Striped Bass Fishing in San Francisco Bay: Techniques, Hot Spots & Seasonal Patterns
Target trophy striped bass in San Francisco Bay with this complete guide covering live bait tactics, topwater techniques...
Read MoreCalifornia · Northern California
SAN FRANCISCO
FISHING CHARTERS
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Verified Captains
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Avg Rating
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Fishing Types
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Species
San Francisco, CA
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About
San Francisco Fishing
San Francisco Bay is one of the most iconic fishing destinations on the West Coast, with the Golden Gate providing a dramatic backdrop for salmon, halibut, and striped bass fishing. The bay's rich ecosystem supports incredible variety, while offshore trips target rockfish and lingcod on the Farallon Islands. The city's charter fleet departs from Fisherman's Wharf and Sausalito.
Fishing Calendar
What's Biting in San Francisco?
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 | P | G | G | 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
|
- | - | - | G | P | P | P | P | G | F | - | - |
|
Bottom Fishing
|
- | - | - | - | G | P | P | G | G | F | - | - |
|
Deep Sea Fishing
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | F | G | G | F | - | - |
Species Glossary
View Full Species Guide
San Francisco 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 San Francisco
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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San Francisco Fishing Blog
Local insights, seasonal reports, and expert tips for fishing in San Francisco.
Guest Reviews
4.7
based on 3 reviews
San Francisco Fishing Reviews
Halibut Going Off Inside the Bay
The halibut finally showed up in San Francisco Bay and we absolutely crushed them on live anchovies drifted along the South Bay flats. Boated 11 keeper halibut to 18 pounds — the best day inside the gate I've had in three years. Water temps came up just enough to push the fish in.
C
Captain Tony Reeves
May 2025
California Halibut
Striped Bass Blitz at Alcatraz
Drifted live sardines around Alcatraz Island at the top of the incoming tide and the stripers went ballistic. We landed over 20 fish with the biggest going 32 pounds on 20-pound fluorocarbon. You could see the bait getting crushed on the surface — absolute chaos in the best way.
C
Captain Maria Chen
October 2025
Striped Bass
Solid Salmon Run Off the Farallones
Made the run out to the Southeast Farallon and found salmon stacked on the meter in 30 fathoms. Trolled rigged anchovies behind Pro-Troll flashers and put 14 kings in the box for a 6-pack trip. Fish were averaging 12-15 pounds with a couple nicer ones mixed in.
C
Captain James Pak
June 2025
Chinook Salmon
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