Santa Monica spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras

Santa Monica2.5Not today
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2.5/10
Not today
best window15:00–18:00

wave 1.1 m head-on

updated 15:18
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Conditions window15:00–18:00
don't go fish
Hs 1.12 m · roughperiod 11.6 s head-onwind 13→31surge 4.9viz 1 m
1.12 mrough · up to ~2.23 · 192° head-on
11.6 sswell building
13→31gusts 31 km/h
4.9pounding the rocks
0.11m/s
1 mrecent swell
22.7°C5 mm + hood
▼17:00tide turn near
Atmosphere31 kmlandmarks visible
highmoon overhead
  • wave 1.1 m (occasionally up to ~2.2 m)
  • wind-wave — choppy surface
  • low water — slack
confidence lowtwilight
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.

Monday · today2026-10-12
06:56–18:23 · waxing crescent
▼ 04:00▲ 10:00▼ 17:00▲ 23:00 · 1.7 m
Hours (06→20)
06
09
12
15
18
Day's trends
Tide0.68 m
Wave1.04 m
Wind6 km/h
Water23 °C
fish activity: moon underfoot 01:50 · high · moonrise 09:04 · moderate · moon overhead 14:10 · high · moonset 19:21 · moderate
Open the seafloor map with entry points →
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.

Your best window — with you. Forecast in your pocket.

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−10 m

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: 3016 spots across 406 stretches of coast — mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.

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−20 m

The 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 →
Beach Park Number OneSanta Monica
dangerous
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
≈0.8–6.6 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

About 1.6 km from Santa Monica, Beach Park Number One is reached on foot from the shore. California Coastal Commission lists the site as a beach. The pin is about 50 m from the shoreline. Depths reach about 7 m.

Google Maps
Crescent Bay ParkSanta Monica
dangerous
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
≈0.8–6.3 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

One morning glance — and you know.

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≈

Surfacing

Cameras, map and reference — to hand as you come up.

Live cameras, map & reference
Open the seafloor map →
Reference

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.
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Nearby towns

  • Redondo Beach
  • Malibu
  • Palos Verdes
  • Long Beach (San Pedro)
  • Huntington Beach

California

  • Two Harbors (Catalina Island)
  • Oxnard (Channel Islands Harbor)
  • Newport Beach
  • Avalon (Catalina Island)
  • Ventura
  • Laguna Beach
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spearo.app · a private marine instrument · Santa Monica · a planner, not a safety guaranteePrivacy
Today
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Map
Best window · next 3 days

Next 3 days — not divable: wave up to 1.2 m

↓ low tide 16:50 · slack water ~16:05–17:35 bite times: 08:34–09:34 · 13:10–15:10

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Entry from the beach at Crescent Bay Park, 1.0 km out of Santa Monica. California Coastal Commission lists the site as a beach. Expect no more than about 6 m of water. Expect mixed tides: two highs of different height each day.

Google Maps
🔒 Santa Monica Artificial ReefSanta Monica
dangerous
Ultra · subscribers
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
≈16–18 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

The full spot briefing is part of the subscription: entry, bottom, hazards, tide window.

Open in the app →
🔒 Santa Monica Bay Artificial ReefSanta Monica
dangerous
Pro · subscribers
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
≥19 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

The full spot briefing is part of the subscription: entry, bottom, hazards, tide window.

Open in the app →
Santa Monica State BeachSanta Monica
dangerous
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
≈0.6–6.0 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Santa Monica State Beach gives shore access 1.1 km from Santa Monica. California Coastal Commission lists the site as a beach. The pin sits at 34.017 N / 118.507 W on the chart. Expect no more than about 6 m of water.

Google Maps
South Beach ParkSanta Monica
dangerous
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
≈0.9–6.5 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Shore access point South Beach Park, roughly 2.1 km from Santa Monica. Access type in the California Coastal Commission data: beach. Marker position: 33.995° N, 118.485° W. The marked spot lies about 40 m from the waterline. Maximum depth is around 6 m.

Google Maps
🔒 Topanga Artificial ReefSanta Monica
dangerous
Pro · subscribers
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
≈7.6–9.5 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

The full spot briefing is part of the subscription: entry, bottom, hazards, tide window.

Open in the app →
Venice City BeachSanta Monica
dangerous
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
≈0.8–6.3 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Shore access point Venice City Beach, roughly 3.9 km from Santa Monica. The pin sits at 33.983 N / 118.473 W on the chart. The pin is about 50 m from the shoreline. Maximum depth is around 6 m. Tides are mixed, with two unequal highs a day.

Google Maps
Will Rogers State Beach (Chautauqua Blvd.)Santa Monica
dangerous
exposed head-on to the swell today
window
—
Seabed depth of the selected area
≈0.7–5.5 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

You can walk into the water at Will Rogers State Beach (Chautauqua Blvd.); the town of Santa Monica is 2.5 km away. Coordinates of the entry: 34.025 N, 118.519 W. Expect no more than about 6 m of water. Tides are mixed, with two unequal highs a day.

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.

  • 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 Santa Monica

    Where can I spearfish in Santa Monica?

    Santa Monica has rock entry points such as Crescent Bay Park, Santa Monica State Beach and Beach Park Number One. Santa Monica is a city on the California coast of United States; its shoreline faces south-west, at 227°. Below you'll find each spot (access, shelter and hazards) and today's forecast.

    When is the best season in Santa Monica?

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

    How cold is the water in Santa Monica?

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

    Is Santa Monica good for a beginner?

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

    Do I need a licence in Santa Monica?

    Yes — in Santa Monica 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 →
    Encinitas
  • La Jolla
  • Pacific Beach (Mission Bay)
  • San Diego (Point Loma)
  • National City
  • Imperial Beach
  • Grover Beach
  • Morro Bay
  • Cayucos
  • San Simeon
  • Carmel
  • Monterey
  • Marina
  • Pacific Grove
  • Soquel
  • Santa Cruz
  • Menlo Park
  • San Mateo
  • San Leandro
  • Half Moon Bay
  • South San Francisco
  • Alameda
  • Pacifica
  • Berkeley
  • San Pablo
  • Corte Madera
  • Vallejo

    • All 367 spots → · spearo.app — All countries

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    buoy Santa Monica Bay, CA: 22.2° · wave 1.2 m/15 s · 1 h ago