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Bay Fishing Update: Crab Bonanza, Rockfish Bite, and Tidal Currents
Artificial Lure here with your Monday, November 3rd, 2025, San Francisco Bay fishing report. We’re rolling into the week with the Dungeness crab opener in full swing and the fall rockfish bite still going strong across the central Bay and outer coast.
Sunrise came in at 6:37 a.m. with sunset expected at 5:07 p.m. Following a bright and crisp morning, the weather is staying classic autumn—cool, with light winds and patchy clouds, a perfect combo for both boat and pier action. The National Weather Service has flagged some higher-than-usual tides bringing minor flooding in the low-lying spots, so keep an eye on the ramp at Pier 7 and some of the marina parking lots.
Tidewise, we’re seeing serious water movement: this morning started with a 1.1 ft low at 2:36 a.m., peaked with a 6.2 ft high at 9:09 a.m., dropped to a -0.1 ft low at 3:29 p.m., and another 5.0 ft high at 10:07 p.m. According to Tides4Fishing, this is a very high tidal coefficient day (97), which means major current swings—great for stirring up bait, but watch your anchor! Fish and crabs will be on the move, chasing easy meals.
Now, the big story: Dungeness crab. Ever since Saturday’s opener, the reports from NorCal Fish Reports have been nothing short of fantastic. Berkeley and Emeryville charters—like the California Dawn, Sea Wolf, and TigerFish—are returning with boat limits: 10 crabs per angler, day after day. San Francisco boats, including Argo and Bass Tub, echoed the trend with full pots and happy anglers. Many combo trips are rounding out the haul with generous sacks of rockfish and even a smattering of lingcod: think 4-10 lings per boat and hundreds of assorted rockfish, especially at the edges of the reefs off Marin and the Farallones.
For crabbers: chicken quarters and squid remain top baits—don’t get cute, use what works. Drop pots or rings just inside the Gate, Baker Beach, or the deepwater pockets by Alcatraz have been especially hot. With the big tide swings, plan for heavy rigging and don’t stray too far from gear—currents can sneak pots away on outgoing tides.
On the finfish menu, rockfish are stacked along the Marin coast and around Seal Rocks. Darker swimbaits, copper jigs, and shrimp flies tipped with squid are dynamite this week. Lingcod are still aggressive with the colder water; larger paddle-tail soft plastics or blue/silver metal jigs are getting steady grabs, especially near structure. Party boat catches suggest reds, browns, and black rockfish are leading the counts, with plenty of cabezon mixed in.
Halibut action inside the bay has slowed with the chill, but the occasional keeper is coming off drop-shot sardine rigs around the Alameda rockwall and Treasure Island. Stripers are schooling under the birds near Oyster Point and Candlestick—trolling shallow-running white/chartreuse plugs or casting SP Minnows at first light is your best bet.
Top hotspots today:
- The Marin Coast reefs for both rockfish and lings.
- Pier 7 and Fort Mason piers for crabs and a mixed grab bag.
- Baker Beach and Alcatraz deep water for epic crab pot pulls.
Pro tip: with these spring tides, time your trips during the slack or slower tide moments for safer, easier fishing and fewer lost rigs.
Thanks for tuning in. Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest on tides, bites, and bayside action. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago