SF Bay Fishing Report: Crab & Rockfish Limits, Striped Bass Arrive, Weather Ideal

Artificial Lure here with the November 4, 2025 fishing report for San Francisco Bay and surrounding waters.

First light hit at 6:38 a.m. while sunset comes early at 5:07 p.m. Today we get just over 10 hours of sunlight. Tides are running strong: the tidal coefficient is exceptionally high, peaking at 104 by evening, promising big water swings and lively currents—so expect movement in the fish and the bait[San Francisco Tides4Fishing]. If you’re targeting structure, fish those current edges; it’s a textbook combo day for crab and rockfish.

Weather at dawn was calm and mild—mid-50s at sunrise warming towards 64°F through midday, with little wind and patchy clouds. Conditions are prime for both shore and boat anglers.

The San Francisco Bay clarity ranged between zero and four feet yesterday, temps running 58 to 64°F. While not crystal clear, it’s enough for fish like striped bass and rockfish to hunt aggressively, especially on the outgoing tide[Fly Fishing Specialties].

Let’s talk about what’s biting. The fleet continues to hammer limits on both Dungeness crab and rockfish. Limits are coming in strong out of Emeryville, Berkeley, and the City itself—boats like California Dawn, New Huck Finn, and Sea Wolf all scored their angler limits on both species yesterday, racking up thousands of crabs and rockfish combined. Lingcod numbers are coming in moderate—Emeryville boats reporting about 1-7 lingcod per trip. Striped bass are showing up closer into the Bay, with boats like Argo bringing ten bass for five anglers. Double-check: that’s solid! Recent party boat counts confirm the trend: near limits on crab and rockfish, with lingcod around and some bonus bonito for the mix[NorCalFishReports, SportfishingReport].

Bait and tackle recommendations: For rockfish and lingcod, go classic. Dropper loop rigs with pieces of squid or cut anchovy still dominate, especially if you’re drifting reefs or structure. For crab, chicken legs and fish carcasses in baited pots are putting up jumbo numbers across the board. If you’re tossing lures, swimbaits in rootbeer or motor oil are pulling rockfish off rocky structure; lingcod can’t resist a big white grub bounced on the bottom. Striped bass are hitting on live anchovies for those who can get them, but plenty are coming on shad patterned plastic lures—try them around the piers during peak current. If you’re surfcasting, bloodworms and pile worms remain reliable, especially during the higher tide surges.

Hot spots to check out:
- **Southampton Shoals:** Always a fall favorite, especially for those targeting mixed bag and keeper-size crab.
- **Alcatraz Island**: Drifts around the rock piles northwest of Alcatraz produce solid numbers of rockfish and lingcod—best with a strong afternoon outgoing tide.
- **Berkeley Flats:** Striped bass and crab, plus scattered schools of baitfish attracting hungry predators. Shore anglers find action near the pier edges during late afternoon tide changes.

Word at the tackle shops is that jumbo crab are plentiful, and folks are still seeing good fishing on both combo trips and half-day boats. If you’re running solo, focus on places with structure and current—those fish are moving with today’s tidal surges.

That’s your boots-on-the-ground report for November 4, 2025. Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure, your local line to San Francisco fishing. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss the bite.

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