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Stripers, Halibut, and More Biting in San Francisco Bay's Springtime Fishing Frenzy
This is Artificial Lure with your Friday, April 18, 2025 fishing report for San Francisco Bay.
We’re rolling into mid-spring and the bay is heating up for anglers. Today, expect a mild start with light morning winds and mostly clear skies. Temperatures should peak in the low 60s. Sunrise came at 6:30 am and sunset tonight will be around 7:47 pm, giving you plenty of daylight to get on the bite.
Tidal action is favorable with moderate movement most of the day—ideal for targeting both halibut and stripers, particularly during the last two hours of the incoming tide and first hour of the outgoing. The tides are just backing down from earlier in the week, so fish will be actively feeding[4].
On the fish front, halibut and striped bass are leading the show. Party boats are consistently putting up solid numbers: reports from the last two days show boats like the Lovely Martha landing 16 halibut for 8 anglers along with stray stripers. The Reel Addiction out of Berkeley had a nice haul of 6 halibut and 8 stripers for 6 anglers, and Emeryville boats have had days with 10 halibut per boat[5]. Lingcod and rockfish are also showing in good numbers outside the Gate and at the Marin Islands, especially after the recent season opener[6].
Best baits for today: Live anchovies, sardines, grass shrimp, and pile worms are pulling in stripers and halibut. For artificials, small swimbaits and jerkbaits in silver or white are money, especially when water clarity is good. Popular picks include the Keitech Fat Swing Impact, Z-Man Diezel Minnowz, and P-Line Twin Tail Squids for halibut. For stripers, try Yo-Zuri or Rapala minnow plugs, bucktail jigs, or Kastmasters. Tip your jigs with squid or sardine for added scent[6][10][7].
If you’re heading out, two hot spots to focus on:
Berkeley Flats is the go-to for halibut and stripers—drift live bait or work plastics near eelgrass beds.
The Marin Islands, just outside the Richmond Bridge, are producing a mixed bag of rockfish, lingcod, and halibut. Great for bouncing jigs or soaking bait.
For shore anglers, Fort Point Pier and Candlestick Point are both steady for jacksmelt and the occasional halibut or striper, especially fishing cut bait on a sliding sinker rig[7][6].
Remember, perch are mostly off-limits right now except for shiner perch. Rockfish and lingcod are fair game if you venture outside the bay proper, and bat rays are still kicking around the piers if you’re soaking larger baits.
Overall, with the spring transition, fish are on the move and biting well. Today looks like a fantastic day to be out—whether you’re drifting live bait, tossing plugs, or working plastics, odds are good for a tug on your line.
Good luck out there and tight lines!
We’re rolling into mid-spring and the bay is heating up for anglers. Today, expect a mild start with light morning winds and mostly clear skies. Temperatures should peak in the low 60s. Sunrise came at 6:30 am and sunset tonight will be around 7:47 pm, giving you plenty of daylight to get on the bite.
Tidal action is favorable with moderate movement most of the day—ideal for targeting both halibut and stripers, particularly during the last two hours of the incoming tide and first hour of the outgoing. The tides are just backing down from earlier in the week, so fish will be actively feeding[4].
On the fish front, halibut and striped bass are leading the show. Party boats are consistently putting up solid numbers: reports from the last two days show boats like the Lovely Martha landing 16 halibut for 8 anglers along with stray stripers. The Reel Addiction out of Berkeley had a nice haul of 6 halibut and 8 stripers for 6 anglers, and Emeryville boats have had days with 10 halibut per boat[5]. Lingcod and rockfish are also showing in good numbers outside the Gate and at the Marin Islands, especially after the recent season opener[6].
Best baits for today: Live anchovies, sardines, grass shrimp, and pile worms are pulling in stripers and halibut. For artificials, small swimbaits and jerkbaits in silver or white are money, especially when water clarity is good. Popular picks include the Keitech Fat Swing Impact, Z-Man Diezel Minnowz, and P-Line Twin Tail Squids for halibut. For stripers, try Yo-Zuri or Rapala minnow plugs, bucktail jigs, or Kastmasters. Tip your jigs with squid or sardine for added scent[6][10][7].
If you’re heading out, two hot spots to focus on:
Berkeley Flats is the go-to for halibut and stripers—drift live bait or work plastics near eelgrass beds.
The Marin Islands, just outside the Richmond Bridge, are producing a mixed bag of rockfish, lingcod, and halibut. Great for bouncing jigs or soaking bait.
For shore anglers, Fort Point Pier and Candlestick Point are both steady for jacksmelt and the occasional halibut or striper, especially fishing cut bait on a sliding sinker rig[7][6].
Remember, perch are mostly off-limits right now except for shiner perch. Rockfish and lingcod are fair game if you venture outside the bay proper, and bat rays are still kicking around the piers if you’re soaking larger baits.
Overall, with the spring transition, fish are on the move and biting well. Today looks like a fantastic day to be out—whether you’re drifting live bait, tossing plugs, or working plastics, odds are good for a tug on your line.
Good luck out there and tight lines!
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By Quiet. PleaseThis is Artificial Lure with your Friday, April 18, 2025 fishing report for San Francisco Bay.
We’re rolling into mid-spring and the bay is heating up for anglers. Today, expect a mild start with light morning winds and mostly clear skies. Temperatures should peak in the low 60s. Sunrise came at 6:30 am and sunset tonight will be around 7:47 pm, giving you plenty of daylight to get on the bite.
Tidal action is favorable with moderate movement most of the day—ideal for targeting both halibut and stripers, particularly during the last two hours of the incoming tide and first hour of the outgoing. The tides are just backing down from earlier in the week, so fish will be actively feeding[4].
On the fish front, halibut and striped bass are leading the show. Party boats are consistently putting up solid numbers: reports from the last two days show boats like the Lovely Martha landing 16 halibut for 8 anglers along with stray stripers. The Reel Addiction out of Berkeley had a nice haul of 6 halibut and 8 stripers for 6 anglers, and Emeryville boats have had days with 10 halibut per boat[5]. Lingcod and rockfish are also showing in good numbers outside the Gate and at the Marin Islands, especially after the recent season opener[6].
Best baits for today: Live anchovies, sardines, grass shrimp, and pile worms are pulling in stripers and halibut. For artificials, small swimbaits and jerkbaits in silver or white are money, especially when water clarity is good. Popular picks include the Keitech Fat Swing Impact, Z-Man Diezel Minnowz, and P-Line Twin Tail Squids for halibut. For stripers, try Yo-Zuri or Rapala minnow plugs, bucktail jigs, or Kastmasters. Tip your jigs with squid or sardine for added scent[6][10][7].
If you’re heading out, two hot spots to focus on:
Berkeley Flats is the go-to for halibut and stripers—drift live bait or work plastics near eelgrass beds.
The Marin Islands, just outside the Richmond Bridge, are producing a mixed bag of rockfish, lingcod, and halibut. Great for bouncing jigs or soaking bait.
For shore anglers, Fort Point Pier and Candlestick Point are both steady for jacksmelt and the occasional halibut or striper, especially fishing cut bait on a sliding sinker rig[7][6].
Remember, perch are mostly off-limits right now except for shiner perch. Rockfish and lingcod are fair game if you venture outside the bay proper, and bat rays are still kicking around the piers if you’re soaking larger baits.
Overall, with the spring transition, fish are on the move and biting well. Today looks like a fantastic day to be out—whether you’re drifting live bait, tossing plugs, or working plastics, odds are good for a tug on your line.
Good luck out there and tight lines!
We’re rolling into mid-spring and the bay is heating up for anglers. Today, expect a mild start with light morning winds and mostly clear skies. Temperatures should peak in the low 60s. Sunrise came at 6:30 am and sunset tonight will be around 7:47 pm, giving you plenty of daylight to get on the bite.
Tidal action is favorable with moderate movement most of the day—ideal for targeting both halibut and stripers, particularly during the last two hours of the incoming tide and first hour of the outgoing. The tides are just backing down from earlier in the week, so fish will be actively feeding[4].
On the fish front, halibut and striped bass are leading the show. Party boats are consistently putting up solid numbers: reports from the last two days show boats like the Lovely Martha landing 16 halibut for 8 anglers along with stray stripers. The Reel Addiction out of Berkeley had a nice haul of 6 halibut and 8 stripers for 6 anglers, and Emeryville boats have had days with 10 halibut per boat[5]. Lingcod and rockfish are also showing in good numbers outside the Gate and at the Marin Islands, especially after the recent season opener[6].
Best baits for today: Live anchovies, sardines, grass shrimp, and pile worms are pulling in stripers and halibut. For artificials, small swimbaits and jerkbaits in silver or white are money, especially when water clarity is good. Popular picks include the Keitech Fat Swing Impact, Z-Man Diezel Minnowz, and P-Line Twin Tail Squids for halibut. For stripers, try Yo-Zuri or Rapala minnow plugs, bucktail jigs, or Kastmasters. Tip your jigs with squid or sardine for added scent[6][10][7].
If you’re heading out, two hot spots to focus on:
Berkeley Flats is the go-to for halibut and stripers—drift live bait or work plastics near eelgrass beds.
The Marin Islands, just outside the Richmond Bridge, are producing a mixed bag of rockfish, lingcod, and halibut. Great for bouncing jigs or soaking bait.
For shore anglers, Fort Point Pier and Candlestick Point are both steady for jacksmelt and the occasional halibut or striper, especially fishing cut bait on a sliding sinker rig[7][6].
Remember, perch are mostly off-limits right now except for shiner perch. Rockfish and lingcod are fair game if you venture outside the bay proper, and bat rays are still kicking around the piers if you’re soaking larger baits.
Overall, with the spring transition, fish are on the move and biting well. Today looks like a fantastic day to be out—whether you’re drifting live bait, tossing plugs, or working plastics, odds are good for a tug on your line.
Good luck out there and tight lines!