SAN FRANCISCO BAY FISHING REPORT: Rockfish, Lingcod & Striped Bass Hotspots for NorCal Fall

Friday, October 10th, 2025—Artificial Lure here with your sunrise-to-sunset fishing report for San Francisco Bay, just as the locals like it.

We woke up to classic **NorCal fall weather**: cool, foggy mornings rolling off the hills around the Bay. The thermometer’s wandering in the mid-50s, with patchy fog early and a building NW breeze expected this afternoon. Sunrise was right around 7:15 AM, and sunset will be just after 6:40 PM, so you’ve got over eleven hours of daylight to chase a bite.

The **tides are running big today**, with a tidal coefficient starting at 98 and tapering off to 83 by evening. That means strong currents—prime conditions for active fish around structure and channel edges. Early morning and the last couple hours before dusk are your best windows, especially on the ebb and flood.

Here’s what’s biting: it’s **Rockfish and Lingcod season in full swing**. According to Nor Cal Fish Reports, charter boats out of Berkeley and Emeryville have been returning with impressive numbers. Yesterday, the California Dawn II from Berkeley brought in **200 lingcod, 240 rockfish, and 48 sanddab** for 24 anglers. Emeryville boats reported solid scores too—C Gull II landed **2 halibut and 22 striped bass** on a morning half-day trip, while New Huck Finn added **22 lingcod and 110 rockfish** to the tally.

If you’re after **striped bass**, schoolies are pushing anchovy bait close to shore at first and last light. Hot spots are Crissy Field, Fort Point, and along the Embarcadero piers. Paddle-tail swimbaits (3–5 inch) and bucktail jigs are the locals’ go-to; or drift live or cut anchovy if you want a classic approach.

**Halibut** are still showing, especially in Central and South Bay. Trolling herring-pattern plugs on a slow drift works best during slack winds. For night owls, the leopard sharks and bat rays are lurking near pilings—squid or oily cut baits are top picks.

Surf anglers, don’t miss out on Ocean Beach and Baker Beach. The **barred surfperch bite** is steady near troughs and holes—try Gulp grubs or sandworms for quick action.

Rockfish and lingcod have taken center stage at all the local reefs and hard spots. Berkley Gulp Grubs are flying off Grumpy’s Tackle shelves for a reason—rig up on a dropper loop or use jigs just heavy enough to touch bottom but not drag. Lingcod are pounding on sportfish jigs and big swimbaits in 40-80 feet.

If you need a few prime locations, locals are hitting:
- **Pier 7 and Pier 15**—reliable striper and halibut action, with lots of bait pushing through.
- **Fort Point rock wall**—stripers at dawn, lingering halibut as the tide swings.
- **South Beach Harbor and China Basin**—great for bait dunkers and families, plus occasional perch and rays.

Extra tip: Wharf hopping is alive and well. Try dawn or dusk around the Embarcadero piers—the light draws in schools, and outgoing tides mean more active bass and perch.

Between the tides, the wind, and the seasonal shift, fish activity has been above average for October. Most boats are reporting limits or near-limits for rockfish and lingcod, a handful of halibut, and solid numbers of striped bass—best bet is to work early and late, and keep an eye on the birds and bait schools for your next cast.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s San Francisco Bay fishing report. Make sure to subscribe for real-time updates and insider tips. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI