Coastal Foraging Forecast for Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, Ca, Usa
Today's Foraging Conditions
Analysis
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Low Tide
03:51 PM (-0.7 ft)
Go Foraging
1:51 PM - 5:51 PM
Biotoxin Alerts
Latest California Biotoxin Advisory
In effect as of: Jan 27, 2026
Notice: Active advisories are in effect for Humboldt County and Northern Channel Islands. Do not consume sport-harvested razor clams from Humboldt County or bivalve shellfish (mussels, clams, oysters, scallops) from the Northern Channel Islands. Additionally, do not consume rock crab viscera (internal organs) from advisory areas: CA-OR border to Sonoma/Mendocino County line, and waters around Santa Rosa Island + Northern Channel Islands. For latest updates, call CDPH's Biotoxin Information Line at (800) 553-4133.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is monitoring for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins and Domoic Acid, which can cause Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP). These naturally occurring marine toxins can cause severe illness or death in humans after eating contaminated seafood. Important: Cooking does not destroy these toxins. To be safe, Please follow the restrictions below:
Current Health Advisories for Shellfish
Bivalve Advisory: Humboldt County (Razor Clams)
Advisory Area:
- Humboldt County
Restriction: Do not consume sport-harvested razor clams. Reason: Dangerous levels of domoic acid have been detected, and razor clams can retain domoic acid in tissue longer than other bivalve species.
Bivalve Advisory: Northern Channel Islands
Advisory Area:
- Northern Channel Islands
Restriction: Do not consume sport-harvested mussels, clams, oysters, or scallops. Reason: Dangerous levels of domoic acid have been detected; this advisory remains in place due to limited data to remove it.
Bivalve Advisory Status Update
The annual statewide sport-harvested mussel quarantine ended at midnight on October 31 and is no longer in effect.
Crab Species Advisory Update (California)
Current status:
-
There are currently no active Dungeness crab health advisories in California.
- On Jan 26, 2026, CDPH lifted the Dungeness crab viscera advisory for state waters from Reading Rock State Marine Reserve to Cape Mendocino.
-
Rock crab advisories remain in effect. Do not consume rock crab internal organs (viscera/butter/guts) from:
- The California-Oregon border to the Sonoma-Mendocino County line
- Waters around Santa Rosa Island and the Northern Channel Islands
Reason: Elevated domoic acid risk in crab viscera in advisory areas; some long-standing advisories remain due to lack of data to remove them.
Author's Note:
All advisories come directly from California's biotoxin information line. Marine biotoxin levels can change rapidly, and California may update official advisories at any time, so before consuming any wild-harvested shellfish, crabs, or other marine life, you should always check the official sources below:
- Call the California Biotoxin Hotline for real-time updates: 1-800-553-4133
- Visit CDPH's Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Webpage for more information: cdph.ca.gov
- Check CDPH's Recreational Bivalve Shellfish Health Advisory Map for live monitoring data.
- For crab and lobster data, visit CDPH's Food and Drug Branch Demoic acid webpage for more information on Demoic acid.
7-Day Forecast
Tuesday, March 3
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Low Tide
04:24 PM (-0.3 ft)
Go Foraging
2:24 PM - 6:24 PM
Wednesday, March 4
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Low Tide
04:54 PM (0.2 ft)
Go Foraging
2:54 PM - 6:54 PM
Thursday, March 5
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Caution: Moderate swells with long intervals between waves can still produce unexpected large sneaker waves. Stay alert.
Low Tide
05:21 PM (0.8 ft)
Go Foraging
3:21 PM - 7:21 PM
Friday, March 6
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Low Tide
06:09 AM (0.7 ft)
Go Foraging
4:09 AM - 8:09 AM
Saturday, March 7
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Low Tide
06:58 AM (0.7 ft)
Go Foraging
4:58 AM - 8:58 AM
Sunday, March 8
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Low Tide
08:54 AM (0.7 ft)
Go Foraging
6:54 AM - 10:54 AM