UTERCabezon fishing in Northern California Coast
In Northern 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. May: Rock-hopping and nearshore reefs on the Mendocino and Humboldt coast.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Cabezon in Northern California Coast, month by month
- JanuarySpawning
- FebruarySpawning
- MarchSpawning
- AprilArrivingPacific halibut opens; redtail perch on the beaches. Halibut on the 150–300 ft flats off Eureka and Trinidad when the swell allows.
- MayPeakRock-hopping and nearshore reefs on the Mendocino and Humboldt coast.
- JunePeakKings, halibut and rockfish — pick your calm day. Troll bait on the 20–40 fathom line for kings; drift herring for halibut; rock-hop for cabezon.
- JulyPeakPeak kings off Fort Bragg and Shelter Cove. The Klamath zone closes fast on quota — check CDFW. Rockfish limits on calm summer days.
- AugustPeakPeak in the shallow reefs.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberAround
- DecemberSpawning
Where to fish cabezon near Bodega Bay, Fort Bragg, Shelter Cove
An exposed, wild coast of rocky headlands, pinnacles and a few harbors — Bodega, Noyo, Shelter Cove, Humboldt Bay, Crescent City — with the Eel, Klamath and Smith rivers coming out through sand bars.
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 Northern 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. May: Rock-hopping and nearshore reefs on the Mendocino and Humboldt coast.
Where do cabezon hold in Northern California Coast?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, pass / inlet, fishing pier — around Bodega Bay, Fort Bragg, Shelter Cove, Eureka, Trinidad, Crescent City.
What is the best bait for cabezon in Northern 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 Northern 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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