Santa Monica Tide Charts & Fishing
Friday, September 18 · NOAA station 9410840 (Santa Monica)
Tides live · forecast as of 10:15 AM PT
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
3.8 ft
▲ Rising · 0.2 ft/hr
Next high
2:48 PM
4.5 ft · in 4h 32m
Next low
11:47 PM
1.1 ft · in 13h 31m
Wind
6 mph SSW
Light breeze
Fishing score
51 /100
Good
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Sep 18 | High | 2:48 PM | 4.5 ft |
| Fri, Sep 18 | Low | 11:47 PM | 1.1 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | High | 8:42 AM | 3.7 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Low | 10:46 AM | 3.6 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | High | 4:40 PM | 4.5 ft |
Today's Tide Times in Santa Monica
Today in Santa Monica, high tide arrives at 2:48 PM (4.5 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 11:47 PM (1.1 ft). That's a 3.4-foot swing — a gentle neap-cycle swing, so focus on dawn and dusk rather than mid-tide current.
The sun rises at 6:39 AM and sets at 6:56 PM, under a first quarter (45% illuminated). With the moon near a quarter phase, tidal movement is on the mild side this week.
Tomorrow starts with a high tide at 8:42 AM (3.7 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
51/ 100
Best windows today
- 5:30 AM – 7:30 AMGood
- 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMVery Good
outgoing tide · dusk bite window · light wind
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 6:39 AM
- Sunset
- 6:56 PM
First Quarter
45% illuminated
Neap tides — gentler water movement. Fish the dawn and dusk windows.
Conditions
74°F
Clear
- Wind
- 6 mph SSWgusts 6
- Waves
- 2.6 ft @ 10s
- Water temp
- 73°F
Light breeze — Great fishing conditions
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
75° / 63°
Very Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Sat, Sep 19
74° / 63°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Sun, Sep 20
79° / 64°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Mon, Sep 21
76° / 68°
Very Good
Best: 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Tue, Sep 22
76° / 67°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Wed, Sep 23
77° / 69°
Excellent
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Thu, Sep 24
78° / 69°
Excellent
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
What's Biting at Santa Monica
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.
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 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.
Leopard Shark
Triakis semifasciata
Season: May – October
Baits: Squid, Mackerel chunks, Midshipman
Soak fresh bait on the flats during an evening incoming tide. Steel or heavy mono leader, circle hooks for a clean release.
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 Monica right now.
Rod & Reel Combos
Daiwa D-Wave Saltwater Spinning Combo — 8 ft, 2-Piece Medium
Eight feet is the honest middle: long enough to keep line above the wash on a gentle beach, short enough to fish from a pier or a boat without apologising to anyone.
$59.99Shop 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 — 4 oz, 20-Pack
Four ounces is the weight most 9 to 11 foot surf rods are built to throw, and the one to reach for when the water is moving hard enough that a 3 oz starts walking.
$32.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Santa Monica Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in Santa Monica today?
High tide in Santa Monica today is at 2:48 PM (4.5 ft), measured at NOAA station 9410840 (Santa Monica).
›What time is low tide in Santa Monica today?
Low tide in Santa Monica today is at 11:47 PM (1.1 ft).
›When is the best time to fish in Santa Monica today?
Today's best fishing window at Santa Monica is 6:00 PM–8:00 PM (rated Very Good, 72/100), 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 Santa Monica in September?
In September, the most active species at Santa Monica are California Corbina, California Halibut, Spotted Bay Bass, Leopard Shark. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›How accurate is this Santa Monica tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 9410840 (Santa Monica) 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 Monica
Santa Monica Bay is Los Angeles' front-yard fishery. Summer mornings bring corbina cruising the shorebreak, the pier produces mackerel and halibut, and artificial reefs a short distance out hold sand bass and sculpin year-round.