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Santa Cruz Bay

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

California, United States

4.9·63 catches

Top fish species at Santa Cruz Bay

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Santa Cruz Bay fishing reports

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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Barred surfperch

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

16 in · 2 lb

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Largemouth bass

19 in · 3 lb

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Smallmouth bass

16 in · 2 lb

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Largemouth bass

17 in · 2 lb

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General info

Santa Cruz Bay is a lake located in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. It is most popular for fishing Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, and Black crappie.

Location

34°35′1.3″N 119°55′12.9″W
Directions

Amenities

When are Largemouth Bass biting on Santa Cruz Bay?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Santa Cruz Bay. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at Santa Cruz Bay, CA

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in California can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

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Local laws and licenses

California fishing license

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Reviews of Santa Cruz Bay

4.9
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7 ratings

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Top reviews

Cities nearby

Goleta

10.8 miles away

Isla Vista

12.2 miles away

Solvang

12.5 miles away

Santa Barbara

15.6 miles away

Los Alamos

22.9 miles away

Carpinteria

26.6 miles away

Sisquoc

28.7 miles away

Lompoc

31.8 miles away

Orcutt

34.8 miles away

Vandenberg AFB

35.9 miles away

Oak View

37.5 miles away

Meiners Oaks

38.0 miles away

Santa Maria

38.3 miles away

Casmalia

38.9 miles away

San Buenaventura

44.7 miles away

Nipomo

45.1 miles away

Guadalupe

45.3 miles away

Fellows

46.2 miles away

Taft

46.9 miles away

Oxnard

49.9 miles away

Port Hueneme

50.2 miles away

Santa Paula

51.0 miles away

Camarillo

56.4 miles away

Fillmore

58.5 miles away

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FAQ about Santa Cruz Bay fishing

Santa Cruz Bay is a lake located in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Its coordinates are:
34°35′1.3″N 119°55′12.9″W
.
Find the best fishing spots on Santa Cruz Bay by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
The most common species in Santa Cruz Bay are:
The latest Santa Cruz Bay fishing reports are:
According to fishing regulations at Santa Cruz Bay, some of the species in season this June include: Chinook salmon, Lingcod, Pacific halibut, Cabezon, and Copper rockfish. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .

Fishing in California requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Options include daily, annual, or combination licenses for residents and non-residents, purchasable online or at sporting goods stores.

In California, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16. There is no universal senior exemption. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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