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San Francisco Bay Fishing Report Late Summer Bonanza
Fishing in and around San Francisco Bay on Thursday, August 28th, 2025 saw classic late-summer action with plenty of variety for local anglers. Sunrise arrived at 6:36 am and sunset wrapped the day at 7:44 pm, giving us over 13 hours of sun—ideal for those dawn and dusk bites. Today's tidal swing came with a high coefficient of 72, peaking in the afternoon at 2:55 pm, with brisk currents moving fish and bait inshore, especially on the incoming tide. The first low tide hit at 8:16 am, and the evening low is due just after 9:10 pm. Fish movement was strong near all structure and channel edges, so the bite windows were generous.
Weather held mild—morning fog clearing to sun, with temps topping out in the high 60s, a soft westerly breeze and light chop, making for comfortable casts from Berkeley Pier, Crissy Field, and the jetties. The Bay’s water clarity ranged from green to a touch murky as the afternoon wore on, but that didn’t slow the bite for bottom species.
Local catches today and throughout the week have come in strong. Amethyst Fishing Charters reports ongoing mixed loads of California halibut, striped bass, and rockfish, with party boats motoring out under the Golden Gate and dropping lines along Alcatraz and Angel Island. Instagram action features a 40-inch California halibut hauled up right off a San Francisco pier in under 30 minutes—proof the monsters are prowling close to shore if you time your tides right.
Fish Counts from norcalfishreports.com and 976-TUNA show steady numbers of rockfish (over 1200 caught yesterday across the Bay), plus a healthy showing of calico bass and surf perch. Emeryville and Berkeley launches continue to churn up good catches with recent trips yielding limits of rockfish, bonus sheephead, and several bass each run. Don’t overlook Redtail surfperch in the surf from Pacifica down to Half Moon Bay, especially in the AM slot when baitfish push shallow.
The best baits today have been live anchovies and sardines for halibut and bass, while squid strips and shrimp are picking up rockfish around reefs and structure. If you’re tossing artificials, chartreuse and white swimbaits—like the classic Big Hammer—are the ticket for halibut. Jerkbaits in bone or shad pattern have been hot for striped bass in fast-moving water, and shallow divers fished slow around marina pilings and drop-offs are getting bit. For surf zones, Gulp sandworms and classic motor oil grubs are fooling perch and small bass.
Hot spots for the evening tide:
- Berkeley Flats: Halibut and stripers on live bait and swimbaits, especially at dusk on an incoming tide.
- Crissy Field: Good showings of surf perch and an increasing number of schoolie stripers close after sunset.
- Treasure Island and Alcatraz edges: Drop a line for mixed rockfish and the odd lingcod; fish tide changes.
With the strong tidal exchange, today’s currents have pushed bait inshore—so focus your casts near shadow lines, eddy pockets, and wherever you see birds working the surface. Be shark-aware if you’re wading anywhere near the “Red Triangle” as great whites begin to show by late summer—keep hands and fish close to your kayak deck.
Word on the dock says party boats are still heading offshore for those late-season bluefin tuna, with recent runs seeing quality fish up to 240 pounds, but expect a longer trip out past the Farallones if chasing pelagics.
That’s the latest from Artificial Lure—thanks for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe for updated local reports. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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Published on 3 days, 1 hour ago