It’s a fishing day

San Francisco Bay fishing conditions · California

Sit it outno rockfish window clears the bar in 36 hours

Rockfish is the best bet here today.

Coastal Flood Advisory until Friday 4 pmBeach Hazards Statement until Monday 10 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 38 for rockfish, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rockfish, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 381 pm
  2. 38
  3. 38
  4. 384 pm
  5. 43
  6. 43
  7. 437 pm
  8. 43
  9. 43
  10. 3510 pm
  11. 33
  12. 35Sun
  13. 351 am
  14. 33
  15. 33
  16. 354 am
  17. 35
  18. 35
  19. 357 am
  20. 35
  21. 35
  22. 3510 am
  23. 33
  24. 33
  25. 351 pm
  26. 43
  27. 43
  28. 434 pm
  29. 43
  30. 43
  31. 437 pm
  32. 35
  33. 33
  34. 3310 pm
  35. 33
  36. 33Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Rockfish range 45–58°

Wind
5 mph

From the west-northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:05 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
62°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are California regulations for these waters.

Rockfish

Rockfish

Sebastes spp.

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Rockfish bite in 45–58° water, best near 52°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 20–300 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 10/person/day in combination (rockfish, cabezon, greenlings): no more than 1 copper, 2 canary, 2 vermilion/sunset (4 in the Northern area). No quillback, yelloweye, cowcod or bronzespotted at any time. Boats: closed Jan 1–Mar 31; south of Point Conception, all depths Apr–Jun, inside 50 fathoms Jul–Sep, then closures and depth limits through Dec. Shore anglers and spear divers are exempt from the season and depth rules.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Dec. More on rockfish

California Halibut

California halibut

Paralichthys californicus

22Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. California halibut bite in 55–72° water, best near 64°.

Why

California halibut prefers incoming tide. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. California halibut is here Mar–Oct. Holds 4–60 ft down.

Keep

22" minimum · 2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 2/person/day north of Point Sur, Monterey County. 22" total length minimum.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · North of Point Sur

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Oct. More on California halibut

White Seabass

White seabass

Atractoscion nobilis

22Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. White seabass bite in 58–72° water, best near 65°.

Why

White seabass prefers incoming tide. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. White seabass is here Mar–Sep. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

28" minimum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 28" total length (20" alternate length) minimum, 3/person/day, but only 1/day south of Point Conception from Mar 15 to Jun 15.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · California

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Sep. More on white seabass

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.08 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:05 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:42 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:40 pm–4:40 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. California CDFW has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The largest estuary on the West Coast — California halibut on the flats, white seabass and rockfish near the structure and the Gate, plus a strong striped bass and sturgeon run through the bay. Fished from boats and public piers around the city. Live tide and water temperature from the San Francisco station.

California halibut: 22" minimum, 2 a day north of Point Sur. Rockfish: boats closed Jan 1–Mar 31; shore anglers exempt. The bay also holds striped bass and sturgeon under their own rules.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Half Moon Bay State Beach23 mi · CaliforniaBest tonight 11 pm to tonight 1 amCoastal Flood AdvisoryBeach Hazards Statement
57Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at San Francisco Bay?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at San Francisco Bay you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at San Francisco Bay?

San Francisco Bay is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: California Halibut, White Seabass, Rockfish. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at San Francisco Bay?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at San Francisco Bay against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does San Francisco Bay have?

San Francisco Bay has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. California halibut: 22" minimum, 2 a day north of Point Sur. Rockfish: boats closed Jan 1–Mar 31; shore anglers exempt. The bay also holds striped bass and sturgeon under their own rules.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at San Francisco Bay?

state agency regulations apply at San Francisco Bay. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is San Francisco Bay tidal water?

Yes. San Francisco Bay sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.