Watsonville Tide Charts & Fishing
Tuesday, September 29 · NOAA station 9413663 (Elkhorn Slough railroad bridge)
Tides live · forecast as of 10:04 AM PT
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
4.3 ft
▲ Rising · 1.0 ft/hr
Next high
12:48 PM
6.0 ft · in 2h 44m
Next low
7:46 PM
-0.3 ft · in 9h 42m
Wind
4 mph NE
Light breeze
Fishing score
77 /100
Very Good
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 29 | High | 1:25 AM | 4.2 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | Low | 6:36 AM | 1.7 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | High | 12:48 PM | 6.0 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | Low | 7:46 PM | -0.3 ft |
| Wed, Sep 30 | High | 2:24 AM | 3.9 ft |
| Wed, Sep 30 | Low | 7:14 AM | 2.1 ft |
| Wed, Sep 30 | High | 1:27 PM | 6.0 ft |
| Wed, Sep 30 | Low | 8:42 PM | -0.3 ft |
Today's Tide Times in Watsonville
Today in Watsonville, high tide arrives at 1:25 AM (4.2 ft) and again at 12:48 PM (6.0 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 6:36 AM (1.7 ft) and again at 7:46 PM (-0.3 ft). That's a 6.3-foot swing — big, fast-moving water that concentrates feeding fish.
The sun rises at 7:00 AM and sets at 6:52 PM, under a waning gibbous (90% illuminated). Tidal range is in the middle of its two-week cycle.
Tomorrow starts with a high tide at 2:24 AM (3.9 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
77/ 100
Best windows today
- 7:30 AM – 9:30 AMExcellent
- 4:00 PM – 6:00 PMExcellent
strong outgoing tide · light wind
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 7:00 AM
- Sunset
- 6:52 PM
Waning Gibbous
90% illuminated
Moderate tidal range this week.
Conditions
69°F
Clear
- Wind
- 4 mph NEgusts 5
- Waves
- 5.6 ft @ 11s
- Water temp
- 62°F
Light breeze — Great fishing conditions
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
75° / 49°
Excellent
Best: 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Wed, Sep 30
68° / 52°
Excellent
Best: 8:30 AM–10:30 AM
Thu, Oct 1
72° / 52°
Excellent
Best: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Fri, Oct 2
80° / 56°
Excellent
Best: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Sat, Oct 3
88° / 59°
Excellent
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Sun, Oct 4
83° / 58°
Excellent
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Mon, Oct 5
86° / 60°
Excellent
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
What's Biting at Elkhorn Slough railroad bridge
Activity ratings reflect typical feeding seasons — not legal seasons. Regulations, closures, and size/bag limits change; always check current CDFW regulations before keeping any fish.
Rockfish
Sebastes spp.
Season: April – December (check regs)
Baits: Shrimp flies, Metal jigs, Squid strips
Fish vertically over reef and kelp. Keep the bait just off bottom to dodge snags and hook quality grade.
California Halibut
Paralichthys californicus
Season: April – September
Baits: Live anchovies, Swimbaits, Hair raisers
Drag baits slowly along sandy bottom near structure edges. Slow retrieve — halibut ambush from below.
Lingcod
Ophiodon elongatus
Season: April – November
Baits: Large swimbaits, Metal jigs, Live mackerel
Big baits, rocky bottom, and patience. Lings follow hooked fish up — keep a net ready at the surface.
Barred Surfperch
Amphistichus argenteus
Season: Year-round, best in winter–spring
Baits: Sand crabs, Gulp! sandworms, Motor oil grubs
Carolina rig in the first trough behind the shorebreak. Follow the tide in — perch feed where sand crabs wash out.
White Seabass
Atractoscion nobilis
Season: March – July
Baits: Live squid, Big swimbaits, Iron jigs
Find the squid, find the seabass. Fish structure and kelp edges at dawn, gray light, and tide swings.
Gear for These Conditions
TheAnglerStore →Matched to the species feeding at Elkhorn Slough railroad bridge right now.
Surf Rods
Daiwa FT Surf Spinning Rod — 9', 2-Piece Medium
The short one, for jetties, piers and beaches where you don't need to reach the horizon. Easier to control in a crowd and easier to fit in a car.
$34.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Line & Leader
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid — 20 lb, 300 yd
Seven HMPE fibers plus one GORE Performance Fiber, braided at 32 picks per inch. The GORE fiber is what makes this line quiet through the guides and stubborn…
$34.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Terminal Tackle
Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Offset Circle Sea Hook — 4/0, 50-Pack
The circle hook does the work for you: no strike, just let the rod load and the hook finds the corner of the jaw on its own.
$15.97Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Terminal Tackle
MO's Bank Sinkers — 3 oz, 26-Pack
The everyday surf weight for moderate current — heavy enough to hold a bait through a push, light enough to cast on a medium rod all morning.
$29.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Elkhorn Slough railroad bridge Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in Watsonville today?
High tide in Watsonville today is at 1:25 AM (4.2 ft) and again at 12:48 PM (6.0 ft), measured at NOAA station 9413663 (Elkhorn Slough railroad bridge).
›What time is low tide in Watsonville today?
Low tide in Watsonville today is at 6:36 AM (1.7 ft) and again at 7:46 PM (-0.3 ft). Today includes a minus tide — a good window for exploring structure that's normally underwater.
›When is the best time to fish in Watsonville today?
Today's best fishing window at Watsonville is 4:00 PM–6:00 PM (rated Excellent, 91/100), driven by strong outgoing tide, light wind. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in Watsonville in September?
In September, the most active species at Watsonville are Rockfish, California Halibut, Lingcod. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›Is this the tide chart for Watsonville?
Yes — Elkhorn Slough railroad bridge (NOAA station 9413663) is the closest official tide prediction station to Watsonville, California, so these are the tide times anglers and boaters in Watsonville plan around.
›How accurate is this Watsonville tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 9413663 (Elkhorn Slough railroad bridge) and are the same data used in official tide tables. Actual water levels can vary with storms and barometric pressure, so treat predictions as planning guidance, not navigation data.
About Elkhorn Slough railroad bridge
This is the live tide dashboard for Elkhorn Slough railroad bridge, built on NOAA station 9413663 (Elkhorn Slough railroad bridge) on the Central Coast. Tide predictions update continuously, and the fishing score blends the tide swing with weather, light, and moon phase to point you at the best windows of the day. Elkhorn Slough railroad bridge is the closest NOAA tide station to Watsonville, California — if you fish, paddle, or boat out of Watsonville, these are the tide predictions to plan around.