Tides, Fish, and Lures: Your Guide to Successful Pacific Ocean Fishing Off California

For December 7, 2024, if you're planning to head out for some fishing in the Pacific Ocean off California, here's what you need to know: ### Tides and Weather Today's tide times are as follows: low tide at 2:24 AM, high tide at 8:07 AM, low tide at 2:07 PM, and high tide at 8:40 PM. Sunrise is at 7:10 AM, and sunset will be at 4:44 PM. The tide heights are relatively mild, which should make for decent fishing conditions. ### Fish Activity The recreational fishery for Pacific halibut has closed as of November 15, 2024, or when the quota was reached, so you won't be targeting those today. However, California halibut fishing remains open year-round, with a daily bag and possession limit of two fish north of Point Sur, Monterey County, and a minimum size limit of 22 inches. For other species, the recreational fishery for tunas is open year-round, but you'll need to check the specific bag and possession limits. Rock crab fishing is also open year-round, with a daily bag limit of 35 crab and a minimum size limit of 4 inches. ### Recent Catches Yesterday, there were reports of some rock crab catches, particularly around the coastal areas north of Point Sur. For those targeting California halibut, the best spots have been near the kelp beds and sandy bottoms. There have been no significant reports of tuna catches in the recreational sector recently. ### Best Lures and Bait For California halibut, live bait such as anchovies or sardines works well, as do soft plastic lures like curly tail grubs. For rock crab, baited traps with squid or fish guts are highly effective. ### Hot Spots One of the hot spots for California halibut is around the kelp beds near Monterey Bay. Another good spot is the area just north of Point Sur, where the bottom transitions from sand to rock. For rock crab, the coastal areas around Half Moon Bay and the Farallon Islands have been productive. ### Additional Notes Remember to check the latest regulations and any closures due to domoic acid levels, especially for species like Pacific razor clams, which are currently closed in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. With the mild tides and decent weather, today should be a good day to get out and catch some fish. Just make sure to follow all the local regulations and respect the marine environment. Good luck out there This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.