Thursday, August 6 · NOAA station 9411340 (Santa Barbara)
Updated 3:33 AM PT
Tide now
2.6 ft
▲ Rising · 0.3 ft/hr
Next high
5:11 AM
2.8 ft · in 1h 37m
Next low
8:43 AM
2.5 ft · in 5h 9m
Fishing score
59 /100
Good
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| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 6 | High | 5:11 AM | 2.8 ft |
| Thu, Aug 6 | Low | 8:43 AM | 2.5 ft |
| Thu, Aug 6 | High | 4:14 PM | 5.6 ft |
| Fri, Aug 7 | Low | 12:21 AM | 0.5 ft |
| Fri, Aug 7 | High | 7:18 AM | 3.0 ft |
| Fri, Aug 7 | Low | 10:09 AM | 2.8 ft |
| Fri, Aug 7 | High | 5:23 PM | 5.9 ft |
Today in Santa Barbara, high tide arrives at 5:11 AM (2.8 ft) and again at 4:14 PM (5.6 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 8:43 AM (2.5 ft). That's a 3.1-foot swing — a gentle neap-cycle swing, so focus on dawn and dusk rather than mid-tide current.
The sun rises at 6:13 AM and sets at 7:55 PM, under a last quarter (45% illuminated). With the moon near a quarter phase, tidal movement is on the mild side this week.
Tomorrow starts with a low tide at 12:21 AM (0.5 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Best windows today
strong outgoing tide · dusk bite window · light wind
Last Quarter
45% illuminated
Neap tides — gentler water movement. Fish the dawn and dusk windows.
64°F
Partly cloudy
Today
76° / 63°
Best: 12:00 PM–2:00 PM
Fri, Aug 7
77° / 63°
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Sat, Aug 8
84° / 69°
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Sun, Aug 9
82° / 68°
Best: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
Mon, Aug 10
81° / 67°
Best: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
Tue, Aug 11
81° / 68°
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Wed, Aug 12
82° / 65°
Best: 6:30 AM–8:30 AM
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.
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.
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.
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 Santa Barbara right now.
Rods & Combos
Bayline 7'6" Inshore Combo
Light, fast-action combo built for bays, jetties, and kelp — halibut to bay bass.
Lures
BaitTheory Swimbait Kit — 24 pc
Proven West Coast colors with matched leadheads — halibut, stripers, and bass.
Line & Leader
DeepTide X8 Braided Line — 30 lb
Eight-strand braid with near-zero stretch. Feel every tick of the bottom.
Accessories
SaltShield Aluminum Pliers
Corrosion-proof pliers with tungsten cutters that shear braid clean.
High tide in Santa Barbara today is at 5:11 AM (2.8 ft) and again at 4:14 PM (5.6 ft), measured at NOAA station 9411340 (Santa Barbara).
Low tide in Santa Barbara today is at 8:43 AM (2.5 ft).
Today's best fishing window at Santa Barbara is 6:30 PM–8:30 PM (rated Excellent, 82/100), 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 Santa Barbara are Calico Bass, California Halibut, Rockfish. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 9411340 (Santa Barbara) 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.
Santa Barbara's south-facing coast is sheltered from prevailing swell, making for calm, fishable water most of the year. Stearns Wharf, the harbor entrance, and the kelp lines toward Goleta hold calico bass, halibut, and white seabass in spring.