February 2025 Fishing Report (#299), San Francisco Bay
Sturgeon Regulations: Currently only catch and release until new regulations are issued in April.
Crabs: Although it is prime season for Dungeness crabs, none may be kept from inside the bay, you have to be outside the Golden Gate to keep them. Rock crabs are OK but not Dungeness. Know and follow the rules.
General Information: (1) Perch can be caught throughout the bay during this month but largest numbers are usually caught on piers closer to the entrance to the bay. (2) Many of the striped bass have moved inland into the Delta and Sacramento River, many but not all. Some stripers should still be available using cut bait, i.e., anchovies, grass shrimp, pile worms (if you can find them), and artificial lures. (3) Jacksmelt are around, some really large solitary fish and tons of finger-sized babies. (4) Herring can show up almost any day and when they do the word will get out and piers will be crowded with anglers snagging fish or using nets for the fish. (5) Sanddab frequently show up during January and February when it’s a rainy year; best bets are piers near the mouth of the bay i.e., Fort Point Pier and Fort Baker Pier. (6) Shark and ray action should have slowed as many move toward saltier water this time of the year but general a few, especially bat rays may still make a showing.
San Francisco Piers
Fort Point Pier — Traditionally a good pier for perch this time of the year as well as small rockfish and, some years, good for sanddab. It can also be good for jacksmelt but most of the more prized species like stripers and halibut will be missing (although one halibut was reported in January). However, if you're lucky you may always pick up a cabezon or lingcod. 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 — It’s mostly jacksmelt and small rockfish. Most other species have slowed. 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 – Is it history? The pier, supposedly overseen by the National Park Service, but largely ignored and simply allowed to disintegrate over the years, was closed in October 2022 due to “structural damage.” There is a local group, “The Aquatic Park and Pier Project” that is attempting to find funds for repair but given the priorities in “The City” I don’t imagine they are getting too much encouragement from local authorities (and I hope I am wrong). It needs one of those Silicon Valley billionaires to pitch in a few dollars to make the repairs. 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 — A slow time for the pier, perhaps a few perch or jacksmelt. 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.
South Harbor Marina Pier — Jacksmelt 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 — Jacksmelt and small brown rockfish 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 — Jacksmelt should be available and possibly a starry flounder. 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 Pier – Jacksmelt will make up the majority of fish but there will still be anglers out there fishing for halibut and the bigger species. How To Get There: Since 2023, the Hunters Point Expressway has been blocked to cars. Enter the park by driving to the end of Gilman Ave and bearing left then right. A good way in is to enter ‘Candlestick RV Park’ into a GPS then continue southeast to the parking lot.
South Bay Piers
Brisbane Fishing Pier — Mainly jacksmelt. 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 — Basically the same as Brisbane—jacksmelt and maybe a bat ray. 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 — Jacksmelt and possibly bat rays should be available. How To Get There: From the south, take Highway 101 to the Broadway Ex it 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 — A good place to catch jacksmelt. 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 — Probably slow but some perch and jacksmelt should show up and this is one of the few places a sturgeon may make an appearance but remember it is catch and release. 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. 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 — Jacksmelt should be available during high tide conditions. 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 — Smelt at high tide? 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 — Jacksmelt should make an appearance. 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 — Jacksmelt should be present and possibly a perch or two. 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 — Jacksmelt and possibly a bat ray. 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 —Jacksmelt should be available as well as various small rockfish and perch. 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 Marina Fishing Pier — Maybe a jacksmelt or two. 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 – Apparently a couple of halibut were caught during January but you need to be real lucky to get one. More likely is jacksmelt or perch (and watch for the herring to begin showing up). 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 — We need a reporter. We got a report from 5150stripaslayer who said, “Went to Point Pinole today. Not much of anything for the first few hours. Pier was full like always. Many people were cast netting for Jacksmelt or perch although none were caught today a few hours into our trip. My friend Trevor saw a hit on his rod. The tip bounced a second time and he set the hook. He said it felt like a small fish and when we got it up to the pier it was the largest bullhead I've ever seen. That thing was so huge. You could have got some meat off of it and had a small meal. We clipped the horns and threw it out in hopes for a monster striper. After a few hours of soaking we took them off the hook and let him go. Right around the time we released the bullhead a fellow angler landed a 21-in striped bass off of an anchovy tail. Shortly after that I hooked into a good 46-in leopard shark, which took me for a ride surprisingly. After getting the leopard released it was not a lot of action for about 30 minutes then out of nowhere. Me and my buddy Travis Poles bent down like crazy. I had hooked a decently sized skate and he was on a 40-in leopard. We were some of the only people left on the pier at that time at least at the far end so there was only one net. We dropped the net down. Got the leopard up unhooked it and then dropped the net down again for the skate. Very chaotic. Adrenaline filled few moments. After that, the action died for another good 30 minutes until another angler landed a similar skate and a striped bass around 12 in. As I was walking down the end of the pier heading back to my car. I remarked on how funny it was that these people were fishing all the way at the end of the pier and maybe 1 foot of water on such a low negative tide. The moment I tried telling one of them to move farther out a pole that did not seem to belong to anyone starting bending down like crazy and almost got pulled into the water. I instinctually picked it up and set the hook into what ended up being a barely legal 18 and 1/2 in striped bass that choked the hook so deep we had to cut the leader. By the time I had the fish unhooked the man who owned the pole came running back from the bathroom surprised to see a random stranger with a striper and his pole in hand. It was a funny end to a surprisingly okay day at the pier. Sturgeon were seen. Rolling but as always catching a sturgeon from that pier is extremely difficult with all the Crabs. Overall, it seems like the Point Pinole bite might be on for a week. But who knows. Maybe next week it'll be dead again.” 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.
McNear Beach Fishing Pier (San Rafael) – Probably slow but a few perch, jacksmelt and stripers may 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) — Once again jacksmelt will probably provide most of the action. 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 (Tiburon) — A variety of small rockfish and perch should be available as well as the possibility of a cabezon or other bottom dweller. This is also a very good pier for rock crabs just watch the size. 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 (Sausalito) — Expect some perch on the bottom along with some small rockfish, jacksmelt on top, and possibly a bat ray. Crabs are also a possibility and many times more people are crabbing than fishing. You can keep the rock crabs but not the Dungeness and illustrated signs by the pier show what is and isn’t a legal crab. Last but not least are Pacific sanddabs that frequently show up this time of the year during rainy conditions. If they show up it's not hard to fill a bucket with fish. 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.
Sturgeon Regulations: Currently only catch and release until new regulations are issued in April.
Crabs: Although it is prime season for Dungeness crabs, none may be kept from inside the bay, you have to be outside the Golden Gate to keep them. Rock crabs are OK but not Dungeness. Know and follow the rules.
General Information: (1) Perch can be caught throughout the bay during this month but largest numbers are usually caught on piers closer to the entrance to the bay. (2) Many of the striped bass have moved inland into the Delta and Sacramento River, many but not all. Some stripers should still be available using cut bait, i.e., anchovies, grass shrimp, pile worms (if you can find them), and artificial lures. (3) Jacksmelt are around, some really large solitary fish and tons of finger-sized babies. (4) Herring can show up almost any day and when they do the word will get out and piers will be crowded with anglers snagging fish or using nets for the fish. (5) Sanddab frequently show up during January and February when it’s a rainy year; best bets are piers near the mouth of the bay i.e., Fort Point Pier and Fort Baker Pier. (6) Shark and ray action should have slowed as many move toward saltier water this time of the year but general a few, especially bat rays may still make a showing.
San Francisco Piers
Fort Point Pier — Traditionally a good pier for perch this time of the year as well as small rockfish and, some years, good for sanddab. It can also be good for jacksmelt but most of the more prized species like stripers and halibut will be missing (although one halibut was reported in January). However, if you're lucky you may always pick up a cabezon or lingcod. 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 — It’s mostly jacksmelt and small rockfish. Most other species have slowed. 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 – Is it history? The pier, supposedly overseen by the National Park Service, but largely ignored and simply allowed to disintegrate over the years, was closed in October 2022 due to “structural damage.” There is a local group, “The Aquatic Park and Pier Project” that is attempting to find funds for repair but given the priorities in “The City” I don’t imagine they are getting too much encouragement from local authorities (and I hope I am wrong). It needs one of those Silicon Valley billionaires to pitch in a few dollars to make the repairs. 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 — A slow time for the pier, perhaps a few perch or jacksmelt. 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.
South Harbor Marina Pier — Jacksmelt 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 — Jacksmelt and small brown rockfish 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 — Jacksmelt should be available and possibly a starry flounder. 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 Pier – Jacksmelt will make up the majority of fish but there will still be anglers out there fishing for halibut and the bigger species. How To Get There: Since 2023, the Hunters Point Expressway has been blocked to cars. Enter the park by driving to the end of Gilman Ave and bearing left then right. A good way in is to enter ‘Candlestick RV Park’ into a GPS then continue southeast to the parking lot.
South Bay Piers
Brisbane Fishing Pier — Mainly jacksmelt. 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 — Basically the same as Brisbane—jacksmelt and maybe a bat ray. 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 — Jacksmelt and possibly bat rays should be available. How To Get There: From the south, take Highway 101 to the Broadway Ex it 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 — A good place to catch jacksmelt. 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 — Probably slow but some perch and jacksmelt should show up and this is one of the few places a sturgeon may make an appearance but remember it is catch and release. 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. 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 — Jacksmelt should be available during high tide conditions. 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 — Smelt at high tide? 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 — Jacksmelt should make an appearance. 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 — Jacksmelt should be present and possibly a perch or two. 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 — Jacksmelt and possibly a bat ray. 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 —Jacksmelt should be available as well as various small rockfish and perch. 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 Marina Fishing Pier — Maybe a jacksmelt or two. 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 – Apparently a couple of halibut were caught during January but you need to be real lucky to get one. More likely is jacksmelt or perch (and watch for the herring to begin showing up). 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 — We need a reporter. We got a report from 5150stripaslayer who said, “Went to Point Pinole today. Not much of anything for the first few hours. Pier was full like always. Many people were cast netting for Jacksmelt or perch although none were caught today a few hours into our trip. My friend Trevor saw a hit on his rod. The tip bounced a second time and he set the hook. He said it felt like a small fish and when we got it up to the pier it was the largest bullhead I've ever seen. That thing was so huge. You could have got some meat off of it and had a small meal. We clipped the horns and threw it out in hopes for a monster striper. After a few hours of soaking we took them off the hook and let him go. Right around the time we released the bullhead a fellow angler landed a 21-in striped bass off of an anchovy tail. Shortly after that I hooked into a good 46-in leopard shark, which took me for a ride surprisingly. After getting the leopard released it was not a lot of action for about 30 minutes then out of nowhere. Me and my buddy Travis Poles bent down like crazy. I had hooked a decently sized skate and he was on a 40-in leopard. We were some of the only people left on the pier at that time at least at the far end so there was only one net. We dropped the net down. Got the leopard up unhooked it and then dropped the net down again for the skate. Very chaotic. Adrenaline filled few moments. After that, the action died for another good 30 minutes until another angler landed a similar skate and a striped bass around 12 in. As I was walking down the end of the pier heading back to my car. I remarked on how funny it was that these people were fishing all the way at the end of the pier and maybe 1 foot of water on such a low negative tide. The moment I tried telling one of them to move farther out a pole that did not seem to belong to anyone starting bending down like crazy and almost got pulled into the water. I instinctually picked it up and set the hook into what ended up being a barely legal 18 and 1/2 in striped bass that choked the hook so deep we had to cut the leader. By the time I had the fish unhooked the man who owned the pole came running back from the bathroom surprised to see a random stranger with a striper and his pole in hand. It was a funny end to a surprisingly okay day at the pier. Sturgeon were seen. Rolling but as always catching a sturgeon from that pier is extremely difficult with all the Crabs. Overall, it seems like the Point Pinole bite might be on for a week. But who knows. Maybe next week it'll be dead again.” 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.
McNear Beach Fishing Pier (San Rafael) – Probably slow but a few perch, jacksmelt and stripers may 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) — Once again jacksmelt will probably provide most of the action. 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 (Tiburon) — A variety of small rockfish and perch should be available as well as the possibility of a cabezon or other bottom dweller. This is also a very good pier for rock crabs just watch the size. 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 (Sausalito) — Expect some perch on the bottom along with some small rockfish, jacksmelt on top, and possibly a bat ray. Crabs are also a possibility and many times more people are crabbing than fishing. You can keep the rock crabs but not the Dungeness and illustrated signs by the pier show what is and isn’t a legal crab. Last but not least are Pacific sanddabs that frequently show up this time of the year during rainy conditions. If they show up it's not hard to fill a bucket with fish. 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.