UTERCabezon fishing in Central California Coast
In Central California Coast, cabezon peak May–October and December–March and are around year-round, spawning in December–March, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Males guarding eggs on the rocks — boat groundfish closed in winter.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Cabezon in Central California Coast, month by month
- JanuarySpawningMales guarding eggs on the rocks — boat groundfish closed in winter.
- FebruarySpawning
- MarchSpawning
- AprilArrivingGroundfish and salmon open; stripers run the Bay. Rockfish and ling opener off Monterey and Morro Bay; ocean kings out of Monterey (2026 reopened after three closed years — check CDFW); stripers on the Bay reefs.
- MayPeakTide pools and jetty rocks at Monterey and Pacifica; crabs and squid on a short leader.
- JunePeak
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberAround
- DecemberSpawningSpawning starts.
Where to fish cabezon near Morro Bay, Monterey, Santa Cruz
A rugged, cold coast of kelp and granite — Big Sur, Monterey Bay's submarine canyon, Half Moon Bay, the Farallones — and San Francisco Bay, San Pablo and Suisun Bays running up into the Delta.
Fish Scouter charts 1 ledge / hard bottom, 1 artificial reef spots in the Central Coast & San Francisco Bay map area — the kinds cabezon hold on.
What to use for cabezon
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Sand crabs (Pacific mole crabs)A soft-shell sand crab on a #4 to #2 hook, Carolina rig, cast just behind the first break — the corbina and barred surfperch bait.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 46–60°F water, best at 50–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch cabezon in Central California Coast?
Peak season is May–October and December–March, with fish spawning in December–March (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Cabezon are here year-round. January: Males guarding eggs on the rocks — boat groundfish closed in winter.
Where do cabezon hold in Central California Coast?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, pass / inlet, fishing pier — around Morro Bay, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Berkeley.
What is the best bait for cabezon in Central California Coast?
Live bait: squid, sand crabs (pacific mole crabs). Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for cabezon in Central California Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.
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All about cabezon · Central Coast & San Francisco Bay, the whole year