twilight ends:
  • Moonrise:
  • Moonset:
  • Moon over:
  • Moon under:
  • Visibility:
    90%
  • Waning Gibbous - 90% illuminated Waning Gibbous
Next New Moon in ~11 days on 14th June
  • Distance to earth:
    402,134 km
    Proximity:
    8.4 %
We can compare the current moon distance to it's minimum and maximum distance from earth and express that as proximity. A high proximity means the moon is closer to earth. At 50% it would be at it's mean distance. A high proximity causes big tides, currents and has a direct effect on increased bite times. A proximity greater than 90% indicates a super moon.
Moon Phases for Santa Cruz
Full Moon
Sun, 31 May
New Moon
Sun, 14 Jun
Full Moon
Mon, 29 Jun

Solunar Bite Times

Settings
Display Settings:
  • good Day
12 1 2 3 4 5 AM 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
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Best fishing times:
  • major Time:
    02:35 am - 04:35 am
  • minor Time:
    07:18 am - 09:18 am
  • major Time:
    02:55 pm - 04:55 pm
  • minor Time:
    10:32 pm - 12:32 am
All times are displayed in the America/Los_Angeles timezone and are automatically adjusted to daylight savings. The current timezone offset is -7 hours. Green and yellow areas indicate the best fishing times (major and minor). Blue areas indicate high and low tides. The center shows the current moon phase which is a Waning Gibbous at 90% lumination. According to the Solunar Theory, today is a good day for fishing, but you need to cross check this with the current weather forecast for a final decision. Currently we have a minor fishing time. The next best fishing time will be tomorrow. The gray time indicator displays the current local time.
America/Los_Angeles • Wed, 3 Jun 23:56 • 36.974, -122.031

Tides Times for Fishing: Wed, 3 Jun

The Tideclock displays the tide status and the hours until the next tide. Currently the tide is rising and the next high tide is in 23 minutes.
Tide Graph
07:30 am 03:04 pm 06:12 pm AM PM 3.35 ft -0.59 ft height hour: 12 2 4 6 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 12
Times
Tide Time Height
low 07:30 am -0.59 ft
high 03:04 pm 3.35 ft
low 06:12 pm 3.05 ft
Tide Coefficient at 03:04 pm is 43
For fishing, stronger tides are often favourable as they cause stronger currents and more motion on the sea bed. The above tidal coefficients give us an indication of how strong the tides are compared to their average. A value over 90 indicates very strong tides, known as spring tides. A low value indicates weak tides, known as neap tides. The tidal coefficient can range from 20 to 120 with a mean value of 70. A higher number usually indicates better fishing.
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Current Fishing Weather

Updating Weather Infos...

7 Day Fishing Weather

The weather plays an important role in fishing. Wind strenght and direction often determine where you can fish and where fish might be holding. Although high pressure is usually good for fishing, steep pressure changes often trigger feeding frenzies and are great times for fishing. Of course temperature has also a strong effect on fishing and comfort on the water. So make sure to cross check the weather forecast with the solunar fishing times to determine the best times to go fishing. The graph below shows you the 3 hourly weather progression over the next 7 days. Scroll the graph left or right to see more.
Selected Weather Station: Santa Cruz, US
Temperature
Wave Height
Swell Height
Wind
Pressure
Humidity
Cloudcover
Rain Precipitation
UV Index
Retrieving Weather...

7 Day Fishing Forecast Calendar
Date Major Bite Times Minor Bite Times Sun Moon Moonphase Tide Times
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Waning Gibbous moon phase
Waning Gibbous
low: , -0.69 ft
high: , 3.28 ft , Coeff: 40
low: , 2.99 ft
high: , 5.12 ft , Coeff: 108
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Waning Gibbous moon phase
Waning Gibbous
low: , -0.59 ft
high: , 3.35 ft , Coeff: 43
low: , 3.05 ft
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Waning Gibbous moon phase
Waning Gibbous
high: , 4.92 ft , Coeff: 101
low: , -0.46 ft
high: , 3.41 ft , Coeff: 45
low: , 3.12 ft
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Waning Gibbous moon phase
Waning Gibbous
high: , 4.66 ft , Coeff: 91
low: , -0.26 ft
high: , 3.54 ft , Coeff: 50
low: , 3.12 ft
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Third Quarter Moon moon phase
Third Quarter Moon
high: , 4.3 ft , Coeff: 78
low: , -0 ft
high: , 3.74 ft , Coeff: 57
low: , 2.92 ft
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Third Quarter Moon moon phase
Third Quarter Moon
high: , 3.9 ft , Coeff: 63
low: , 0.3 ft
high: , 4.04 ft , Coeff: 68
low: , 2.49 ft
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Third Quarter Moon moon phase
Third Quarter Moon
high: , 3.48 ft , Coeff: 48
low: , 0.66 ft
high: , 4.4 ft , Coeff: 81
-
-
-
-
R:
S: 		R:
S: 		Third Quarter Moon moon phase
Third Quarter Moon
low: , 1.84 ft
high: , 3.15 ft , Coeff: 36
low: , 1.05 ft
high: , 4.82 ft , Coeff: 97
*bold times indicate best fishing times around sunrise or sunset

Fishing Overview Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz fishing revolves around the rich, upwelling-fed waters of Monterey Bay and a series of small lakes and reservoirs in the nearby hills. The city’s combination of productive rock structure, sandy beaches and deep offshore canyons creates a diverse, year-round fishery accessible to shore-based anglers and boaters alike.

Seasonality in Santa Cruz is distinct. Spring brings baitfish and early halibut into the shallows from Capitola to Natural Bridges, while rockfish start biting harder on the reef edges. Summer is peak time for California halibut, surfperch and rockfish, with occasional salmon and white sea bass pushing close in. Fall remains strong for bottom fish and surf species as water cools and crowds thin. Winter shifts focus to surfperch, sharks and rays on the beaches and the wharf, plus stocked trout and resident bass in nearby freshwater lakes when ocean conditions are rough.

Most visiting anglers start at the Santa Cruz Wharf. Here you can catch mackerel, jacksmelt, perch, small rockfish, and seasonally halibut, sharks and bat rays. Use light spinning gear with Sabiki rigs tipped with small pieces of shrimp or squid to load up on baitfish, then fish a sliding sinker rig on heavier tackle for halibut or leopard sharks along the pilings and sandy bottom. Focus on tide changes and areas where pilings create shade and current breaks.

Surf fishing around Santa Cruz is excellent, especially at Seabright, Twin Lakes, Pleasure Point area beaches, New Brighton and the long stretches north of town toward Davenport. For barred surfperch, a 9–10 ft surf rod with 10–15 lb braid, 8–12 lb leader, and a hi-lo rig with 1–2 oz of lead works well. Sand crabs, gulp-style sandworm imitations or small grubs in camo, motor oil and root beer are top producers. Target troughs and cuts, especially on a rising tide when waves reveal deeper lanes close to shore.

Boat anglers working out of Santa Cruz Harbor or the launch at Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf focus on reef systems like the Mile Buoy, Lighthouse Reef, and deeper structure further down the bay. For rockfish and lingcod, run 30–80 lb braid with a short fluorocarbon leader, 6–10 oz weights and 4–8 inch swimbaits or shrimp flies. Drift across structure, watching your sonar for rock piles and bait schools. Lingcod often hit larger swimbaits or whole squid bounced close to bottom, especially at first light.

Halibut tactics center on sandy flats adjacent to reefs and kelp lines. Slow-trolling or drifting live anchovies, sardines, or small mackerel just off bottom is the go-to approach. If live bait is scarce, 4–6 inch soft plastics on 1–2 oz jig heads worked with a slow hop-and-drag retrieve can be equally effective, especially along the edges of bait schools marked on sonar.

Freshwater options near Santa Cruz include small reservoirs and ponds that hold largemouth bass, panfish and stocked trout. Standard bass tactics—finesse worms, small jigs and topwater baits at dawn and dusk—produce around submerged timber, weed edges and rock transitions. Light spinning gear with PowerBait, nightcrawlers or small spinners covers trout and panfish.

Regardless of where you fish in Santa Cruz, success hinges on reading conditions: use marine forecasts to pick calmer days, fish tide changes in the surf and around the wharf, and key on bait concentrations for boat trips. Matching your gear to the specific structure—light setups for perch and baitfish, heavier tackle for rockfish, lingcod and sharks—will dramatically improve your hookup and landing rates in this productive Central Coast fishery.

Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Santa Cruz area

Wharf's or Jetties are good places to wet a line and meet other fishermen. They often produce a fresh feed of fish and are also great to catch bait fish. As they are often well lit, they also provide a good opportunity for night fishing. There are 3 wharf(s) in this area.

Steamship Wharf (historical) - 1.51788902657km , Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf - 1.81877398959km , Capitola Fishing Wharf - 6.89041219458km

Beaches and Bays are ideal places for land-based fishing. If the beach is shallow and the water is clear then twilight times are usually the best times, especially when they coincide with a major or minor fishing time. Often the points on either side of a beach are the best spots. Or if the beach is large then look for irregularities in the breaking waves, indicating sandbanks and holes. We found 13 beaches and bays in this area.

Cowell Beach - 1.53983612392km , Bay Street Reservoir 23-003 Dam - 1.59294452794km , Santa Cruz Main Beach - 1.59982370741km , Seabright Beach - 2.35840370835km , Twin Lakes Beach - 2.72835604577km , Lincoln Beach - 3.5534526498km , Natural Bridges State Beach - 3.61553994151km , Wilder Beach - 4.86405875928km , Moran Lake Beach - 5.09755248531km , Hooper Beach - 6.74200714561km , Capitola Beach - 7.0550141942km , Three Mile Beach - 7.42737876717km , Four Mile Beach - 8.23232391046km

Harbours and Marinas can often times be productive fishing spots for land based fishing as their sheltered environment attracts a wide variety of bait fish. Similar to river mouths, harbour entrances are also great places to fish as lots of fish will move in and out with the rising and falling tides. There are 1 main harbours in this area.

Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor - 2.68795692128km

We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Santa Cruz. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.

Carbonera Creek - 0.76754057587km , Nearys Lagoon - 1.25470963938km , Steamship Wharf (historical) - 1.51788902657km , Cowell Beach - 1.53983612392km , Bay Street Reservoir 23-003 Dam - 1.59294452794km , Santa Cruz Main Beach - 1.59982370741km , Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf - 1.81877398959km , San Lorenzo River Mouth - 1.89942915432km , San Lorenzo River - 1.97451701841km , Branciforte Creek - 2.07023690344km , Seabright Beach - 2.35840370835km , Santa Cruz Anchorage - 2.41487234843km , Mitchell Cove - 2.57692820426km , Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor - 2.68795692128km , Woods Lagoon - 2.71217975086km , Twin Lakes Beach - 2.72835604577km , Cowell Reservoir 1-060 Dam - 2.8813066493km , Arana Marsh - 3.06075330303km , Schwan Lagoon - 3.34295573394km , Lincoln Beach - 3.5534526498km , Natural Bridges State Beach - 3.61553994151km , Bonita Lagoon - 3.7158400554km , Powder Mill Creek - 3.94398567754km , Sunny Cove - 3.99513183054km , Younger Lagoon - 4.10353048227km , Corcoran Lagoon - 4.5478064358km , Wilder Creek - 4.66351446876km , Meder Creek - 4.85264912911km , Wilder Beach - 4.86405875928km , Moran Lake Beach - 5.09755248531km , Moran Lake - 5.16095422384km , Hooper Beach - 6.74200714561km , Capitola Fishing Wharf - 6.89041219458km , Soquel Creek - 7.03099117km , Capitola Beach - 7.0550141942km , Bates Creek - 7.27060639442km , Three Mile Beach - 7.42737876717km , Boulder Brook - 7.91889961525km , Gold Gulch Creek - 8.01414313433km , Four Mile Beach - 8.23232391046km

Harbours and Marinas Beaches Bays Wharfs Points,Reefs,etc
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