It’s a fishing day

San Clemente State Beach fishing conditions · California

Sit it outno barred surfperch window clears the bar in 36 hours

Water is 74°, above the 50–68° barred surfperch like.

Coastal Flood Warning until Thursday 1 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 6 for barred surfperch, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Barred surfperch, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 67 am
  2. 6
  3. 6
  4. 610 am
  5. 11
  6. 11
  7. 111 pm
  8. 11
  9. 11
  10. 114 pm
  11. 11
  12. 11
  13. 117 pm
  14. 11
  15. 11
  16. 1110 pm
  17. 11
  18. 11Tue
  19. 111 am
  20. 11
  21. 11
  22. 114 am
  23. 11
  24. 11
  25. 117 am
  26. 11
  27. 11
  28. 1110 am
  29. 11
  30. 11
  31. 111 pm
  32. 11
  33. 11
  34. 114 pm
  35. 11
  36. 11
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
74°F

Barred surfperch range 50–68°

Wind
5 mph

From the north

Light
Daylight

Sunrise 7:03 am

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
63°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are California regulations for these waters.

Barred Surfperch

Barred surfperch

Amphistichus argenteus

11Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

74°
40°50–68° · ideal 60°78°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Above barred surfperch's active range (50–68°F) — fish move deep. Barred surfperch prefers incoming tide. Holds 1–12 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum size. 20/person/day in combination of all surfperch (shiner perch separate), with no more than 10 of any one species. Open year-round.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Season here: Year-round. More on barred surfperch

California Halibut

California halibut

Paralichthys californicus

11Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

74°
45°55–72° · ideal 64°82°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Above California halibut's active range (55–72°F) — fish move deep. California halibut prefers incoming tide. Holds 4–60 ft down.

Keep

22" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 22" total length minimum. 5/person/day south of Point Sur (Monterey County); 2/day north of it. Open year-round.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Season here: Mar–Oct. More on California halibut

The water

  • Water temperature74°F
  • Seas2 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer30.04 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today6:04 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:04 am
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:10 am–8:10 am
  • Major solunarToday 11:50 am–1:50 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:40 pm–6:40 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. California CDFW has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A bluff-backed sand beach at the south end of San Clemente, reached by trails down from the campground. Barred surfperch in the surf troughs and California halibut on the sand from spring into fall.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Doheny State Beach6 mi · CaliforniaBest today 10 am to tomorrow 7 pm
68Marginal
Oceanside Beach19 mi · CaliforniaBest now until tomorrow 11 am
78Worth the trip
Newport Harbor22 mi · CaliforniaBest today 8 am to tonight 2 amCoastal Flood Warning
65Marginal
Huntington Beach (Surf City USA)28 mi · CaliforniaBest today 8 am to tomorrow 7 pm
72Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at San Clemente State Beach?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at San Clemente State Beach you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at San Clemente State Beach?

San Clemente State Beach is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Barred Surfperch, California Halibut. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at San Clemente State Beach?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at San Clemente State Beach against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does San Clemente State Beach have?

San Clemente State Beach has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at San Clemente State Beach?

state agency regulations apply at San Clemente State Beach. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is San Clemente State Beach tidal water?

Yes. San Clemente State Beach sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.