Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your San Francisco Bay fishing report for this fine Friday morning, May 9th, 2025.

The bass action is absolutely on fire right now across the Bay! Reports from earlier this week show that striped bass fishing has been "wide open" according to Sean Hodges over at J&P Bait. Both boaters and shore anglers have been hauling in impressive numbers and sizes.

Just this past weekend, the Lovely Martha charter reported absolute limits of bass on May 2nd - we're talking 11 limits (22 fish) plus a bonus halibut. The tides have been improving since then, which should translate to better halibut numbers as we head into the weekend.

For today, you'll want to hit the water early. The Fish Emeryville fleet has been consistently scoring with both stripers and halibut. On a recent outing, the New Huck Finn had 6 anglers land 12 striped bass and 8 halibut in a single day trip.

As for hot spots, I'd recommend trying around Emeryville and the Berkeley Flats for halibut. For stripers, the entire Bay is producing, but pay special attention to structure and current breaks. The waters near Alcatraz and Angel Island have been particularly productive for boaters.

Bait-wise, live anchovies are golden if you can get them. Fresh shiner perch are also working well for both halibut and bass. If you're throwing artificials, try white or chartreuse swimbaits on a 1-2 oz jighead depending on current. Trollers are scoring with shallow-running plugs in bright colors.

For shore anglers, the Berkeley Pier area and spots along the San Francisco waterfront are your best bets. Incoming tides have been most productive, especially the first couple hours.

Remember to check your limits and regulations before heading out. The bite has been best in the morning hours, so don't sleep in if you want to fill the cooler!

That's all for today's report, folks. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines and see you on the water!