Shoreline stripers surface near Santa Cruz as fall tides build

What's biting

What's next

Tides are running bigger than usual under this week's full moon. Monterey's next low sits near 5:05 a.m. PDT building to a high around 11:14 a.m., while Port San Luis follows close behind with a 4:34 a.m. low and a 10:44 a.m. high. That stronger push should keep bait pinned tight to the beach through the early morning, the same window that produced the shoreline striper bite near Santa Cruz.

If the pattern holds into the weekend, working the last of the outgoing tide through the turn should keep that bite going, and the bigger moon-driven swing should help stage bait close to the beach for anyone working the surf at first light.

Context

Late September marks the hinge point on the Central Coast, as summer's offshore season starts giving way to fall's nearshore pattern, when cooling water pulls baitfish tight to the beaches and draws striped bass and other predators in behind them. A striper showing in the surf near Santa Cruz this early in the transition is typical for the season, not ahead of or behind schedule. Check state regulations before targeting or harvesting striped bass, as seasonal rules can vary along the coast.