Santa Barbara Tide Charts & Fishing
Saturday, September 19 · NOAA station 9411340 (Santa Barbara)sample data — live feed unavailable
Tides live · forecast as of 4:43 PM PT
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
4.6 ft
· Slack water
Next high
4:55 PM
4.6 ft · in 12m
Next low
12:51 AM
0.7 ft · in 8h 8m
Wind
14 mph WSW
Fresh breeze · gusts 20
Fishing score
49 /100
Fair
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 19 | High | 8:21 AM | 3.7 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Low | 10:52 AM | 3.6 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | High | 4:55 PM | 4.6 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Low | 12:51 AM | 0.7 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | High | 8:17 AM | 3.8 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Low | 12:20 PM | 3.3 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | High | 6:04 PM | 4.8 ft |
Today's Tide Times in Santa Barbara
Today in Santa Barbara, high tide arrives at 8:21 AM (3.7 ft) and again at 4:55 PM (4.6 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 10:52 AM (3.6 ft). That's a 1.0-foot swing — a gentle neap-cycle swing, so focus on dawn and dusk rather than mid-tide current.
The sun rises at 6:44 AM and sets at 6:59 PM, under a first quarter (58% illuminated). With the moon near a quarter phase, tidal movement is on the mild side this week.
Tomorrow starts with a low tide at 12:51 AM (0.7 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
49/ 100
Best windows today
- 4:00 AM – 6:00 AMVery Good
- 7:00 PM – 9:00 PMVery Good
outgoing tide · dusk bite window
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 6:44 AM
- Sunset
- 6:59 PM
First Quarter
58% illuminated
Neap tides — gentler water movement. Fish the dawn and dusk windows.
Conditions
72°F
Overcast
- Wind
- 14 mph WSWgusts 20
- Waves
- 2.7 ft @ 7s
- Water temp
- 73°F
Fresh breeze — Casting gets harder — fish the lee
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
73° / 62°
Very Good
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Sun, Sep 20
74° / 60°
Very Good
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Mon, Sep 21
77° / 60°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Tue, Sep 22
79° / 62°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Wed, Sep 23
78° / 64°
Excellent
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Thu, Sep 24
75° / 64°
Excellent
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Fri, Sep 25
73° / 63°
Excellent
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
What's Biting at Santa Barbara
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.
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.
Gear for These Conditions
TheAnglerStore →Matched to the species feeding at Santa Barbara 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.
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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 →
Santa Barbara Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in Santa Barbara today?
High tide in Santa Barbara today is at 8:21 AM (3.7 ft) and again at 4:55 PM (4.6 ft), measured at NOAA station 9411340 (Santa Barbara).
›What time is low tide in Santa Barbara today?
Low tide in Santa Barbara today is at 10:52 AM (3.6 ft).
›When is the best time to fish in Santa Barbara today?
Today's best fishing window at Santa Barbara is 7:00 PM–9:00 PM (rated Very Good, 70/100), 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 Santa Barbara in September?
In September, the most active species at Santa Barbara are Calico Bass, California Halibut, Rockfish. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›How accurate is this Santa Barbara tide chart?
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.
About Santa Barbara
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.