About Albion
Albion Cove sits on the Mendocino coast of California, between Fort Bragg and Point Arena, 16.5 miles north of Point Arena.
The Albion River is a tidal estuary that reaches the Pacific at Albion Cove. Two private campground marinas sit on the tidal river inside the cove, and boats run down the river, out through the cove and into open water.
Offshore from Albion, anglers target rockfish, lingcod, cabezon, kelp and rock greenling, and Pacific halibut from spring through autumn. Chinook salmon is added in summer when the season is open, and Dungeness crab is added in autumn.
This guide covers how to get off the ramp, through the cove and onto the grounds, and what each season adds.
Access and navigation
Two facilities serve boaters on the tidal river:
- Albion River Campground and Marinapaved Pond ramp, summer-only sand ramp near the bridge, dock slips on the main river dock
- Schooner’s Landing Marinamarina on the tidal river
Launching and the tide
The Pond ramp opens into a tidal pond at the east end of the campground. You need high tide to reach the river when launching, and high tide again to get back into the pond. At low tide, access to and from the river at that spot is limited to none. The marina states its facilities handle vessels up to 24 feet.
The same tide window governs the return, so plan it as carefully as the launch. Kayaks and skiffs run the same tidal river down to the cove.
The cove entrance
The Albion Cove entrance has rocks on both sides. The U.S. Coast Pilot 7, Chapter 8 describes them this way:
- Low rocks reach nearly 500 yards west of the cove’s south point.
- Covered rocks reach more than 500 yards west-southwest of the rocky islet at the north point, and they can show breakers in a moderate swell.
- Mooring Rock stands near the middle of the cove. It has a light and a sound signal that can be keyed on VHF-FM channel 81A.
- A lighted whistle buoy marks the cove entrance.
The Coast Pilot describes good shelter in north weather. The campground describes the river side as sheltered moorage.
The line you hold
There is no second channel, so the line you hold on the way in or out is what matters. Between Albion Cove and Colby Reef, breakers can show nearly 0.5 mile from shore in a heavy swell. The Coast Pilot advises a 1-mile offing along that stretch. Hold that offing rather than cutting inside along the reef-studded shore, then make the entrance by the lighted whistle buoy and Mooring Rock, clear of both the south-point and north-point rock fields.
The Coast Pilot’s table for the area off Point Arena lists a prevailing wind from the north or northwest in every month.
Reading conditions on arrival
Two official sources cover the water:
- NWS Eureka marine forecast zones PZZ455 and PZZ475 cover Cape Mendocino to Pt. Arena.
- NDBC station 46014 buoy sits 19 NM north of Point Arena.
The buoy reads offshore wind, wave height and swell period, but it does not read conditions inside the cove. When you arrive, look at the cove and check PZZ455, PZZ475 and 46014. If the water looks bigger than you want, take the wider offing approach or wait on the tide.
Fishing conditions
Colby Reef is a shoal rocky patch 0.5 mile offshore, west of Stillwell Point, which lies 1.6 miles north of the cove. Other dangers lie just inside the 20-fathom curve along that stretch. The inshore rocks of the cove are part of the ground too. Offshore, the 20-fathom curve is the line most anglers work around.
Species detail for rockfish, lingcod and Pacific halibut lives in our Pacific Northwest fishing guide. Groundfish depths, salmon and crab rules change by season and quota, so check the CDFW Mendocino regulations map before fishing.
The Chart Contours layer in Breakpoint helps you find the 20-fathom curve near the cove. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Winter
Winter swell and the high-tide launch requirement limit days on the water. For winter groundfish and crab status, go to CDFW.
Spring
Rockfish, lingcod, cabezon, kelp and rock greenling, and Pacific halibut are the targets. The prevailing northwest wind shapes the days, so check the wind numbers in the forecast before you commit to the run.
Summer
The spring list carries on, and Chinook salmon is added when the season is open. CDFW sets the dates. The unpaved sand ramp near the bridge is open only in summer.
Autumn
Groundfish and Pacific halibut continue. Dungeness crab is added, with the opener set by CDFW.
