San Francisco Bay fishing report for the week of October 22, 2026. Fall brings striped bass to the bay and the start of crab season is on the horizon.
What’s Hitting
Striped bass are feeding along the shorelines and under the bridges, halibut are on the sandy flats of the central bay, and rockfish and lingcod are available outside the Gate. Sturgeon fishing picks up as the rains approach.
Looking ahead, the striper bite should hold as bait stays in the bay, and crab season preparations are underway.
Where to Find Them
Fish the shorelines near Angel Island and the Berkeley flats for stripers, drift the sandy channels of the central bay for halibut, and run outside the Golden Gate for rockfish when the ocean is calm.
Tides & Conditions
With the moon heading toward full, tides are strengthening and bay currents run hard. Slack tides give a break, but moving water drives the bite. Check a current tide chart and marine forecast.
Tackle & Tactics
Live bait such as anchovies or shiners for stripers and halibut, swimbaits and soft plastics when casting, and shrimp flies or cut bait for sturgeon.
Watch for birds working over bait to locate feeding fish.
Local Intel This Week
Public access includes Berkeley Marina, Pillar Point Harbor and Oyster Point. Check current California regulations and seasons before keeping any fish, as striper, halibut and sturgeon rules differ.
This Week’s Tip
Respect the currents. The bay moves fast on strong tides, so anchor carefully.
More San Francisco Bay Area Resources
All San Francisco Bay Area fishing reports · Seasonal fishing calendars · Submit your own report
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This report tells you what happened. ReelAI tells you what to do about it — a briefing for your date, your target species and how you're fishing, built from our reports plus live NOAA and USGS data.
Powered by ReelAI — fishing.digital's intelligence layer. Answers are generated from fishing.digital reports and public NOAA, NWS and USGS data, and may be incomplete or out of date. Regulations and marine safety information are summaries only; always confirm with the responsible authority before you fish.