Thursday, August 6 · NOAA station 9414131 (Pillar Point Harbor)
Updated 4:42 AM PT
Tide now
3.2 ft
▲ Rising · 0.3 ft/hr
Next high
5:47 AM
3.4 ft · in 1h 4m
Next low
10:01 AM
2.6 ft · in 5h 18m
Fishing score
58 /100
Good
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| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 6 | High | 5:47 AM | 3.4 ft |
| Thu, Aug 6 | Low | 10:01 AM | 2.6 ft |
| Thu, Aug 6 | High | 4:55 PM | 5.9 ft |
| Fri, Aug 7 | Low | 12:42 AM | 0.3 ft |
| Fri, Aug 7 | High | 7:31 AM | 3.4 ft |
| Fri, Aug 7 | Low | 11:10 AM | 2.9 ft |
| Fri, Aug 7 | High | 5:57 PM | 6.1 ft |
Today in Half Moon Bay, high tide arrives at 5:47 AM (3.4 ft) and again at 4:55 PM (5.9 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 10:01 AM (2.6 ft). That's a 3.3-foot swing — a gentle neap-cycle swing, so focus on dawn and dusk rather than mid-tide current.
The sun rises at 6:18 AM and sets at 8:12 PM, under a last quarter (44% illuminated). With the moon near a quarter phase, tidal movement is on the mild side this week.
Tomorrow starts with a low tide at 12:42 AM (0.3 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Best windows today
strong outgoing tide · dusk bite window · light wind
Last Quarter
44% illuminated
Neap tides — gentler water movement. Fish the dawn and dusk windows.
59°F
Overcast
Today
62° / 57°
Best: 12:30 PM–2:30 PM
Fri, Aug 7
57° / 54°
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Sat, Aug 8
77° / 57°
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Sun, Aug 9
75° / 56°
Best: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
Mon, Aug 10
73° / 57°
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Tue, Aug 11
71° / 57°
Best: 6:30 AM–8:30 AM
Wed, Aug 12
70° / 58°
Best: 6:30 AM–8:30 AM
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.
Matched to the species feeding at Half Moon Bay right now.
Lures
IronWorks Coastal Jig Assortment
Six jigs from 1–4 oz for rockfish, lingcod, and yo-yo yellowtail.
Line & Leader
DeepTide X8 Braided Line — 30 lb
Eight-strand braid with near-zero stretch. Feel every tick of the bottom.
Accessories
DryHaul Surf Tackle Bag
Waterproof base, four tray boxes, and a leader spool station.
Accessories
SaltShield Aluminum Pliers
Corrosion-proof pliers with tungsten cutters that shear braid clean.
High tide in Half Moon Bay today is at 5:47 AM (3.4 ft) and again at 4:55 PM (5.9 ft), measured at NOAA station 9414131 (Pillar Point Harbor).
Low tide in Half Moon Bay today is at 10:01 AM (2.6 ft).
Today's best fishing window at Half Moon Bay is 7:30 PM–9:30 PM (rated Excellent, 88/100), driven by strong outgoing tide, dusk bite window, light wind. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
In August, 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.
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.
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.