San Simeon Tide Charts & Fishing
Friday, September 18 · NOAA station 9412553 (San Simeon)
Tides live · forecast as of 6:30 PM PT
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
3.6 ft
▼ Falling · 0.6 ft/hr
Next high
8:21 AM
3.6 ft · in 13h 50m
Next low
12:08 AM
0.9 ft · in 5h 37m
Wind
9 mph NW
Light breeze · gusts 15
Fishing score
74 /100
Very Good
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Sep 18 | High | 3:42 PM | 4.6 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Low | 12:08 AM | 0.9 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | High | 8:21 AM | 3.6 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Low | 11:15 AM | 3.5 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | High | 5:10 PM | 4.5 ft |
Today's Tide Times in San Simeon
Today in San Simeon, high tide arrives at 3:42 PM (4.6 ft).
The sun rises at 6:49 AM and sets at 7:07 PM, under a first quarter (48% illuminated). With the moon near a quarter phase, tidal movement is on the mild side this week.
Tomorrow starts with a low tide at 12:08 AM (0.9 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
74/ 100
Best windows today
- 5:30 AM – 7:30 AMVery Good
- 6:30 PM – 8:30 PMVery Good
outgoing tide · dusk bite window · light wind
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 6:49 AM
- Sunset
- 7:07 PM
First Quarter
48% illuminated
Neap tides — gentler water movement. Fish the dawn and dusk windows.
Conditions
63°F
Clear
- Wind
- 9 mph NWgusts 15
- Waves
- 4.7 ft @ 8s
- Water temp
- 63°F
Light breeze — Great fishing conditions
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
74° / 54°
Very Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Sat, Sep 19
73° / 55°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Sun, Sep 20
82° / 57°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Mon, Sep 21
75° / 58°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Tue, Sep 22
80° / 58°
Very Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Wed, Sep 23
87° / 64°
Excellent
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Thu, Sep 24
80° / 62°
Excellent
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
What's Biting at San Simeon
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.
Cabezon
Scorpaenichthys marmoratus
Season: March – October
Baits: Squid, Shrimp, Small crabs
Drop baits into rocky holes and jetty gaps. Strong first run — keep them out of the rocks.
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 San Simeon 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 →
San Simeon Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in San Simeon today?
High tide in San Simeon today is at 3:42 PM (4.6 ft), measured at NOAA station 9412553 (San Simeon).
›What time is low tide in San Simeon today?
The next low tide at San Simeon is shown live in the tide chart above.
›When is the best time to fish in San Simeon today?
Today's best fishing window at San Simeon is 6:30 PM–8:30 PM (rated Very Good, 74/100), driven by outgoing tide, dusk bite window, light wind. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in San Simeon in September?
In September, the most active species at San Simeon are Rockfish, Cabezon, California Halibut, Lingcod. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›How accurate is this San Simeon tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 9412553 (San Simeon) 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 San Simeon
San Simeon is the quiet stretch of Highway 1 most anglers drive straight past — which is exactly the point. The pier at San Simeon Cove needs no license and sits over sand that holds perch and the odd halibut, while the reef and kelp north toward Piedras Blancas fish like a marine preserve's edge: thick with rockfish, cabezon, and greenling.