Rockfish Fishing off Half Moon Bay: Species, Structure & Deep-Reef Tactics
Master the deep-reef rockfish bite off Half Moon Bay with this guide to species identification, proven rigs, and the bes...
Read MoreCalifornia · Northern California
HALF MOON BAY
FISHING CHARTERS
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15+
Verified Captains
4.7★
Avg Rating
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Fishing Types
6+
Species
Half Moon Bay, CA
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About
Half Moon Bay Fishing
Half Moon Bay is a charming coastal town just south of San Francisco with a productive fishing harbor and access to outstanding offshore grounds. The deep submarine canyons nearby concentrate rockfish, lingcod, and halibut, while seasonal salmon and albacore runs draw anglers from across the Bay Area. Pillar Point Harbor is the main departure point for charters.
Fishing Calendar
What's Biting in Half Moon Bay?
See which species are available each month, color-coded by activity level.
Color Key
Peak
Good
Fair
Off Season
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Inshore
|
P | G | G | F | F | F | - | - | - | - | G | P |
|
Bottom Fishing
|
F | F | G | G | P | P | P | P | G | G | F | F |
|
Nearshore
|
- | - | G | G | P | P | G | G | G | F | - | - |
|
Nearshore
|
- | - | - | F | P | P | P | G | F | - | - | - |
|
Bottom Fishing
|
- | - | - | - | G | P | P | G | F | F | - | - |
|
Deep Sea Fishing
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | F | G | G | F | - | - |
Species Glossary
View Full Species Guide
Half Moon Bay Fish Species
6+ species organized by fishing type. Click any species to learn more.
Inshore Species
Fish the bays, flats, and passes close to shore.
Nearshore Species
Target reefs, wrecks, and structure within a few miles of land.
Deep Sea Fishing Species
Head to deep water for big game and bottom species.
Bottom Fishing Species
Charter Guide
Fishing Charter Types in Half Moon Bay
Understanding the different charter types will help you book the perfect trip for your group.
INSHORE
Fish the bays, flats, and passes close to shore. Target redfish, speckled trout, flounder and more in calm, protected waters.
View Inshore ChartersNEARSHORE
Fish the reefs, wrecks, and structure 1-9 miles offshore. Target snapper, grouper, cobia and more over natural and artificial reefs.
View Nearshore ChartersDEEP SEA FISHING
Deep sea fishing 20+ miles out. Chase tuna, marlin, mahi mahi, wahoo and other pelagic gamefish in blue water.
View Deep Sea Fishing ChartersTROLLING
Cover water by dragging lures or bait behind a moving boat to target pelagic species.
View Trolling ChartersBOTTOM FISHING
Drop baits to the ocean floor to target snapper, grouper, and other reef dwellers.
View Bottom Fishing ChartersFLY FISHING
Sight-cast with fly rods on the flats for redfish, trout, and tarpon.
View Fly Fishing ChartersSURF FISHING
Fish from the beach or wade into the surf to target pompano, whiting, and redfish.
View Surf Fishing ChartersKAYAK FISHING
Paddle out for a more intimate fishing experience on bays and nearshore waters.
View Kayak Fishing Charters
Fishing Tips & Guides
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Half Moon Bay Fishing Blog
Local insights, seasonal reports, and expert tips for fishing in Half Moon Bay.
Guest Reviews
4.7
based on 3 reviews
Half Moon Bay Fishing Reviews
Epic Crab and Rockfish Combo
Pulled limits of Dungeness crab in 50 feet off Pillar Point before running south to the rockfish grounds. The reef structure produced fat vermilion and coppers on every drop. Clients went home with crab and rockfish — the ultimate combo trip out of Half Moon Bay.
C
Captain Bill Nakamura
November 2025
Dungeness Crab
Vermilion Rockfish
Copper Rockfish
Salmon Crushing It Off the Jetty
Found a wall of bait two miles off the harbor mouth and the kings were hammering it. We mooched herring in 45 feet and had boat limits of Chinook by 10 AM. Best fish was a gorgeous 28-pound hen chrome bright and fat — she'll smoke up beautifully.
C
Captain Vanessa Morales
July 2025
Chinook Salmon
Quality Lingcod Bite at the Reef
Worked a series of rock piles in 100-130 feet south of the harbor and connected with quality lingcod on heavy jigs. Biggest fish went 25 pounds and hit a white swimbait on the drop. Also picked up some nice greenlings and a couple olive rockfish rounding out the box.
C
Captain Ryan O'Donnell
March 2025
Lingcod
Kelp Greenling
Olive Rockfish
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