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Bonny Doon Beach

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

California, United States

3.0·10 catches

Top fish species at Bonny Doon Beach

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Check which species have trophy potential in Bonny Doon Beach

Bonny Doon Beach fishing reports

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Barred surfperch

length · weight

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Surf smelt

length · weight

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Kelp greenling

length · weight

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Cabezon

length · weight

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Striped seaperch

length · weight

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Black perch

length · weight

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General info

Bonny Doon Beach is a part of an ocean located in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. It is most popular for fishing Cabezon, Barred surfperch, and Surf smelt.

Location

36°59′49.8″N 122°11′8.1″W
Directions

Amenities

Fishing regulations at Bonny Doon Beach, 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.

Regulations for top species

Season open: November 1 - November 30
Cabezon

Cabezon

Regulation boundaryCA Central North Area
Bag limit10

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit10

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Special gear

1 Line 2 Hooks

When angling, gear is restricted to not more than two hooks and one line. For purposes of this section, a hook is a single hook, or double or treble hook with multiple points connected to a common shank.

Restrictions & requirements

CA Spearfishing

Divers and shore-based anglers are exempt from season and depth restrictions affecting the RCG complex and other federally managed groundfish. Shore-based anglers are fishermen that fish from beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other manmade structures connected to the shore. Divers are spear fishermen entering the water either from the shore or from a boat or other floating object. The possession and transit provisions described for shore-based anglers, and divers are as follows: (1) When angling from shore (includes beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other man−made structures connected to the shore), allspecies may be taken and/or possessed year−round. No vessel or watercraft may be used to assist in the take, transport and/or possession of these species under this provision. (2) When diving or spearfishing all species may be taken and/or possessed year−round. When boat−based groundfish fishing is closed, all types of fishing gear, except spearfishing gear, areprohibited to be aboard the vessel or watercraft when taking and/or possessing these species under this provision.

CA Shore-based Anglers

Divers and shore-based anglers are exempt from season and depth restrictions affecting the RCG complex and other federally managed groundfish. Shore-based anglers are fishermen that fish from beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other manmade structures connected to the shore. Divers are spear fishermen entering the water either from the shore or from a boat or other floating object. The possession and transit provisions described for shore-based anglers, and divers are as follows: (1) When angling from shore (includes beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other man−made structures connected to the shore), allspecies may be taken and/or possessed year−round. No vessel or watercraft may be used to assist in the take, transport and/or possession of these species under this provision. (2) When diving or spearfishing all species may be taken and/or possessed year−round. When boat−based groundfish fishing is closed, all types of fishing gear, except spearfishing gear, areprohibited to be aboard the vessel or watercraft when taking and/or possessing these species under this provision.

Skin Attached

Fillets must have entire skin attached.

CA Descending Device

DESCENDING DEVICES REQUIRED: No Person shall take or possess any federal groundfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without a descending device in possession.

Additional information
Season Exceptions: May 1 - Sept 30: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only (Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line.)Nov 1 - Nov 30: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only (Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line.)This species is included in the 10 fish RCG Complex limit, and also within the overall 20 finfish aggregate limit.For the latest information, call the Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations Hotline at 1-813-649-2801.
Synonyms
Scorpaenichthys marmoratus
Season open: year-round
Surf smelt

Surf smelt

Regulation boundaryCA State Waters
Additional information
Bag limit of 25 pounds of Surf Smelt (Night Smelt, Day Fish, or Whitebait Smelt) in any combination. Open year-round No size limit. When filleting on a vessel, each fillet shall bear intact a one-inch square patch of skin. The fillets may be of any size.
Synonyms
Day Fish, Hypomesus pretiosus, Night Smelt, Whitebait Smelt
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Local laws and licenses

California fishing license

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Reviews of Bonny Doon Beach

3.0
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1 ratings

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1
Top reviews

Cities nearby

Davenport

1.4 miles away

Santa Cruz

8.4 miles away

Brookdale

8.6 miles away

Boulder Creek

10.0 miles away

Scotts Valley

10.4 miles away

Live Oak

11.3 miles away

Day Valley

18.3 miles away

Pescadero

20.3 miles away

Los Gatos

20.5 miles away

Saratoga

20.7 miles away

La Honda

22.6 miles away

Campbell

23.3 miles away

Cupertino

23.4 miles away

Watsonville

23.5 miles away

Moss Landing

25.8 miles away

Los Altos

26.1 miles away

Palo Alto

27.3 miles away

Santa Clara

28.1 miles away

San Jose

28.1 miles away

Sunnyvale

28.1 miles away

Mountain View

28.4 miles away

Stanford

29.6 miles away

Pacific Grove

29.8 miles away

Morgan Hill

31.4 miles away

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FAQ about Bonny Doon Beach fishing

📍 Where is Bonny Doon Beach located?
Bonny Doon Beach is a part of an ocean located in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. Its coordinates are:
36°59′49.8″N 122°11′8.1″W
.
🎣 Where on Bonny Doon Beach is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Bonny Doon Beach 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.
🐟 What species are in Bonny Doon Beach?
The most common species in Bonny Doon Beach are:
  • Cabezon - 2 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Barred surfperch - 2 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Surf smelt - 1 members reported to have caught this fish
📢 What are the latest Bonny Doon Beach fishing reports?
The latest Bonny Doon Beach fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Bonny Doon Beach right now?
According to fishing regulations at Bonny Doon Beach, some of the species in season this November 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 .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Bonny Doon Beach?

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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