North & CenCal Saltwater Fish Report
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Updated October 10, 2025
SAN FRANCISCO BAY — Halibut are currently on a resurgence in the central bay, and six packs and party boats are picking up to limits of halibut after loading up with striped bass. The Pacific Dream out of Berkeley posted 20 halibut and a striped bass working around Alcatraz Island on Saturday after loading up with 12 limits of rockfish and lingcod outside the Golden Gate. Striped bass are holding in San Pablo Bay, and boats anchoring and chumming them up are finding quick limits of linesides to 7 pounds White seabass remain a mystery, but there is hope for the remainder of October into early November. The San Francisco bait receiver will remain on normal hours until October 14 before switching to Friday through Monday from 6 to 9 am, closing Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays until the second week of November.
HALF MOON BAY — When it’s rough at the Farallons, the California Dawn 2 out of Berkeley heads south along the San Mateo coastline, and Sunday’s trip resulted in 24 limits of rockfish and lingcod to 15 pounds. The local Half Moon Bay boats are also on fish with the Queen of Hearts out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing posting 20 limits and 11 lingcod to 18 pounds on Saturday. The newly opened waters have only enhanced great fishing, and with the opener of Dungeness crab season within a month, there is great promise for the upcoming combination trips.
MONTEREY — Wind and swell kept boats closer to home last week. Charter boats did well, reporting limits of rockfish on virtually every trip, plus five to 15 lings per outing. Halibut are still available near the Pt. Pinos Bell Buoy, the shell beds off of Cannery Row and further up Del Monte beach past Sand City. The flatties are deeper now as they slowly move toward their water refuge in the abyss. Try 70-100 feet and the bounce ball to cover bottom territory.
MOSS LANDING — Moss Landing anglers are itching to get back offshore is search of bluefin tuna. Who knows how long these behemoths will stick around. Warm water of 65 degrees is forming nice temperature breaks some 30 to 60 miles offshore. The Davenport Fingers channel warm water in towards the shoreline and are only 12 to 16 miles from the beach. Locals are still catching halibut in 60 to 80 feet from the flats between our submarine canyons. The steep canyon walls also provide great access for deepwater rockfish. A strong south swell had some effect on the halibut bite inside of 100 feet, but deepwater rockfish aren’t bothered a bit. Mainly, it’s the wind factor that determines if Moss anglers can get out to those areas for some effective drifts along the sheer canyon walls.
