What the score can — and can’t — know

What it is

The Bite Score reads the conditions for a patch of water and a species, and turns them into one number and a one-word verdict — Catching, Fishing, or Pass. It draws on the whole of what’s known: records and history, marine science, live ocean data, and how these fish behave on this coast.

What it can’t know

Fish move. Data has gaps and lag. A great-looking day still needs the right presentation, and a slow-looking day can surprise you. The score reflects the conditions — not what any individual fish will do, and not your morning.

• It is not a probability, not “odds,” not a “% chance,” and never a guarantee.
• It can’t see everything — bait that showed up an hour ago, a boat that just worked a spot, your skill on the day.
• Confidence varies. When the inputs are thin, the score says so; treat a low-confidence read as a rough guide.

It is not a safety or navigation tool

Regulations and protected areas

Seasons, size and bag limits, depth closures, and Marine Protected Area boundaries change, and CDFW is the authority. Anything we show about rules or grounds is for convenience and can go out of date — always confirm current California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations, and never fish a no-take reserve. Runs into Mexican waters (for example the Coronado Islands) need a Mexican licence and the proper paperwork.

The bottom line

Use the Bite Score the way you’d use a trusted friend’s read on the day: a smart, honest starting point that saves you a wasted run — not a promise, and not a replacement for your own judgment, the forecast, or the rules.