Stripers, Halibut, and Whale Cautions - San Francisco Bay Fishing Report 10/29/2025

Artificial Lure with your San Francisco Bay fishing report for October 29, 2025. Out on the bay this morning, first light hit at 7:31 AM, with sunset expected at 6:15 PM. The weather’s classic fall in the city—patchy low fog early burning off to clear skies, light northwest winds 5-10 knots, and temps in the low 60s. Layer up but expect a very fishable day.

Tidal action runs on the moderate side with a high tide peaking near 8:12 AM and a low rolling in mid-afternoon, setting up a solid morning bite shifting to slower action as the day wears on. According to tides4fishing.com, the tidal coefficient is dropping a bit, making for easier drift control and productive outgoing water, especially in the central and south bay channels.

The big story is striped bass—lots of ‘em. Sportfishing Report and Nor Cal Fish Reports are all over it: recent half-day charters like the Lovely Martha and Lady K both pulled in boat limits, with 15 anglers scoring 30 keeper stripers per trip. One two-angler run out of Fish Emeryville managed 50 bass released, 4 bass kept, plus 4 halibut added to the box. There’s no shortage of action on the schools running hard all over the flats and edges.

Halibut catches are slowing near the racks and main shipping channel but there are still a few quality fish being picked off on live bait. Fall means working harder and paying attention to bait balls—look for birds working Foster City and the Alameda rock wall.

For tackle, locals are getting it done with ¾ to 1-ounce white or chartreuse swimbaits and hair jigs—think P-Line or Big Hammer brands. Topwater walking baits early, then transition to drifting live anchovies or shiner perch if you’re after the bigger bass. Ghost shrimp or pile worms fished on sliding sinker rigs will get you attention from sturgeon closer to the Carquinez Strait, especially as we move towards bigger tidal swings later this week.

For those rockfish junkies heading out the Gate, the Riptide Charters notes easy limits up the Marin coast. Bring your best-durable rod, like an Ugly Stik GX2 or Abu Garcia Veritas, and tip your shrimp fly rigs with squid strips. Drop deeper for a few late lingcod on metal jigs near Duxbury Reef and the North Bar.

Dungeness crab remains off limits in most of the northern stretches—crab season opening has been delayed due to whale entanglement concerns and domoic acid warnings this year, so keep your pots at home for now, as reported by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

As far as hot spots, don’t ignore Berkeley Flats—birds working tight mean shakers and the odd halibut, but the bigger keeper bass are stacking on the edges of Raccoon Strait and Paradise Cay by the outgoing. If you’re feeling adventurous, the south approach to the San Mateo Bridge is holding a mix of stripers and the last of the halibut, especially right after the morning high turns.

Quick word of caution—reports out of Pillar Point and the outer coast mention increased activity from juvenile great whites. No reason for panic, but keep an eye out if you’re poking around the Pacific side, especially in shallower water.

That’ll do it for today’s report. Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure. Remember to subscribe for all your Bay Area fishing updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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