Half Moon Bay Tide Charts & Fishing
Saturday, September 19 · NOAA station 9414131 (Pillar Point Harbor)
Tides live · forecast as of 10:15 PM PT
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
2.1 ft
▼ Falling · 0.8 ft/hr
Next high
8:39 AM
4.0 ft · in 10h 24m
Next low
1:11 AM
0.7 ft · in 2h 56m
Wind
12 mph NNW
Moderate breeze
Fishing score
60 /100
Good
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 19 | Low | 12:11 AM | 0.9 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | High | 7:55 AM | 3.7 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Low | 11:25 AM | 3.5 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | High | 5:16 PM | 4.8 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Low | 1:11 AM | 0.7 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | High | 8:39 AM | 4.0 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Low | 12:47 PM | 3.3 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | High | 6:27 PM | 4.9 ft |
Today's Tide Times in Half Moon Bay
Today in Half Moon Bay, high tide arrives at 7:55 AM (3.7 ft) and again at 5:16 PM (4.8 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 12:11 AM (0.9 ft) and again at 11:25 AM (3.5 ft). That's a 3.9-foot swing — a solid mid-size swing with reliable current on each side of the extremes.
The sun rises at 6:55 AM and sets at 7:11 PM, under a first quarter (60% illuminated). With the moon near a quarter phase, tidal movement is on the mild side this week.
Tomorrow starts with a low tide at 1:11 AM (0.7 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
60/ 100
Best windows today
- 4:00 AM – 6:00 AMVery Good
- 7:30 PM – 9:30 PMVery Good
outgoing tide · dusk bite window
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 6:55 AM
- Sunset
- 7:11 PM
First Quarter
60% illuminated
Neap tides — gentler water movement. Fish the dawn and dusk windows.
Conditions
56°F
Fog
- Wind
- 12 mph NNWgusts 15
- Waves
- 5.2 ft @ 7s
- Water temp
- 62°F
Moderate breeze — A little chop — very fishable
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
59° / 56°
Very Good
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Sun, Sep 20
60° / 56°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Mon, Sep 21
63° / 57°
Very Good
Best: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
Tue, Sep 22
70° / 58°
Excellent
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Wed, Sep 23
80° / 55°
Excellent
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Thu, Sep 24
76° / 56°
Excellent
Best: 6:00 AM–8:00 AM
Fri, Sep 25
71° / 57°
Excellent
Best: 6:00 AM–8:00 AM
What's Biting at Half Moon Bay
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.
Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
Season: May – October
Baits: Anchovies, Topwater plugs, Swimbaits
Work troughs and rip currents on a moving tide. Dawn topwater in flat surf is the classic bite.
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.
Gear for These Conditions
TheAnglerStore →Matched to the species feeding at Half Moon Bay 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 →
Half Moon Bay Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in Half Moon Bay today?
High tide in Half Moon Bay today is at 7:55 AM (3.7 ft) and again at 5:16 PM (4.8 ft), measured at NOAA station 9414131 (Pillar Point Harbor).
›What time is low tide in Half Moon Bay today?
Low tide in Half Moon Bay today is at 12:11 AM (0.9 ft) and again at 11:25 AM (3.5 ft).
›When is the best time to fish in Half Moon Bay today?
Today's best fishing window at Half Moon Bay is 7:30 PM–9:30 PM (rated Very Good, 73/100), driven by outgoing tide, dusk bite window. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in Half Moon Bay in September?
In September, the most active species at Half Moon Bay are Rockfish, Striped Bass, California Halibut, Lingcod. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›How accurate is this Half Moon Bay tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 9414131 (Pillar Point Harbor) 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 Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay's Pillar Point Harbor is one of the most accessible fisheries on the coast. The breakwater shelters kayak anglers chasing rockfish, the jetty gives up perch and the odd halibut, and the long state beaches to the south are prime striper water in summer.