Foster City/San Mateo help

scaryfish

Active Member
#1
I am going to be in Foster City this weekend which is out of my home turf. I was planning on heading to Baker Beach for some crab, but it doesn't look very favorable this weekend. Does anyone have any suggestions for wetting a line near Foster City? I'm thinking there may be a chance for sharks/rays at the park near the San Mateo bridge or the tip of Foster City. Maybe even a stray striper? No rain/no sturgeon I'm guessing. Coyote Pt. is nearby and a possibility as well. I would prefer to avoid crowds at the SF piers, but I will consider anything and travelling a bit is an option. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks
 
#3
Hey scaryfish, are you planning on bait fishing or plugging? If bait fishing, head over to Fisherman's Park or Robert E Wooley state park and throw some squid for a chance of shark and mud marlins. There's lots of space for social distancing and you will get action on an incoming tide.

If plugging is your desire, then head off to Coyote Point and walk the shoreline while tossing either swimbaits or bucktail jigs. You can also plug in front of Kincaids, Oyster Point shoreline, Sierra Point shoreline or the Brisbane Tubes on the outgoing tides. There's lot of shoreline to be away from other people and have a chance at a keeper striper. Good Luck to you!
 

scaryfish

Active Member
#4
Thanks for the help Unabobber. (Great name by the way). I'm up for some plugging, so that sounds like a great idea. I know that the size of the lure makes a big difference, do yo have any recommendations for size?
I will probably try some bait at some point, especially if I'm just passing time after dark.
 

Red Fish

Senior Member
#5
I am going to be in Foster City this weekend which is out of my home turf. I was planning on heading to Baker Beach for some crab, but it doesn't look very favorable this weekend. Does anyone have any suggestions for wetting a line near Foster City? I'm thinking there may be a chance for sharks/rays at the park near the San Mateo bridge or the tip of Foster City. Maybe even a stray striper? No rain/no sturgeon I'm guessing. Coyote Pt. is nearby and a possibility as well. I would prefer to avoid crowds at the SF piers, but I will consider anything and travelling a bit is an option. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks
Next to the Werder Pier (Foster City) on the north side and Shell Street in front of the driving range have been better in the past during the evening. Some striper have been caught before on cut bait next to Werder on incoming on the sandy spots near the windsurf launch. If sturgeon were around, Coyote Point and Fishermen’s Park would be the places granted there was a food source around like pacific herring. Good luck whenever you decide to go.
 
#6
Thanks for the help Unabobber. (Great name by the way). I'm up for some plugging, so that sounds like a great idea. I know that the size of the lure makes a big difference, do yo have any recommendations for size?
I will probably try some bait at some point, especially if I'm just passing time after dark.
The lure size you want to start with at the lower tides is 1/4 oz. You can size it up to 1/2oz or even 3/4oz when the tide goes up. Just adjust your retrieve speed to avoid snagging onto the rocks. My go to lure for plugging the area is 1/4 or 1/2 bucktail jig with a white or chartreuse curly tail worm. It's cheap and its available at most tackle stores. If you cant find bucktail jigs, buy yourself some swimbaits. Storm has the 360 GT swimbait in white you can find at Walmart.
 

scaryfish

Active Member
#7
Thanks again. I was thinking about matching bait size , but yeah, water depth too. I did some recon tonight and saw a couple of bait soakers with no action and the pier behind Embassy Suites full with people catching occasional jack smelt on squid and anchovy tipped Sabikis.
I think it will try to get myself a jack smelt for live bait for one rod and switch my other from cut bait to plugging as my interest/arm fatigue warrants. I’m not one to harvest jack smelt for food but it looked like that is available for those who are interested.
Condition were fantastic. 72 degrees, zero breeze and sunny skies.
-Scaryfish