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51,679-acre Northern Monterey Bay fishing map with official USGS/CSUMB 2 m sonar survey contours in MLLW (93.24% measured, 97.81% assessed), MPA-filtered measured fishing spots, fish and forage evidence, public access and current Central Region rules. The water tops out around 870 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to MLLW; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
On the chart, Northern Monterey Bay draws 51,668 acres inside 40 miles of shoreline. At index 1.3 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. Roughly 3% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 14.5 mi end to end and 10.2 mi across at its widest. For a second option, Central Monterey Bay lies 10 mi south.
In spring, california halibut run shallow here, mostly 5 to 30 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 40 ft before dropping to 15 to 60 ft for winter. Spring california halibut concentrate at USGS mapped Aptos rippled sand shelf, a good-rated feeding flat around 79 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a paddletail dragged on sand or a bucktail + strip most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 30 ft | midday & dawn | USGS mapped Aptos rippled sand shelf (79 ft) | Swimbait on 1/2-1 oz head (drifted), Hair raiser jig |
| Summer | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | USGS mapped Aptos rippled sand shelf (79 ft) | Paddletail dragged on sand, Bucktail + strip |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | midday | open water | Heavier jig + swimbait (channels), Drifted bucktail |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | midday | open water | Slow-dragged swimbait in deep channels |
In spring, surfperch run shallow here, mostly 2 to 18 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 35 ft. NOAA charted wharf is the standout, a dock line at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for summer surfperch. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a 1–2 inch grub or a small paddletail most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn | NOAA charted wharf (4 ft) | Small grub on a light jig, Sand-crab imitation |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted wharf (4 ft) | 1-2 inch grub, Small paddletail |
| Fall | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | NOAA charted breakwater (11 ft) | Small jig and grub, Compact spoon |
| Winter | 6 to 35 ft | midday | NOAA charted breakwater (11 ft) | Slow small grub, Light bottom jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lingcod in 25 to 140 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 20 to 180 ft before dropping to 60 to 240 ft for winter. The spot to know is NOAA charted hard seabed, a hard bottom in about 140 ft of water that rates prime for lingcod in winter. Plan around midday and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a heavy swimbait or a metal jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 140 ft | dawn | NOAA charted rock (58 ft) | Heavy swimbait, Metal jig |
| Summer | 20 to 180 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted rock (58 ft) | Heavy swimbait, Metal jig |
| Fall | 30 to 200 ft | midday | NOAA charted rock (58 ft) | Heavy metal jig, Large swimbait |
| Winter | 60 to 240 ft | midday | NOAA charted hard seabed (140 ft) | Heavy slow-pitch jig |
When the water first warms, copper rockfish slide up into 20 to 110 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 140 ft, and by winter most fish are in 45 to 200 ft. If you only fish one area, make it NOAA charted rock: a hard bottom around 58 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and midday. Keep a vertical metal jig or a baitfish swimbait rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 20 to 110 ft | midday | NOAA charted rock (58 ft) | Compact metal jig, Small swimbait |
| Summer | 15 to 140 ft | dawn & midday | NOAA charted rock (16 ft) | Vertical metal jig, Baitfish swimbait |
| Fall | 25 to 170 ft | midday | NOAA charted rock (58 ft) | Slow-pitch jig, Compact swimbait |
| Winter | 45 to 200 ft | midday | NOAA charted rock (58 ft) | Slow-pitch jig |
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 5 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 50 to 120 ft before dropping to 30 to 90 ft for winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | open water | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
42 pieces of structure are mapped here — Surveyed channel edge, around 524 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Santa Cruz Port District — Boater Services. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for California waters are set by the California DFW (Central Region ocean fishing) — and special regulations can apply to Northern Monterey Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
Northern Monterey Bay is about 870 ft (265 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to MLLW; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target california halibut, surfperch, lingcod, copper rockfish, chinook salmon on Northern Monterey Bay.
NOAA charted hard seabed is the top-rated area: a hard bottom in about 140 ft of water that rates prime for lingcod in winter. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For california halibut, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Northern Monterey Bay is regulated by the California DFW (Central Region ocean fishing). Check the official California regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Central Monterey Bay 10 mi · Southern Monterey Bay 19 mi · San Luis Reservoir 44 mi · Lake Del Valle 49 mi · Half Moon Bay 49 mi · Bethany Reservoir 63 mi · Clifton Court Forebay 67 mi · Richardson Bay 74 mi · Big Break 77 mi · Bolinas Bay 80 mi · Franks Tract 80 mi · Suisun Bay 81 mi
See how Northern Monterey Bay stacks up: best chinook salmon lakes in California · best california halibut lakes in California · best surfperch lakes in California · best lingcod lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: U.S. Geological Survey, CSUMB Seafloor Mapping Lab and NOAA USGS Offshore Santa Cruz and Offshore Aptos bathymetry with NOAA ENC and NCEI P080 (MLLW; 93% measured, 5% source-interpolated). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.