Updated: Thursday, October 22, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, October 29, 2026
This San Francisco Bay Area fishing report covers late October, when fall brings striped bass to the bay and the start of Dungeness crab season is on the horizon. Striped bass are the lead target, feeding along the shorelines and under the bridges. Halibut are on the sandy flats of the central bay, rockfish and lingcod are outside the Gate, and sturgeon fishing picks up as the rains approach. The main condition to plan around is current: tides strengthen toward the full moon, and moving water drives the bite.
What’s Hitting
Striped bass are feeding along the shorelines and under the bridges, and halibut are on the sandy flats of the central bay. Rockfish and lingcod are available outside the Gate.
Sturgeon fishing picks up as the rains approach. Expect the striper action to hold as long 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, which lie on the bottom and ambush bait swept past by the current. A slow drift lets a live bait cover more of the flat than a static anchor would.
When the ocean is calm, run outside the Golden Gate for rockfish.
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. Current pushes bait along shorelines and across flats, and both stripers and halibut position themselves to take advantage of it. Check a current tide chart and marine forecast before heading out.
Tackle & Tactics
- Stripers and halibut: live bait such as anchovies or shiners.
- Casting: swimbaits and soft plastics.
- Sturgeon: shrimp flies or cut bait.
Watch for birds working over bait to locate feeding fish. Diving birds usually mark bait pushed to the surface by stripers below, which saves a lot of searching on a body of water as big as the bay.
Local Intel This Week
Berkeley Marina puts boaters close to the Berkeley flats and Angel Island shorelines, Oyster Point serves the central and south bay, and Pillar Point Harbor is the jumping-off spot for ocean rockfish on calm days. The site’s guide also lists Sausalito Marina and Pittsburg Marina for other parts of the bay system. Striper, halibut and sturgeon rules differ, so check each species. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
Respect the currents. The bay moves fast on strong tides, so anchor carefully. Strong current can drag an anchor or swing a boat into trouble, so use enough anchor line, choose the spot with care and keep an eye on your position during big tide weeks.
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