December 2020 Fishing Report, San Francisco Bay (261)

Ken Jones

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Staff member
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December 2020 Fishing Report, San Francisco Bay (#261)

Remember — STURGEON REGULATIONS: Sturgeon must be between 40 and 60 inches, (fork length) to keep.

San Francisco Piers

Fort Point Pier — Stephanie at Gus’ Tackle, 3710 Balboa St., San Francisco, says all the reports she is getting is about crabbing, people seeking out Dungeness outside the bay and rock crabs inside the bay. Apparently the crabbing is good. However, other fish should be available including perch down around the pilings and under the pier. How To Get There: From Highway 101 the easiest way is to turn into the parking lot near the toll plaza at the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge, from there Battery E. Road winds down the hill to Lincoln Boulevard, turn and follow the road to the pier

Fort Mason Piers — No report this month although some perch and jacksmelt should be available. How To Get There: The entrance to the parking lot is at the intersection of Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street. From the north, Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge, head east on Doyle Drive till you come to Marina Boulevard; follow it to the entrance of the park. From the south, Highway 101, take Van Ness Avenue north all the way to Bay Street, turn left and follow it to the park entrance.

San Francisco Municipal Pier – Stephanie at Gus’ Tackle, 3710 Balboa St., San Francisco, says all the reports she is getting is about crabbing and apparently the crabbing for rock crabs is good. Again, some fish, including perch should be available. How To Get There: From Highway 101 north, take Lombard Street to Van Ness Avenue, turn left and follow the street till it ends at the pier. From Highway 101 south, take Van Ness Avenue straight to the pier.

Pier 7 — Stephanie at Gus’ Tackle, 3710 Balboa St., San Francisco, says all the reports she is getting is about crabbing and apparently the crabbing for rock crabs is good. How To Get There: From the Bay Bridge follow the First Street exit and follow to The Embarcadero, then left past the Ferry Building to the pier. From the Golden Gate, take Lombard to Van Ness, turn left and go to Bay, turn right and follow to The Embarcadero, turn right and follow to the pier. From the south and Highway 101 take Van Ness and follow as listed above.

Ferry Building Pier/Pier 2 — No report this month although some jacksmelt and perch should be available. How To Get There: From the Bay Bridge follow the First Street exit and follow to The Embarcadero, then left to the Ferry Building. From the Golden Gate, take Lombard to Van Ness, turn left and go to Bay, turn right and follow to The Embarcadero, turn right and follow to the pier. From the south and Highway 101 take Van Ness and follow as listed above

South Harbor Marina Pier — No report this month although some jacksmelt and perch should be available. How To Get There: From the Bay Bridge (I80) heading into San Francisco take the Embarcadero exit and then turn right on the Embarcadero to the pier. From south on Highway 101 take exits marked for Fisherman's Wharf (First Street). This will take you to The Embarcadero. Once on the Embarcadero turn right and follow it all the way until you see Pacific Bell Park. The marina sits just north of the ballpark and the pier is located behind the marina parking lot. A left turn on Townsend will take you into a small parking lot that has some spaces available for the public; a right turn on Townsend will offer a few metered parking spaces. Coming up the Embarcadero from the south turn into the parking lot at Townsend Street (just past The Java House restaurant).

Agua Vista Pier — No report this month although some jacksmelt and perch should be available. How To Get There: Take the Embarcadero south past Pacific Bell Park to Third Street. Turn left and follow the road to its intersection with China Basin Street and then turn right (south) to the park and pier.

Heron's Head Pier — No reports. To Get There: Third Street to the Islais Creek Bridge and then left (east) on Cargo Way to the end where it meets Jennings Way. The park is located on the other side of the parking lot. To get to the pier take the first trail off to the right of the main trail (near the entrance); it will wind around to the pier. Candlestick Point — No report this month. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Candlestick Park exit and simply follow the road to the park.

Candlestick Point –No report this month although there should be some perch inshore and both sharks and rays further out on the pier. The main pier at Sunrise Point remains open while the older and smaller pier off Jamestown Avenue remains closed for repair. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Candlestick Park exit and simply follow the road to the park.

South Bay Piers

Brisbane Fishing Pier — No report this month although some jacksmelt should be around. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Sierra Point Parkway and follow it to the end. Where it ends, near the Sierra Point Yacht Club, turn left and follow the unpaved road to the unpaved parking lot near the front of the pier (northeast end of this area).

Oyster Point Pier — Stephanie at Gus’ Tackle, 3710 Balboa St., San Francisco, says the fishing for jacksmelt and perch is hit and miss. How To Get There: Take Hwy 101 to South San Francisco/Oyster Point Blvd exit. Then one mile East on Oyster Point Blvd. Turn right on Marina Blvd and follow the road to the pier, which will be on your right side.

Robert E. Woolley Peninsula Park Pier — No report this month although some jacksmelt should be available. How To Get There: From the south, take Highway 101 to the Broadway Exit and go east to Airport Boulevard to Anza Boulevard, and follow it to the end, where the park is located. From the north, take Highway 101 to the Airport Boulevard exit, go east to Airport Boulevard, "then go south to Anza Boulevard where you turn left and follow Anza to the park (it is just past Rings and the Embassy Suites Hotel).

Redwood City Marina Pier — No report. How To Get There: Leave US 101 (Bayshore Freeway) at the Seaport Blvd. exit (also marked Port of Redwood City and Redwood City Marina) and drive east until you see Seaport Court. Turn left and go to the back of the parking lot behind the buildings.

Dumbarton Pier — No report although the sturgeon should be showing up. How To Get There: From I880 take Highway 84 west to the Paseo Padre Parkway exit; follow the exit and road south back under the highway, the road will turn into Thornton Avenue; follow it till you see the signs on your right indicating both the visitor center for the wildlife refuge and the pier; after entering the refuge, follow the road three miles to the pier.

East Bay Piers

San Leandro Marina Pier — No report. Closed? How To Get There: From I880 go west on Marina Drive; turn left on Neptune Drive and go to South Dike where you will turn right; follow it to the pier.

Arrowhead Marsh Fishing Pier — No report. How To Get There: Take I880 to Hegenberger Road then go west toward the airport; go to Doolittle Drive and turn right; follow it to Swan Way where you will turn right again; the entrance to the park is a third of a block down on your left. To get to the main pier simply follow the park road as it winds to the north; the road ends at the parking lot near the pier.

Doolittle Pier — No report. How To Get There: Take I880 to Hegenberger Road then go west toward the airport. At Doolittle Drive turn right and go just past Swan Way to the pier. There is limited parking at the front of the small pier.

Veterans Court Fishing Pier — No report. How To Get There: From Alameda, take Hwy. 61 (Encinal Ave.) south as it turns right into Broadway and then left into Otis Dr., follow it toward the Bay Farm Island and then turn right at the first street past the bridge (Island Dr.) and then make another right just after your turn - onto Veterans Ct. Follow to the pier. From the south. Take I880 to Hegenberger Rd. (as though you're going toward the airport) and follow it to Doolittle Dr. Turn right and follow it all the way till you see the Alameda Municipal Golf Course. The first road past the golf course is Island Drive. Turn left and then make a quick right onto Veterans Court just after your initial turn. Follow it to the pier.

San Antonio Pier — No report although jacksmelt and a few sharks/rays should still be available. How To Get There: From I880 take the 16th Avenue exit onto Embarcadero and turn left, follow the Embarcadero until you see the Executive Inn and the Motel 6, the pier is located between and behind the two motels.

Estuary Park Pier — No report. How To Get There: From Interstate 880 take Jackson west to Embarcadero, turn left and follow the street to the pier. The pier is eight blocks south of Jack London Square.

Port View Park Pier/Seventh Street Pier — No report this month although some jacksmelt as well as the usual sharks and rays should be available. How To Get There: From San Francisco leave Interstate 80 at the West Grand Avenue exit, soon you will see the Harbor Terminals exit, go south on Maritime Street till you hit Seventh Street, turn right and follow the street to the park and pier. From Interstate 880 take the Eighth Street exit and go west to Peralta, turn left on Peralta and then right onto Seventh Street; follow it to the park and pier.

Emeryville Piers (Chevy's and Shorebird Park) — No report although there are supposedly a lot of stripers in the area. How To Get There: Take Interstate 80 to the Ashby Avenue exit, then go south on the Frontage Road till you see Chevy's and the Shorebird Park area. Park on the Frontage Road.

Emeryville Marina Fishing Pier — No report although there are supposedly a lot of stripers in the area. How To Get There: From I80 take the Powell Street exit in Emeryville, head west and simply follow the road to the end where you will find a small park and the pier.

Ferry Point Pier – George, at the Bay Tackle, 5815 Cutting Blvd., El Cerrito, said anglers are catching perch and jacksmelt along with a few striped bass. He says sharks and rays are always present. How To Get There: From I-580, there are two main Point Richmond exits, Canal Boulevard and Castro Street (also the south terminus of the Richmond Parkway). Take either into the center of town where you should see Dornan Drive and a tunnel that says Ferry Point. Go through the tunnel and continue out to the end of Dornan Drive. The park is intersected by Dornan Drive and Brick Cove Road

North Bay Piers

Point Pinole Pier — George, at the Bay Tackle, 5815 Cutting Blvd., El Cerrito, said the fishing for striped bass is great, everywhere from Emeryville to Point Pinole, with fish running up to about the 25-inch size. So, expect some stripers along with some perch, jacksmelt, and a few sharays. How To Get There: From I80 take the Hilltop (Richmond) exit; go west on the Richmond Parkway to the exit for Giant Highway and a sign for Point Pinole Regional Park. The park gates are listed as open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. but the shuttle service is apparently temporarily suspended.

New Vallejo Pier – No report this month although a lot of stripers are reported in the area. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Georgia Street exit all the way to the waterfront.

McNear Beach Fishing Pier (San Rafael) – No real report but both stripers and sturgeon should be available. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Point San Pedro Road east and follow it for approximately 8 miles to the park entrance and road.

Paradise Park Pier (Tiburon) — No real report but both striped bass and sturgeon should be showing up. How To Get There: Take Highway 101 to the Tiburon exit (State Highway 131). Drive west on Tiburon Boulevard until you come to Trestle Glen Boulevard where you will turn left; follow this until you hit Paradise Drive where you turn right and drive a short distance to the entrance of the park.

Elephant Rock Pier — A variety of perch, small rockfish, and the possibility of a cabezon or other bottom dweller are available. Jacksmelt should be available in top-water depths and rock crabs are always a good bet. How To Get There: From Highway 101 take the Tiburon exit west and follow Tiburon Boulevard (State Highway 131) to Paradise Drive where you will see the pier. The pier is at the corner of Paradise Drive and Mar West Street.

Fort Baker Pier — Rock crabs and perch should be available on the bottom as well as jacksmelt on top. How to Get There: Take Alexander Avenue off of Highway 101. It is the last exit before driving onto the Golden Gate Bridge going south and the first exit after the Vista Point going north. Take Alexander Drive down the hill until you see Danes Drive and the, just before the tunnel, turn right onto Bunker Road and follow it down to the pier.