Mendocino · United States

2.5

wave 1.3 m

visibility1m

Today — sit it out — wave, wind and surge pounding.

Sources: NWS · NDBC · Open-Meteo · Copernicus — high confidence · data 21:18

Sources & confidence

Sources: NWS · NDBC · Open-Meteo · Copernicus
Method: spearo sea-state engine: consensus of up to 6 models + satellite clarity (ZSD) + buoy-bias checks
Freshness: Re-read every hour, per coast

Compiled by the spearo sea-state engine · How it works →

The verdict comes from seven water factors and hard safety gates — not ten tabs. Go or stay.

How we score the water

Our own model

Our own forecast engine — not a third-party widget. It weighs these water factors into one go-or-stay verdict for this coast; the 0–10 dial is that verdict, read out as a number.

Swell & wave memory: Height, period and direction of the swell, plus the wake of recent storms — an old storm still stirs the water, and the engine remembers.
Wind & gusts: Speed and gusts, hour by hour — wind speed and an onshore push chop the surface and cut visibility.
Tide phase: Timing and range of the tide, calibrated per coast — big spring tides pull the verdict toward caution.
Water temperature: Sea-surface temperature — sharply cold water vetoes a green verdict.
Currents & outflow: Direction and drift of the current — it pushes you, and it drags turbid coastal water across where you dive.
Rain runoff & air clarity: Rain muddies the water inshore through land runoff, while fog and haze cut visibility at the surface.
Coast shape & exposure: How the coast faces the swell — a sheltered cove keeps the water clean; an exposed, head-on point takes a penalty.

Safety gates

Thunderstorm forecast — an instant red, no exceptions.
An official warning (MeteoAlarm / IPMA) — yellow, or red for the higher ranks.
Missing input data — a would-be green is capped to yellow rather than overstated.
Strong disagreement between forecast models — a green day is pulled back to yellow.
Night hours — where night spearfishing is banned by law the window is forced red; where it is legal (Australia outside NSW, New Zealand, South Africa) it is capped at yellow, never green.

It all folds into a single 0–10 score and one verdict: go or stay.

A forecast, not a guarantee — the sea has the last word.

Where to get in, where to hunt

Entry points with coordinates

Seabed relief — promising ground

This verdict — in your pocket. Open the app for the week's window.

Google Play — QR code — point your camera

0 m

Surface

Wind, wave and the swell windows — when to go and the best hours.

spearo.app

NWS no dataupdated 21:18

Mendocino — solo, off the rocks

DON'T GO

don't go · wave 1.4 m (occasionally up to ~2.8 m)

wave 1.3 mwind 7 km/hsurge pounding the rocksvisibility ~1 m

today, best window 06:00–09:00

fish · Visibility 1 m · Water 15.3°C

confidence medium · verdict for the selected day

Whole week — tap a day. is driving swell right now.

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.

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.

Sunday · today2026-10-25

07:35–18:22 · full moon

▼ 04:00▲ 10:00▼ 17:00▲ 23:00mid-range tides · 2.1 m

Hours (06→20)

Day's trends

Tide0.81 m

Wave1.30 m

Wind7 km/h

Water16 °C

fish activity: moonset 07:07 · moderate · moon underfoot 12:30 · high · moonrise 17:52 · moderate · moon overhead 00:00 · high

Conditions window06:00–09:00

don't go fish

Hs 1.28 m · roughperiod 5.9 swind 7→12surge 8.5viz 1 m

1.28 mrough · up to ~2.76 · 310° at an angle

5.9 sswell moderate

7→12gusts 12 km/h

8.5pounding the rocks

0.36m/s

1 mrecent swell

15.3°Cthicker suit + hood

▲10:00tide rising

Atmosphere21 kmovercast

moderatemoonset

wave 1.4 m (occasionally up to ~2.8 m)
long secondary swell (11 s) straight onshore
flood — water rising

confidence mediumtwilight

Open the seafloor map with entry points

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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

Buckhorn CoveMendocino

dangerous

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈1.9–16 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

A large, lightly visited rock structure, 6–30 m: good-sized lingcod and cabezon. WARNING: the Van Damme SMCA is 1.3 km north and in practice works as no-take for a diver — do not cross the line.

Google Maps

Caspar CoveMendocino

dangerous

377 m from the boundary of Point Cabrillo SMR (no-take zone)

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈0.1–1.4 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

A sheltered anchorage with a kelp reef, 5–15 m: lingcod, rockfish, cabezon and greenling. WARNING: the no-take Point Cabrillo SMR begins only 380 m south and the longshore current pushes that way — mark the limit.

Google Maps

Little RiverMendocino

dangerous

⚠️ This point is inside the restricted zone “Van Damme SMCA”: fishing there is regulated (season, gear, permit), not banned outright. Read the zone's rules before you go.

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≥2.8 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Shore access point Little River, roughly 3.7 km from Mendocino. Marker position: 39.273° N, 123.792° W. Depths reach at least about 3 m. Bottom type: kelp. The marker is inside Van Damme SMCA, a restricted area; check what may be taken there before spearing.

Google Maps

Navarro BeachMendocino

dangerous

231 m from the boundary of Navarro River Estuary SMCA (no-take zone)

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≥11 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Navarro Beach is a shore entry about 13 km from Mendocino. Marker position: 39.190° N, 123.762° W. Depths reach at least about 6 m. Navarro River Estuary SMCA, a no-take zone, lies about 230 m away; confirm its boundary on site.

Google Maps

Point CabrilloMendocino

dangerous

⛔ Banned here

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈6.6–35 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

WARNING: a dramatic reef beneath the lighthouse, 5–20 m, inside the Point Cabrillo SMR — no-take, nothing may be removed. Excellent for freediving in bull kelp and for photography. Hunting starts north at Caspar, or well to the south.

Google Maps

Russian Gulch cove mouthMendocino

dangerous

33 m from the boundary of Russian Gulch SMCA (restricted zone)

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈14–39 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Rocky ground at and outside the mouth of Russian Gulch, three miles north of Mendocino, 3-18 m. Good spearfishing for lingcod and rockfish at the mouth and beyond, with 3-12 m visibility; sheltered sand entry inside the park, or a steep roped trail to the south cove.

Google Maps

SOLO 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.

What's in season,
what the law says.

In season now

white seabass
Atractoscion nobilis · 3–30 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
Year-round, min 28″ TL (71 cm), 3/day — BUT only 1/day south of Pt. Conception between Mar 15 and Jun 15 (spawning aggregations). The single most-broken rule among SoCal divers. T14 CCR §28.35.
California halibut
Paralichthys californicus · 3–30 m · legal
Year-round, min 22″ TL (56 cm). The bag splits at Pt. Sur (Monterey Co.): 2/day to the north, 5/day to the south. T14 CCR §28.15.
California yellowtail
Seriola dorsalis · 3–40 m · legal
Year-round, min 24″ FL (61 cm), 10/day — of which no more than 5 may be under 24″ FL. T14 CCR §28.37.
California sheephead
Bodianus pulcher · 3–25 m · legal
Spear-critical: the Jan 1–end of Feb closure does NOT apply to divers — divers and shore anglers fish year-round (T14 CCR §28.26(a)(2)). During that closure no gear other than spearfishing gear may be aboard the vessel. Min 12″ TL (30 cm), 2/day.
kelp/sand bass
Paralabrax spp. · 2–20 m · legal
Year-round, min 14″ TL (36 cm). Bag 5/day for all three species combined, of which no more than 4 may be barred sand bass (sub-limit in force until Jun 1 2028). T14 CCR §28.30.
rockfish
Sebastes spp. · 5–50 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
The headline fact for divers: GMA seasons and depth limits do NOT bind spearfishers — divers may take the RCG complex year-round at any depth (§27.20(b)(1)(D)). BUT zero limit on bronzespotted, cowcod, QUILLBACK and YELLOWEYE rockfish. Overall 10 RCG fish/day.
lingcod
Ophiodon elongatus · 5–50 m · legal
Open to divers year-round at any depth (§27.20(b)(1)(D)); the GMA seasons bind boat and shore. Min 22″ TL (56 cm), 2/day. Closed year-round inside the Groundfish Exclusion Areas. T14 CCR §28.27.
cabezon
Scorpaenichthys marmoratus · 3–25 m · legal
A primary California reef/kelp target from Point Loma to Crescent City. Divers year-round at any depth. No minimum size — the old 15″ floor is gone from the 2026 text. 10/day within the RCG complex. T14 CCR §28.28.
kelp and rock greenling
Hexagrammos spp. · 2–20 m · legal
A standard central/northern California shallow-reef target. Divers year-round at any depth, no minimum size, 10/day within the RCG complex. T14 CCR §28.29.
California scorpionfish (sculpin)
Scorpaena guttata · 5–40 m · legal
One of the few groundfish explicitly EXEMPT from season and depth restrictions (§27.20(b)(1)(B)): year-round, all GMAs, any depth. No minimum size, 5/day. The dorsal spines are venomous — handle by the lower jaw. T14 CCR §28.54.
California barracuda
Sphyraena argentea · 1–25 m · legal
A classic SoCal blue-water target. Year-round, min 28″ TL (71 cm), 10/day as part of the 20-fish general bag limit. T14 CCR §28.25.
Pacific bonito
Sarda chiliensis · 0–30 m · legal
The main SoCal pelagic within breath-hold range. Year-round, min 24″ FL (61 cm) or 5 lb, except five fish under that size may be taken. 10/day. T14 CCR §28.32.
ocean whitefish
Caulolatilus princeps · 5–45 m · legal
An everyday Channel Islands / SoCal reef fish. Year-round, no minimum size (fillets must be at least 6.5″ with skin intact). 10/day as part of the 20-fish general bag. T14 CCR §28.58.
striped bass (California)
Morone saxatilis · 0–15 m · legal
A cross-façade contrast: striped bass MAY be taken by spear in California — §27.85(d) names spearfishing under §1.76 as a legal method. Year-round, 2/day; min 18″ TL (46 cm) north of Pt. Conception, no minimum south of it. Snagging and gaffing are illegal.
opaleye
Girella nigricans · 0–15 m · legal
A primary shore-dive target in the SoCal kelp and surf zone. Year-round, no minimum size. There is NO species-specific bag — the statewide default applies: 20 finfish in combination, no more than 10 of any one species (§27.60(a)). Read it as the default, not a species entry.
halfmoon (Catalina blue perch)
Medialuna californiensis · 2–20 m · legal
The same standing as opaleye: an abundant kelp-edge target with no species entry in Title 14. Year-round, no size limit; the general default applies — 20 finfish combined, max 10 of any one species (§27.60(a)).
surfperch
Embiotocidae · 0–12 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
Year-round EXCEPT in San Francisco and San Pablo bays, where take and possession are banned Apr 1–Jul 31. Minimum only for redtail surfperch, 10.5″ TL (27 cm); none for the others. 10/day inside the 20-fish general limit; 5 all species combined in those bays. T14 CCR §28.59.
leopard shark
Triakis semifasciata · 1–25 m · legal
Year-round, exempt from groundfish seasons and depth restrictions (§27.20(b)(1)(B)). Min 36″ TL (91 cm), 3/day. Spears, harpoons and bow-and-arrow are legal for all skates, rays and sharks except white shark (§28.95). T14 CCR §28.56.

Not a target — don't shoot

giant (black) sea bass🚫 no-take
NEVER shoot: take or possession is prohibited at all times (§28.10). Spearfishers are named explicitly in the §28.90 exclusion list. The single most consequential misidentification risk for a diver in SoCal kelp — juveniles are easily confused with calico bass.
garibaldi🚫 no-take
NEVER shoot: California's state marine fish, take or possession prohibited at all times (§28.05, §28.90, §28.95). Bright orange, curious and easy to approach — which is exactly why it gets shot by mistake.

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.
•The key spearfishing exemption (§27.20(b)(1)(D)): divers may take the whole RCG complex (rockfish–cabezon–greenling) YEAR-ROUND at ANY DEPTH — Groundfish Management Area seasons and depth limits do not bind them. The zero-limit species are the exception.
•The complete list of what a spearfisher may NOT take (§28.90): giant (black) sea bass, garibaldi, gulf grouper, broomtail grouper, trout, salmon and broadbill swordfish. Every other finfish is fair game, subject to its own season and .
•Lobster: divers take crustaceans BY HAND ONLY, may not possess a hooked device while diving, and may carry spearfishing gear only if it is not used to aid the take (§29.90, §29.80(g)). The season runs from 6 p.m. on the Friday before the first Wednesday in October.

⛔ 🚫 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.

FAQ — spearfishing in Mendocino

Where can I spearfish in Mendocino?

Mendocino has rock entry points such as Buckhorn Cove, Caspar Cove and Point Cabrillo. Rocky coves and bull-kelp — big lingcod and rockfish; Van Damme and Point Cabrillo bracket the huntable water. Below you'll find each spot (access, shelter and hazards) and today's forecast.

When is the best season in Mendocino?

Year-round in the kelp; white seabass/CA halibut/yellowtail, SoCal best summer–fall.

How cold is the water in Mendocino?

Cold California Current, 12–20 °C; kelp, viz best in SoCal.

Is Mendocino good for a beginner?

Intermediate–advanced: cold, kelp and surge — the MPA network (SMR closed, SMCAs vary).

Do I need a licence in Mendocino?

Yes — in Mendocino almost certainly, but the licence is the STATE's, not a federal one: nearly every coastal state requires its own saltwater fishing licence, and several add a free registration or an extra endorsement on top (Florida's free State Reef Fish Survey for reef fish, Texas's saltwater endorsement, California's Ocean Enhancement Validation). Hawaii asks nothing of residents and charges visitors the NRMFL. What may be speared, and with what gear, is state law too — the price and the details depend on the state, so read the «Law» block below.

Full guide: spearfishing on the US West Coast →

Surface

Windows, hours
and the day's trends.

Spots in United States

🇺🇸United States

Nearby towns

California

Help us make it better

The water column

A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.

The seabed

The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.

Where to get in
off the rocks.

Surfacing

What's in season,
what the law says.

FAQ — spearfishing in Mendocino

Oregon

Mendocino spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras

Windows, hours and the day's trends.

Get the go / no-go verdict for Mendocino by email

Spots in United States

🇺🇸United States

Nearby towns

California

Help us make it better

A marine instrument, go / no-go for solo hunting.

The forecast is the plan.The call is on the rock.

Where to get in off the rocks.

What's in season, what the law says.

FAQ — spearfishing in Mendocino

Oregon

Windows, hours
and the day's trends.

A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.

The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.

Where to get in
off the rocks.

What's in season,
what the law says.