Prisoners Harbor Tide Charts & Fishing
Tuesday, September 29 · NOAA station 9410971 (Prisoners Harbor, Santa Cruz Island)
Tides live · forecast as of 10:04 AM PT
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
5.5 ft
▲ Rising · 0.6 ft/hr
Next high
11:17 AM
5.8 ft · in 1h 12m
Next low
6:18 PM
0.1 ft · in 8h 13m
Wind
4 mph NNE
Calm
Fishing score
66 /100
Very Good
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 29 | Low | 4:55 AM | 1.7 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | High | 11:17 AM | 5.8 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | Low | 6:18 PM | 0.1 ft |
| Wed, Sep 30 | High | 12:36 AM | 3.6 ft |
| Wed, Sep 30 | Low | 5:23 AM | 2.2 ft |
| Wed, Sep 30 | High | 11:55 AM | 5.8 ft |
| Wed, Sep 30 | Low | 7:21 PM | 0.2 ft |
Today's Tide Times in Prisoners Harbor
Today in Prisoners Harbor, high tide arrives at 11:17 AM (5.8 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 4:55 AM (1.7 ft) and again at 6:18 PM (0.1 ft). That's a 5.8-foot swing — big, fast-moving water that concentrates feeding fish.
The sun rises at 6:51 AM and sets at 6:45 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 12:36 AM (3.6 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
66/ 100
Best windows today
- 7:00 AM – 9:00 AMExcellent
- 2:00 PM – 4:00 PMExcellent
strong incoming tide · dawn bite window · light wind
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 6:51 AM
- Sunset
- 6:45 PM
Waning Gibbous
90% illuminated
Moderate tidal range this week.
Conditions
78°F
Clear
- Wind
- 4 mph NNEgusts 3
- Waves
- 3.4 ft @ 10s
- Water temp
- 69°F
Calm — Glass — perfect for topwater
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
91° / 68°
Excellent
Best: 7:00 AM–9:00 AM
Wed, Sep 30
84° / 65°
Excellent
Best: 7:00 AM–9:00 AM
Thu, Oct 1
84° / 65°
Excellent
Best: 7:00 AM–9:00 AM
Fri, Oct 2
90° / 66°
Excellent
Best: 7:00 AM–9:00 AM
Sat, Oct 3
91° / 72°
Excellent
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Sun, Oct 4
92° / 74°
Excellent
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Mon, Oct 5
91° / 76°
Excellent
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
What's Biting at Prisoners Harbor
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.
Calico Bass
Paralabrax clathratus
Season: April – October
Baits: Weedless swimbaits, Live anchovies, Plastics
Cast tight to kelp stringers and boiler rocks. Moving water turns the kelp line into a feeding lane.
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.
Spotted Bay Bass
Paralabrax maculatofasciatus
Season: Year-round
Baits: Plastics on leadheads, Small swimbaits, Ghost shrimp
Hit dock pilings, riprap, and eelgrass edges on moving water. A 3-inch plastic on a ¼ oz head is the bay standard.
California Corbina
Menticirrhus undulatus
Season: June – September
Baits: Sand crabs, Bloodworms, Ghost shrimp
Sight-fish skinny water at first light on an incoming tide. Long fluorocarbon leaders — corbina are famously picky.
California Yellowtail
Seriola dorsalis
Season: May – October
Baits: Live mackerel, Surface irons, Yo-yo jigs
Kelp lines and current seams. When birds work bait on the surface, throw the iron and wind fast.
Gear for These Conditions
TheAnglerStore →Matched to the species feeding at Prisoners Harbor 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 →
Prisoners Harbor Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in Prisoners Harbor today?
High tide in Prisoners Harbor today is at 11:17 AM (5.8 ft), measured at NOAA station 9410971 (Prisoners Harbor, Santa Cruz Island).
›What time is low tide in Prisoners Harbor today?
Low tide in Prisoners Harbor today is at 4:55 AM (1.7 ft) and again at 6:18 PM (0.1 ft).
›When is the best time to fish in Prisoners Harbor today?
Today's best fishing window at Prisoners Harbor is 7:00 AM–9:00 AM (rated Excellent, 86/100), driven by strong incoming tide, dawn bite window, light wind. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in Prisoners Harbor in September?
In September, the most active species at Prisoners Harbor are Calico Bass, California Halibut, Spotted Bay Bass, California Corbina, California Yellowtail. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›How accurate is this Prisoners Harbor tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 9410971 (Prisoners Harbor, Santa Cruz Island) 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 Prisoners Harbor
NOAA maintains tide predictions for Prisoners Harbor as part of its Southern California station network. This page tracks station 9410971 (Prisoners Harbor, Santa Cruz Island) live: today's highs and lows, the week ahead, sun and moon, and the conditions that decide whether it's worth wetting a line — all in one view.