Leo Carrillo (Sequit Point)Malibu
dangerousexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Rocky point with calico hunting west of the Dume MPA complex.
Google MapsMalibu spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras
2.6/10
Not today
best window15:00–18:00
wave 1.4 m
updated 12:51
Conditions window12:00–15:00
don't go fish
Hs 1.22 mperiod 11.5 s head-onwind 21→24surge 5.3viz 1 m
1.22 mup to ~2.44 · 195° head-on
11.5 sswell building
21→24gusts 24 km/h
5.3pounding the rocks
0.08m/s
1 mrecent swell
22.6°C5 mm + hood
▲17:00tide rising
Atmosphere20 kmlandmarks visible
moderatemoonrise
- wave 1.2 m (occasionally up to ~2.4 m)
- wind-wave — choppy surface
- flood — water rising
confidence mediumday
Whole week — tap a day. is driving swell right now.
Selected day
Windows, hours
and the day's trends.
The day is picked above, in the hero. Here are that day's windows, the hour-by-hour map and the trends. Tap a window to break down the conditions.
Wednesday · today2026-07-22
05:59–20:03 · first quarter
▲ 06:00▼ 09:00▲ 17:00 · 0.8 m
Hours (06→20)
12
15
18
Day's trends
Tide-0.29 m
Wave1.76 m
Wind5 km/h
Water22 °C
fish activity: moonset 00:20 · moderate · moon underfoot 07:30 · high · moonrise 14:44 · moderate · moon overhead 19:50 · high
Solo risk: carry a float · tell someone your plan and exit time · doubt = don't go. A model-based planner; the call is made on site.
The water column
Visibility and what drives it — post-storm clearing, river plume, temperature and the thermocline.
What it is
A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.
spearo.app folds wind, wave, swell period, visibility, tides, water temperature and risk into a single verdict — go to the spot or not. It computes 7 days ahead from open marine models (Open-Meteo, IPMA), with no sign-up and no accounts. Built for solo spearfishing off the rocks, where any mistake costs dearly.
Now live: 1152 spots across 189 stretches of coast — mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.
See all spotsThe seabed
Relief and bottom type, tides, and the depths of each spot.
On the rock
The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.
The models set the window. Whether you go in is read only at the water: count the sets, watch the surge on the entry. If in doubt, you don't get in.
Entry points
Where to get in
off the rocks.
Scouted entries, coloured by today. The colour is the sea state at the spot, not a guarantee: the wash and a slippery entry you judge on site.
Open the seafloor map
Paradise Cove ReefMalibu
dangerousexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Sheltered cove reef east of Point Dume; calico and halibut — outside the Point Dume SMR by 0.24 km, do not drift west.
Google MapsPoint DumeMalibu
closedexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Iconic spur-and-groove headland inside the Point Dume SMR — no-take, viewing only.
Google MapsSOLO is the biggest risk: underwater you can black out from lack of oxygen silently and fatally, with no one around. Solo is never truly «safe». Below are the best weather windows; carry a buoy, tell someone your plan and exit time, and any doubt — don't go.
Surfacing
Cameras, map and reference — to hand as you come up.
Live cameras, map & reference
Cameras · live
Look at the water
right now.
Check the cam BEFORE you leave. Foam, brown/green murk, or waves washing the entry rocks = No-go. At night/in fog the cam is useless — treat it as «unknown», NOT «green».
Reference
What's in season,
what the law says.
In season now
- white seabass
- California halibut
- California yellowtail
- California sheephead
- kelp/sand bass
- rockfish
- lingcod
Law
- ✓California sport fishing licence (+Ocean Enhancement Validation south of Point Arguello). No separate spearfishing permit.
- ✓No take: giant sea bass, garibaldi, salmon; abalone closed to 2036. network: no-take, by zone. Lobster hand-take only.
- ⛔ 🚫 Giant (black) sea bass and garibaldi — fully protected, no take. Red abalone — fishery CLOSED until Apr 1 2036. Salmon — no spear.
- ⛔ 🚫 network: State Marine Reserve () — no-take; — varies (check the specific zone). Lobster — hand-take only. No spear within 100 yd of a stream mouth north of Ventura.
US spearfishing law is state-by-state. License, spearable species, powerhead rules and distances vary; federal sanctuaries (Gray's Reef, the Keys, Flower Garden Banks) ban spearfishing. Always confirm with the state agency and local ordinances.
Safety protocol
- Sets: watch the wave trains ≥15 min before entering; Hmax ≈ 2×Hs, the wash can run 50 m past the foam line. A lull >10 min with period >12 s = a big set «overdue», do NOT enter; enter right after a full set passes and re-check at minute 30.
- Exit FIRST: find your exit AND a backup before entering. On a rocky/boulder shore a 0.5 m rise in swell can make the exit impossible — getting pinned/unable to climb out is the main killer.
- Headland rip: prominent points often have a permanent topographic rip regardless of the model — locate it, enter/exit on the windward side, never swim against it.
- Cold: wetsuit per the SST chip; the first shiver = a metabolic surge and a drop in breath-hold → get out at the first steady shiver. Cap the session at 45–60 min below 15 °C.
- Solo discipline: buoy up; tell someone the spot and exit time; conservative breath-hold (never push it in cold/murky/surfy water); visibility <3 m — don't enter.
- Afternoon wind: on many coasts the wind builds from midday — plan to be out of the water by midday; the chop builds — get out.
- UV 11:00–15:00 (UVI ≥6): sunscreen and cover up on the surface interval.
- Solo is a fundamental risk (hypoxic blackout with no buddy). Any doubt = No-go.
Spearfishing in Malibu: spots, seasons and rules
Malibu has attractive kelp and reef, but the legal map is as important as the swell map. Point Dume State Marine Reserve is no-take. The two listed open choices are Paradise Cove Reef, just east of the Dume protected complex, and Leo Carrillo at Sequit Point farther west. Spearfishing Malibu works best when swell is low enough to keep kelp, sand and exit routes readable, and when the MPA boundary is confirmed before entry.
TL;DR
- Spearfishing Malibu is a Point Dume boundary exercise: the SMR is no-take, while Paradise Cove and Leo Carrillo sit outside the hard closure.
- Paradise Cove is the sheltered calico and halibut reef, but the record places it only 0.24 km outside the SMR.
- Malibu water visibility improves with small southwest swell and lighter wind, then falls quickly when Point Dume wraps surge into kelp.
- California requires a sport fishing license and Ocean Enhancement Validation here; giant sea bass, garibaldi, salmon and abalone are not targets.
Best spearfishing spots in Malibu
Point Dume is excluded because it is marked protected and the CDFW page treats the SMR as no-take. The usable entries are outside that hard closure but still need a live MPA check.
| Spot | Type | Depth | Level | Access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paradise Cove Reef | Sheltered cove reef | Shallow reef, sand lanes and kelp edge | Intermediate | Shore or small-boat approach east of Point Dume | Good for calico bass and halibut in clean water. The margin from Point Dume SMR is narrow, so do not drift west. |
| Leo Carrillo (Sequit Point) | Rocky point and kelp pockets | Reef ledges and kelp lanes | Intermediate to advanced | State beach area, conditions-dependent shore entry | A west-Malibu alternative for calico hunting outside the Dume complex. It gets exposed and surgey, so small surf matters. |
What is closed around Point Dume?
CDFW lists Point Dume State Marine Reserve as an area where taking living marine resources is unlawful. The neighboring SMCA has limited allowances, but the city record marks Point Dume as protected. Unless you have confirmed the exact MPA category and boundary, do not hunt the headland. If you are not sure which side you are on, the zone is closed for your dive.
When does Malibu water visibility improve?
Malibu faces a west-southwest problem sector, and the kelp shows it quickly. Small swell, lighter wind and a few calmer tide cycles help sand settle. A building south or west pulse can make Paradise Cove look manageable from land while underwater surge still drags bottom. NOAA Station 46221 and Malibu visual cams are the quick screen.
Which species fit the Malibu plan?
Open Malibu water can produce kelp bass, California halibut, sheephead, white seabass, yellowtail, rockfish and lingcod when seasons and depth rules allow. Giant sea bass and garibaldi are fully protected. Salmon are not spear targets, abalone is closed, and lobster is hand-take only. Carry the California license and Ocean Enhancement Validation.
FAQ
Can you spearfish Point Dume?
Treat Point Dume SMR as no-take unless you have verified a separate open SMCA allowance.
Is Paradise Cove outside the reserve?
The record places it just outside the SMR by a narrow margin. Confirm the line.
Do I need Ocean Enhancement Validation in Malibu?
Yes, this coast is south of Point Arguello, so the validation normally applies.
What fish are common targets in Malibu?
Kelp bass, halibut, sheephead, white seabass and yellowtail are the main targets.
Which NOAA station should I check?
NOAA NDBC Station 46221 is the nearby buoy used for Malibu.
Sources
Nearby towns
Coming soon
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