Thursday, August 6 · NOAA station 9413745 (Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay)sample data — live feed unavailable
Updated 3:33 AM PT
Tide now
0.8 ft
▲ Rising · 0.2 ft/hr
Next high
5:54 AM
2.9 ft · in 2h 20m
Next low
9:37 AM
2.5 ft · in 6h 3m
Fishing score
58 /100
Good
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| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 6 | High | 5:54 AM | 2.9 ft |
| Thu, Aug 6 | Low | 9:37 AM | 2.5 ft |
| Thu, Aug 6 | High | 4:49 PM | 5.6 ft |
| Fri, Aug 7 | Low | 12:43 AM | 0.4 ft |
| Fri, Aug 7 | High | 7:48 AM | 3.1 ft |
| Fri, Aug 7 | Low | 10:44 AM | 2.9 ft |
| Fri, Aug 7 | High | 5:50 PM | 5.8 ft |
Today in Santa Cruz, high tide arrives at 5:54 AM (2.9 ft) and again at 4:49 PM (5.6 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 9:37 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 6:17 AM and sets at 8:09 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 12:43 AM (0.4 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Best windows today
strong incoming tide · dawn bite window · light wind
Last Quarter
45% illuminated
Neap tides — gentler water movement. Fish the dawn and dusk windows.
60°F
Overcast
Today
68° / 58°
Best: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
Fri, Aug 7
68° / 57°
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Sat, Aug 8
71° / 60°
Best: 6:30 AM–8:30 AM
Sun, Aug 9
73° / 60°
Best: 7:00 AM–9:00 AM
Mon, Aug 10
70° / 59°
Best: 8:00 AM–10:00 AM
Tue, Aug 11
71° / 58°
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Wed, Aug 12
69° / 59°
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
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.
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.
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 Cruz right now.
Rods & Combos
Bayline 7'6" Inshore Combo
Light, fast-action combo built for bays, jetties, and kelp — halibut to bay bass.
Terminal Tackle
TrueSet Circle Hooks — 25 pk
Corner-of-the-mouth hookups nearly every time. Better for the fish, better landing rates.
Accessories
TideGrip Folding Landing Net
Rubber-coated mesh, telescoping handle, folds flat for the jetty walk.
Line & Leader
GhostWater Fluorocarbon Leader — 15 lb
Nearly invisible underwater — the difference-maker for picky corbina and seabass.
High tide in Santa Cruz today is at 5:54 AM (2.9 ft) and again at 4:49 PM (5.6 ft), measured at NOAA station 9413745 (Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay).
Low tide in Santa Cruz today is at 9:37 AM (2.5 ft).
Today's best fishing window at Santa Cruz is 5:00 AM–7:00 AM (rated Excellent, 80/100), driven by strong incoming tide, dawn bite window, light wind. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
In August, the most active species at Santa Cruz are California Halibut, Rockfish, Lingcod. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 9413745 (Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay) 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 Cruz fishes the sheltered north corner of Monterey Bay. The municipal wharf is a family favorite for mackerel and perch, kelp beds off Lighthouse Point hold kelp bass and rockfish, and live-bait drifts on the flats produce quality halibut all summer.