January 2026 Fishing Report, Carquinez Strait, Suisun Bay, and West Delta (#306)
Remember — All sturgeon are under catch and release regulations.
Eckley Pier — No reports but a few striped bass should still be available as well as an occasional sturgeon. How To Get There: From I80, take the Crockett exit, turn east on Pomona Dr. which becomes Carquinez Scenic Dr., travel 1.5 miles to the Bull Valley Staging area entrance to the park. From I680 take Hwy 4 to the Cummings Skyway. Take the Crockett Blvd. exit and turn right on Pomona Dr. which becomes Carquinez Scenic Dr., travel 1.5 miles to the entrance of the park.
Martinez Pier — No report, need a reporter. Stripers should be available and possibly a steelhead or two fishing inside the pier. A sturgeon derby is planned (I think) for the weekend of the 24th. How To Get There: The pier is found at the foot of North Court Street. From I680, take the Marina Vista exit west off of the freeway, continue to the middle of the downtown area to Ferry Street and turn right, follow Ferry Street to Joe DiMaggio Road where you take another right, follow it a short distance to North Court Street, turn left, and follow the street through the Martinez Shoreline Park out to the pier parking lot. From Highway 4, take the Alhambra exit north and follow it to Escobar Street, turn right and follow it to Ferry Street, turn left and follow to Joe DiMaggio Drive, turn right and follow it to North Court Street, turn left and follow it out to the pier.
Benicia 9th Street Pier – Last time I talked to Gene at Benicia Bait & Tackle, 509 Claverie Way, Benicia, said a few stripers and flounder were showing at the pier. The stripers were hitting on anchovies, pile worms and shad while the flounder were hitting on pile worms and grass shrimp. How To Get There: From I780 take the Seventh Street exit south to Military Street, turn right and follow to Ninth Street, turn left and follow it to the end of the street and the pier.
City of Benicia Fishing Pier/First Street — Last time I talked to Gene at Benicia Bait & Tackle, 509 Claverie Way, Benicia, he said a few stripers and flounder were showing at the pier. The stripers were hitting on anchovies, pile worms and shad while the flounder were hitting on pile worms and grass shrimp. How To Get There: From Interstate 780, take the Second Street exit south to Military Street, turn right and follow it west to First Street, turn left and then follow it south to the end of the street., Carquinez Strait, Suisun Bay, and
Antioch Pier – Last time I talked to Billy at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), reported that anglers were picking up stripers, most under-sized but some up to about 28-inches. Best bait seemed to be anchovies and pile worms. Some anglers were still seeking sturgeon with ghost shrimp and grass shrimp, and getting a few but it’s all catch and release fishing. How To Get There: The pier is located at the foot of H Street in downtown Antioch. From Highway 4, go north on G. Street; follow it to Second Street where you will turn left; follow Second Street about a block to the free public parking lot near the Jerome Waldie Plaza. A short walk through the park and down the hill will take you to the foot of the pier.
Antioch Marina Pier – Last time I talked to Billy at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), reported that anglers were picking up stripers, most under-sized fish. Best bait seemed to be anchovies and pile worms. Some anglers were still seeking sturgeon with ghost shrimp and grass shrimp and getting a few but it’s all catch and release fishing. How To Get There: From Highway 4, take the G Street exit and go north to Sixth Street; turn left and follow Sixth to L Street; turn right on L Street and simply follow it to the Antioch Public Marina and Marina Plaza Drive which takes you straight to the pier. The pier is to the right of the large restaurant.
Antioch Bridge Pier — Last time I talked to Billy at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), he reported off and on rain so somewhat fewer anglers than normal but stripers were still hitting up to about two feet in length. Best bait seemed to be anchovies and pile worms. Some anglers were still seeking sturgeon with ghost shrimp and grass shrimp, and getting a few but it’s all catch and release fishing. How To Get There: Follow Highway 4 east until it turns into Highway 160; just before you get to the bridge take the Wilbur Avenue off ramp (it is the last exit before the bridge), then turn left on Bridgehead Road and follow it to the entrance to the Antioch Regional Shoreline Park - the pier is the main feature of the park.
Rio Vista Pier — Stripers should still be available during most days and catfish can show up at night. How To Get There: The pier is located near the west end of the Rio Vista Bridge (the Rio Vista side of the bridge). Going east on HY 12 take the last exit right before the bridge. Go one block until you see Front Street, turn left, and the entrance to the pier parking lot is approximately one half block on your right. Going west on HY 12 continue past the bridge until you can turn left safely. You can turn around and continue to the last exit or go through the downtown area until you hit Front Street. Turn left on Front Street and follow it to the pier parking lot.
Remember — All sturgeon are under catch and release regulations.
Eckley Pier — No reports but a few striped bass should still be available as well as an occasional sturgeon. How To Get There: From I80, take the Crockett exit, turn east on Pomona Dr. which becomes Carquinez Scenic Dr., travel 1.5 miles to the Bull Valley Staging area entrance to the park. From I680 take Hwy 4 to the Cummings Skyway. Take the Crockett Blvd. exit and turn right on Pomona Dr. which becomes Carquinez Scenic Dr., travel 1.5 miles to the entrance of the park.
Martinez Pier — No report, need a reporter. Stripers should be available and possibly a steelhead or two fishing inside the pier. A sturgeon derby is planned (I think) for the weekend of the 24th. How To Get There: The pier is found at the foot of North Court Street. From I680, take the Marina Vista exit west off of the freeway, continue to the middle of the downtown area to Ferry Street and turn right, follow Ferry Street to Joe DiMaggio Road where you take another right, follow it a short distance to North Court Street, turn left, and follow the street through the Martinez Shoreline Park out to the pier parking lot. From Highway 4, take the Alhambra exit north and follow it to Escobar Street, turn right and follow it to Ferry Street, turn left and follow to Joe DiMaggio Drive, turn right and follow it to North Court Street, turn left and follow it out to the pier.
Benicia 9th Street Pier – Last time I talked to Gene at Benicia Bait & Tackle, 509 Claverie Way, Benicia, said a few stripers and flounder were showing at the pier. The stripers were hitting on anchovies, pile worms and shad while the flounder were hitting on pile worms and grass shrimp. How To Get There: From I780 take the Seventh Street exit south to Military Street, turn right and follow to Ninth Street, turn left and follow it to the end of the street and the pier.
City of Benicia Fishing Pier/First Street — Last time I talked to Gene at Benicia Bait & Tackle, 509 Claverie Way, Benicia, he said a few stripers and flounder were showing at the pier. The stripers were hitting on anchovies, pile worms and shad while the flounder were hitting on pile worms and grass shrimp. How To Get There: From Interstate 780, take the Second Street exit south to Military Street, turn right and follow it west to First Street, turn left and then follow it south to the end of the street., Carquinez Strait, Suisun Bay, and
Antioch Pier – Last time I talked to Billy at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), reported that anglers were picking up stripers, most under-sized but some up to about 28-inches. Best bait seemed to be anchovies and pile worms. Some anglers were still seeking sturgeon with ghost shrimp and grass shrimp, and getting a few but it’s all catch and release fishing. How To Get There: The pier is located at the foot of H Street in downtown Antioch. From Highway 4, go north on G. Street; follow it to Second Street where you will turn left; follow Second Street about a block to the free public parking lot near the Jerome Waldie Plaza. A short walk through the park and down the hill will take you to the foot of the pier.
Antioch Marina Pier – Last time I talked to Billy at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), reported that anglers were picking up stripers, most under-sized fish. Best bait seemed to be anchovies and pile worms. Some anglers were still seeking sturgeon with ghost shrimp and grass shrimp and getting a few but it’s all catch and release fishing. How To Get There: From Highway 4, take the G Street exit and go north to Sixth Street; turn left and follow Sixth to L Street; turn right on L Street and simply follow it to the Antioch Public Marina and Marina Plaza Drive which takes you straight to the pier. The pier is to the right of the large restaurant.
Antioch Bridge Pier — Last time I talked to Billy at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), he reported off and on rain so somewhat fewer anglers than normal but stripers were still hitting up to about two feet in length. Best bait seemed to be anchovies and pile worms. Some anglers were still seeking sturgeon with ghost shrimp and grass shrimp, and getting a few but it’s all catch and release fishing. How To Get There: Follow Highway 4 east until it turns into Highway 160; just before you get to the bridge take the Wilbur Avenue off ramp (it is the last exit before the bridge), then turn left on Bridgehead Road and follow it to the entrance to the Antioch Regional Shoreline Park - the pier is the main feature of the park.
Rio Vista Pier — Stripers should still be available during most days and catfish can show up at night. How To Get There: The pier is located near the west end of the Rio Vista Bridge (the Rio Vista side of the bridge). Going east on HY 12 take the last exit right before the bridge. Go one block until you see Front Street, turn left, and the entrance to the pier parking lot is approximately one half block on your right. Going west on HY 12 continue past the bridge until you can turn left safely. You can turn around and continue to the last exit or go through the downtown area until you hit Front Street. Turn left on Front Street and follow it to the pier parking lot.