Zuma Beach fishing conditions · California

Today 8 am to tomorrow 12 pmCalifornia halibut

The bite peaks at 92. Water is 72°, inside their 55–72° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 92 for California halibut, goTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

California halibut, 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. 92Mon
  2. 92
  3. 88
  4. 883 am
  5. 88
  6. 78
  7. 786 am
  8. 78
  9. 92
  10. 889 am
  11. 88
  12. 88
  13. 9212 pm
  14. 92
  15. 92
  16. 883 pm
  17. 88
  18. 88
  19. 926 pm
  20. 88
  21. 88
  22. 889 pm
  23. 88
  24. 88
  25. 88Tue
  26. 92
  27. 92
  28. 883 am
  29. 88
  30. 88
  31. 886 am
  32. 88
  33. 88
  34. 929 am
  35. 88
  36. 88
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
72°F

California halibut range 55–72°

Wind
5 mph

From the northwest

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:09 am

Sky
Partly Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
65°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

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.

California Halibut

California halibut

Paralichthys californicus

92GoToday 8 am to tomorrow 12 pm

Water

72°
45°55–72° · ideal 64°82°

Why

California halibut prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside California halibut's active range. 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

Barred Surfperch

Barred surfperch

Amphistichus argenteus

56MarginalToday, 12 pm–3 pm

Water

72°
40°50–68° · ideal 60°78°

Why

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

The water

  • Water temperature72°F
  • Seas2.6 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer30.07 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:09 am
  • Sunset today6:08 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarSunday 11:40 pm–1:40 am
  • Minor solunarToday 7:20 am–8:20 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 pm–2:00 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 long, open sand beach west of Point Dume, with no pier: strictly surf fishing. Barred surfperch year-round and California halibut in the warmer months.

Nearby

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

Santa Monica State Beach19 mi · CaliforniaBest today 8 am to tomorrow 12 pm
92Go
Redondo Beach29 mi · CaliforniaBest today 8 am to tomorrow 12 pm
78Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Zuma Beach?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Zuma Beach?

Zuma 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 Zuma 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 Zuma 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 Zuma Beach have?

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Zuma Beach?

state agency regulations apply at Zuma 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 Zuma Beach tidal water?

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