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SF Bay Fishing Report: Halibut and Striped Bass Biting on Outgoing Tide
San Francisco Bay Fishing Report for May 2, 2025
Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with today’s local fishing update for San Francisco Bay. The weather today is classic Bay Area spring: mostly cloudy with patchy fog in the morning, temps in the mid-60s mid-day, and an afternoon westerly breeze around 12 to 15 knots. Sunrise was at 6:10 am and sunset will be at 8:00 pm. The tidal swing is moderate today, with an early morning high and an outgoing tide through midday—perfect conditions for drifting live bait for halibut.
The bite has been picking up recently as water temperatures climb. California halibut and striped bass are the main targets in and around the central and east bay this week. Yesterday’s party boat counts out of Berkeley were solid: the California Dawn II checked in with 23 halibut up to 14 pounds and 10 striped bass up to 8 pounds for 18 anglers. Smaller operations like Reel Addiction were also steady, with a mix of 4 to 8 halibut and 2 to 3 stripers for small groups. Over in San Francisco, the halibut action was a bit slower but still fair, with boats getting a couple of halibut and a handful of stripers on short trips[1].
Most fish are coming from the Oyster Point, Berkeley Flats, and Alcatraz areas. Paradise and the south side near Hunters Point are also producing, especially on the outgoing tide. Drifting live anchovies or shiners has been the most effective approach but swimbaits, hair jigs, and trap rigs tipped with herring or sardines are taking fish too. Fresh dead anchovies work well when you can’t find live bait.
Surfperch fishing is closed in the Bay through July except for shiner perch, but the piers are still good for stripers and the occasional starry flounder. Fort Point Pier and McNear Beach both saw some action last month with stripers to 22 inches landed from shore and the odd flounder mixed in[5]. Herring spawn has wrapped up for the season, but if you like chasing shiners, Richardson Bay and the pilings around Sausalito are worth a shot[3].
Hot spots today are the Berkeley Flats for halibut and stripers and Oyster Point for both shore and kayak anglers. The bite is best on the first two hours of the outgoing tide.
Bait shops are recommending live anchovies or shiners as your best bet, with artificial swimbaits in white, root beer, or chartreuse as good alternatives.
Keep an eye on the wind this afternoon—those westerlies can make things lumpy, especially outside the Gate. Good luck, and see you on the water!
Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with today’s local fishing update for San Francisco Bay. The weather today is classic Bay Area spring: mostly cloudy with patchy fog in the morning, temps in the mid-60s mid-day, and an afternoon westerly breeze around 12 to 15 knots. Sunrise was at 6:10 am and sunset will be at 8:00 pm. The tidal swing is moderate today, with an early morning high and an outgoing tide through midday—perfect conditions for drifting live bait for halibut.
The bite has been picking up recently as water temperatures climb. California halibut and striped bass are the main targets in and around the central and east bay this week. Yesterday’s party boat counts out of Berkeley were solid: the California Dawn II checked in with 23 halibut up to 14 pounds and 10 striped bass up to 8 pounds for 18 anglers. Smaller operations like Reel Addiction were also steady, with a mix of 4 to 8 halibut and 2 to 3 stripers for small groups. Over in San Francisco, the halibut action was a bit slower but still fair, with boats getting a couple of halibut and a handful of stripers on short trips[1].
Most fish are coming from the Oyster Point, Berkeley Flats, and Alcatraz areas. Paradise and the south side near Hunters Point are also producing, especially on the outgoing tide. Drifting live anchovies or shiners has been the most effective approach but swimbaits, hair jigs, and trap rigs tipped with herring or sardines are taking fish too. Fresh dead anchovies work well when you can’t find live bait.
Surfperch fishing is closed in the Bay through July except for shiner perch, but the piers are still good for stripers and the occasional starry flounder. Fort Point Pier and McNear Beach both saw some action last month with stripers to 22 inches landed from shore and the odd flounder mixed in[5]. Herring spawn has wrapped up for the season, but if you like chasing shiners, Richardson Bay and the pilings around Sausalito are worth a shot[3].
Hot spots today are the Berkeley Flats for halibut and stripers and Oyster Point for both shore and kayak anglers. The bite is best on the first two hours of the outgoing tide.
Bait shops are recommending live anchovies or shiners as your best bet, with artificial swimbaits in white, root beer, or chartreuse as good alternatives.
Keep an eye on the wind this afternoon—those westerlies can make things lumpy, especially outside the Gate. Good luck, and see you on the water!
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By Quiet. PleaseSan Francisco Bay Fishing Report for May 2, 2025
Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with today’s local fishing update for San Francisco Bay. The weather today is classic Bay Area spring: mostly cloudy with patchy fog in the morning, temps in the mid-60s mid-day, and an afternoon westerly breeze around 12 to 15 knots. Sunrise was at 6:10 am and sunset will be at 8:00 pm. The tidal swing is moderate today, with an early morning high and an outgoing tide through midday—perfect conditions for drifting live bait for halibut.
The bite has been picking up recently as water temperatures climb. California halibut and striped bass are the main targets in and around the central and east bay this week. Yesterday’s party boat counts out of Berkeley were solid: the California Dawn II checked in with 23 halibut up to 14 pounds and 10 striped bass up to 8 pounds for 18 anglers. Smaller operations like Reel Addiction were also steady, with a mix of 4 to 8 halibut and 2 to 3 stripers for small groups. Over in San Francisco, the halibut action was a bit slower but still fair, with boats getting a couple of halibut and a handful of stripers on short trips[1].
Most fish are coming from the Oyster Point, Berkeley Flats, and Alcatraz areas. Paradise and the south side near Hunters Point are also producing, especially on the outgoing tide. Drifting live anchovies or shiners has been the most effective approach but swimbaits, hair jigs, and trap rigs tipped with herring or sardines are taking fish too. Fresh dead anchovies work well when you can’t find live bait.
Surfperch fishing is closed in the Bay through July except for shiner perch, but the piers are still good for stripers and the occasional starry flounder. Fort Point Pier and McNear Beach both saw some action last month with stripers to 22 inches landed from shore and the odd flounder mixed in[5]. Herring spawn has wrapped up for the season, but if you like chasing shiners, Richardson Bay and the pilings around Sausalito are worth a shot[3].
Hot spots today are the Berkeley Flats for halibut and stripers and Oyster Point for both shore and kayak anglers. The bite is best on the first two hours of the outgoing tide.
Bait shops are recommending live anchovies or shiners as your best bet, with artificial swimbaits in white, root beer, or chartreuse as good alternatives.
Keep an eye on the wind this afternoon—those westerlies can make things lumpy, especially outside the Gate. Good luck, and see you on the water!
Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with today’s local fishing update for San Francisco Bay. The weather today is classic Bay Area spring: mostly cloudy with patchy fog in the morning, temps in the mid-60s mid-day, and an afternoon westerly breeze around 12 to 15 knots. Sunrise was at 6:10 am and sunset will be at 8:00 pm. The tidal swing is moderate today, with an early morning high and an outgoing tide through midday—perfect conditions for drifting live bait for halibut.
The bite has been picking up recently as water temperatures climb. California halibut and striped bass are the main targets in and around the central and east bay this week. Yesterday’s party boat counts out of Berkeley were solid: the California Dawn II checked in with 23 halibut up to 14 pounds and 10 striped bass up to 8 pounds for 18 anglers. Smaller operations like Reel Addiction were also steady, with a mix of 4 to 8 halibut and 2 to 3 stripers for small groups. Over in San Francisco, the halibut action was a bit slower but still fair, with boats getting a couple of halibut and a handful of stripers on short trips[1].
Most fish are coming from the Oyster Point, Berkeley Flats, and Alcatraz areas. Paradise and the south side near Hunters Point are also producing, especially on the outgoing tide. Drifting live anchovies or shiners has been the most effective approach but swimbaits, hair jigs, and trap rigs tipped with herring or sardines are taking fish too. Fresh dead anchovies work well when you can’t find live bait.
Surfperch fishing is closed in the Bay through July except for shiner perch, but the piers are still good for stripers and the occasional starry flounder. Fort Point Pier and McNear Beach both saw some action last month with stripers to 22 inches landed from shore and the odd flounder mixed in[5]. Herring spawn has wrapped up for the season, but if you like chasing shiners, Richardson Bay and the pilings around Sausalito are worth a shot[3].
Hot spots today are the Berkeley Flats for halibut and stripers and Oyster Point for both shore and kayak anglers. The bite is best on the first two hours of the outgoing tide.
Bait shops are recommending live anchovies or shiners as your best bet, with artificial swimbaits in white, root beer, or chartreuse as good alternatives.
Keep an eye on the wind this afternoon—those westerlies can make things lumpy, especially outside the Gate. Good luck, and see you on the water!