San Francisco Bay Halibut & Striped Bass Charter
Shared Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target halibut and striped bass in San Francisco Bay watersHalfday morning and fullday charter options availableCaptain Steve leads productive sport fishing adventures
Captain Steve's San Francisco Bay fishing charter puts you right in the heart of some of California's best inshore fishing action. Whether you're gunning for massive halibut or battling feisty stripers, this top-rated charter delivers the goods. San Francisco Bay might be famous for its bridge and fog, but serious anglers know it's one of the West Coast's most productive fisheries. With options for half-day morning trips or full-day adventures, you'll have plenty of time to work the prime spots where these fish love to hang out.
Your day starts early when you meet Captain Steve at the dock. His boat cuts through the bay's chop with ease, getting you to the fishing grounds fast so you can maximize your time with lines in the water. The bay's unique geography creates perfect habitat for both halibut and striped bass – deep channels, rocky structure, and plenty of baitfish keep these predators well-fed and aggressive. You'll be fishing in one of the most scenic backdrops anywhere, with the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz as your office view for the day. Captain Steve knows every productive ledge, drop-off, and current break in these waters, and he's not shy about sharing his local knowledge to put you on fish. The boat's equipped with quality rods and reels, but feel free to bring your own gear if you've got favorites. Don't forget your fishing license – California's pretty strict about that, and it's your responsibility to have it on board.
San Francisco Bay fishing is all about reading the water and adapting to conditions. Captain Steve runs a variety of techniques depending on what the fish are doing. For halibut, you'll often be working the bottom with live bait or heavy jigs around structure where these flatfish ambush prey. The key is staying patient and keeping your bait in the strike zone – halibut can be picky, but when they hit, you'll know it. Striped bass fishing is a different game entirely. These fish are constantly on the move, following schools of anchovies and sardines throughout the bay. You might be casting live bait near rocky points, trolling through deep channels, or even sight-fishing when the stripers are busting bait on the surface. The tides play a huge role in success here, and Captain Steve times trips to hit the most productive water movement. During stronger tidal flows, baitfish get pushed around, and that's when the predators really turn on. You'll learn to feel the difference between a halibut pickup and a striper strike – halibut tend to grab and hold while stripers hit hard and fast.
Striped bass are the bread and butter of San Francisco Bay fishing, and for good reason. These silver bullets can show up anywhere from 18 inches to over 40 pounds, with the average fish running 5-15 pounds of pure muscle. Spring and fall are prime time, when cooler water temperatures and abundant baitfish create perfect conditions. Stripers are notorious fighters – they'll make long runs, jump, and use every trick in the book to throw your hook. What makes them so special here is their year-round presence and willingness to eat a variety of baits. You might catch them on live anchovies one day and swimbaits the next. The bay's resident population mixes with ocean fish moving in and out with the tides, creating consistent action throughout most of the year.
Pacific halibut are the prize catch that keeps anglers coming back for more. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, lying buried in sand and mud waiting for unsuspecting prey to swim by. In San Francisco Bay, most halibut run 15-30 pounds, but fish over 50 pounds are caught every season by anglers who know where to look. Summer months typically produce the best halibut action when water temperatures warm up and these fish move into shallower areas to feed. What makes halibut so exciting isn't just their size – it's the challenge. They're incredibly structure-oriented, so you need to get your bait right in their wheelhouse. Miss by a few feet and you might as well be fishing in a swimming pool. When you do connect with a big halibut, the fight is all power and stubbornness. They use their flat bodies like a sail to fight you all the way to the boat.
San Francisco Bay fishing delivers world-class action right in the backyard of one of America's biggest cities. Captain Steve's charter gives you access to productive waters without the long run to the ocean, meaning more time fishing and less time traveling. Whether you're a local angler looking to dial in these fisheries or a visitor wanting to experience California's renowned fishing scene, this trip delivers. The half-day option works great if you're tight on time or new to the sport, while the full-day charter lets you really explore different areas and techniques. Bring your lunch, plenty of water, and your valid California fishing license. Captain Steve provides the rest – quality tackle, local expertise, and the kind of knowledge that only comes from fishing these waters day in and day out. Book your San Francisco Bay halibut and striped bass charter today and find out why anglers travel from all over to fish these productive waters.
Step aboard our 2022 Hewes Craft 240 Ocean Pro, a 24-foot pilothouse cruiser that's built for serious San Francisco Bay fishing. This charter boat combines speed and stability with its 250HP Honda engine, cutting through Bay waters at up to 40 knots to get you to the prime halibut and striped bass spots fast. The enclosed cabin keeps you comfortable when conditions get choppy, while our fish finder and GPS ensure we're always on the fish. You'll appreciate the onboard icebox for your catch and refreshments, plus radar for those foggy Bay mornings. With room for up to 6 anglers, a private head, and Captain Steve's local knowledge, this fishing machine maximizes your time with lines in the water rather than traveling to fishing grounds.
Hippoglossus StenolepisPacific halibut are the ultimate doormat - these diamond-shaped flatfish lie on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. Most of our halibut run 20-50 pounds, but don't be surprised when you hook into a 100-pounder that feels like you snagged the bottom. They hang out in 80-300 feet of water along drop-offs and sandy flats throughout the Bay. Summer gives you the best shot when they move shallow to feed. What guests love about halibut is the surprise factor - that "dead weight" suddenly comes alive with powerful runs. The meat is world-class too - pure white fillets that are perfect for the grill. Here's my trick: bounce your bait slowly along the bottom every few minutes. Halibut strike on the move, so keeping that bait active makes all the difference between dinner and going home empty-handed.
Morone SaxatilisStriped bass are the bread and butter of San Francisco Bay fishing. These silver-sided fighters with their distinctive black stripes typically run 20-40 pounds around here, though we see some real monsters pushing 50+. They love structure - rocky points, pier pilings, and drop-offs where baitfish get pushed around by the current. Spring through fall gives you the best action when they're actively feeding in 10-60 feet of water. What makes stripers special is their fight - they'll make long runs and jump clean out of the water. Plus, they're fantastic eating with firm, flaky white meat. My local tip: watch for diving birds and surface activity. When you see that commotion, get your line in the water fast because those fish are feeding aggressively and won't stay put for long.
San Francisco, CA