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"San Francisco Bay Fishing Report: Rockfish, Lingcod, and Halibut Abound in April 2025"
San Francisco Bay anglers are in for a promising day of fishing this Friday, April 4, 2025. With light morning winds and a mostly clear sky, the weather is perfect for hitting the water. Sunrise graced us at 6:45 a.m., with sunset expected at 7:38 p.m., providing ample daylight for casting your lines. The tidal swings are moderate today, with the last hour of the incoming tide and the first hour of the outgoing being prime times for action.
The Rockfish and Lingcod season opened on April 1, and reports suggest solid catches are being made already. Party boats have recorded impressive numbers, with Lingcod and Rockfish dominating the counts. From the shore, Striped Bass activity is steady, though many larger fish have retreated inland to river systems. However, plenty are still being caught in the bay using cut baits like anchovies and pile worms or artificial lures like swimbaits and Kastmasters. Californian Halibut are becoming more active as April begins, especially around Berkeley Flats and the Marin Islands, where anglers targeting these flatfish have had success with live bait and soft plastic lures.
For those seeking variety, areas like Fort Point Pier are seeing a mix of Jacksmelt, small rockfish, and the occasional striped bass. Further south, Candlestick Point offers solid halibut and perch action, though perch restrictions apply—only Shiner Perch may be kept, with a 20-fish limit. The South Bay piers, like Oyster Point Pier, are mainly yielding Jacksmelt and some bat rays.
For bait, anchovies, sardines, and grass shrimp continue to perform well. Artificial lures mimicking local forage fish—like smaller swimbaits and jerkbaits in silver or white—are also highly effective, particularly when there’s decent water clarity. For Halibut, soft plastics like P-Line Twin Tail Squids or Pitbull Tackle Killer Jigs have proven to attract quality catches, especially when tipped with a piece of squid or sardine.
If you're planning to venture out, hot spots to consider today include the Berkeley Flats for Halibut and Striped Bass or the Marin Islands for a mix of Rockfish, Lingcod, and Halibut. For shore anglers, Fort Point Pier and Candlestick Point are great choices for consistent action.
With the Rockfish and Lingcod season freshly underway and Halibut activity picking up, it’s a fantastic time to be on the water around San Francisco Bay. Tight lines!
The Rockfish and Lingcod season opened on April 1, and reports suggest solid catches are being made already. Party boats have recorded impressive numbers, with Lingcod and Rockfish dominating the counts. From the shore, Striped Bass activity is steady, though many larger fish have retreated inland to river systems. However, plenty are still being caught in the bay using cut baits like anchovies and pile worms or artificial lures like swimbaits and Kastmasters. Californian Halibut are becoming more active as April begins, especially around Berkeley Flats and the Marin Islands, where anglers targeting these flatfish have had success with live bait and soft plastic lures.
For those seeking variety, areas like Fort Point Pier are seeing a mix of Jacksmelt, small rockfish, and the occasional striped bass. Further south, Candlestick Point offers solid halibut and perch action, though perch restrictions apply—only Shiner Perch may be kept, with a 20-fish limit. The South Bay piers, like Oyster Point Pier, are mainly yielding Jacksmelt and some bat rays.
For bait, anchovies, sardines, and grass shrimp continue to perform well. Artificial lures mimicking local forage fish—like smaller swimbaits and jerkbaits in silver or white—are also highly effective, particularly when there’s decent water clarity. For Halibut, soft plastics like P-Line Twin Tail Squids or Pitbull Tackle Killer Jigs have proven to attract quality catches, especially when tipped with a piece of squid or sardine.
If you're planning to venture out, hot spots to consider today include the Berkeley Flats for Halibut and Striped Bass or the Marin Islands for a mix of Rockfish, Lingcod, and Halibut. For shore anglers, Fort Point Pier and Candlestick Point are great choices for consistent action.
With the Rockfish and Lingcod season freshly underway and Halibut activity picking up, it’s a fantastic time to be on the water around San Francisco Bay. Tight lines!
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By Quiet. PleaseSan Francisco Bay anglers are in for a promising day of fishing this Friday, April 4, 2025. With light morning winds and a mostly clear sky, the weather is perfect for hitting the water. Sunrise graced us at 6:45 a.m., with sunset expected at 7:38 p.m., providing ample daylight for casting your lines. The tidal swings are moderate today, with the last hour of the incoming tide and the first hour of the outgoing being prime times for action.
The Rockfish and Lingcod season opened on April 1, and reports suggest solid catches are being made already. Party boats have recorded impressive numbers, with Lingcod and Rockfish dominating the counts. From the shore, Striped Bass activity is steady, though many larger fish have retreated inland to river systems. However, plenty are still being caught in the bay using cut baits like anchovies and pile worms or artificial lures like swimbaits and Kastmasters. Californian Halibut are becoming more active as April begins, especially around Berkeley Flats and the Marin Islands, where anglers targeting these flatfish have had success with live bait and soft plastic lures.
For those seeking variety, areas like Fort Point Pier are seeing a mix of Jacksmelt, small rockfish, and the occasional striped bass. Further south, Candlestick Point offers solid halibut and perch action, though perch restrictions apply—only Shiner Perch may be kept, with a 20-fish limit. The South Bay piers, like Oyster Point Pier, are mainly yielding Jacksmelt and some bat rays.
For bait, anchovies, sardines, and grass shrimp continue to perform well. Artificial lures mimicking local forage fish—like smaller swimbaits and jerkbaits in silver or white—are also highly effective, particularly when there’s decent water clarity. For Halibut, soft plastics like P-Line Twin Tail Squids or Pitbull Tackle Killer Jigs have proven to attract quality catches, especially when tipped with a piece of squid or sardine.
If you're planning to venture out, hot spots to consider today include the Berkeley Flats for Halibut and Striped Bass or the Marin Islands for a mix of Rockfish, Lingcod, and Halibut. For shore anglers, Fort Point Pier and Candlestick Point are great choices for consistent action.
With the Rockfish and Lingcod season freshly underway and Halibut activity picking up, it’s a fantastic time to be on the water around San Francisco Bay. Tight lines!
The Rockfish and Lingcod season opened on April 1, and reports suggest solid catches are being made already. Party boats have recorded impressive numbers, with Lingcod and Rockfish dominating the counts. From the shore, Striped Bass activity is steady, though many larger fish have retreated inland to river systems. However, plenty are still being caught in the bay using cut baits like anchovies and pile worms or artificial lures like swimbaits and Kastmasters. Californian Halibut are becoming more active as April begins, especially around Berkeley Flats and the Marin Islands, where anglers targeting these flatfish have had success with live bait and soft plastic lures.
For those seeking variety, areas like Fort Point Pier are seeing a mix of Jacksmelt, small rockfish, and the occasional striped bass. Further south, Candlestick Point offers solid halibut and perch action, though perch restrictions apply—only Shiner Perch may be kept, with a 20-fish limit. The South Bay piers, like Oyster Point Pier, are mainly yielding Jacksmelt and some bat rays.
For bait, anchovies, sardines, and grass shrimp continue to perform well. Artificial lures mimicking local forage fish—like smaller swimbaits and jerkbaits in silver or white—are also highly effective, particularly when there’s decent water clarity. For Halibut, soft plastics like P-Line Twin Tail Squids or Pitbull Tackle Killer Jigs have proven to attract quality catches, especially when tipped with a piece of squid or sardine.
If you're planning to venture out, hot spots to consider today include the Berkeley Flats for Halibut and Striped Bass or the Marin Islands for a mix of Rockfish, Lingcod, and Halibut. For shore anglers, Fort Point Pier and Candlestick Point are great choices for consistent action.
With the Rockfish and Lingcod season freshly underway and Halibut activity picking up, it’s a fantastic time to be on the water around San Francisco Bay. Tight lines!