Come fishing in San Pablo Bay and explore the biggest and most diverse estuary on the west coast. The reason these waters are so rich is the mix of saltwater from San Francisco Bay and freshwater from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. Not only will you find a variety of fish species to target, but you’ll also see some endangered birds in their natural habitat. Bring your binoculars!
The main star of the show in San Pablo Bay is Sturgeon. This water dinosaur can be found in the bay all year, but winter months are the prime time. Striped Bass is another fish you’ll most likely get your hands on. It’s best to go after them from June–November, by trolling. Local specimens usually weigh around 10 pounds, which may not be trophy sizes, but they’re always fun to catch all the same!
You could also land Starry Flounder, Leopard Shark, and White Seabass. For those of you willing to go south of the bay, there’s a chance of catching Halibut, King Salmon, Rockfish, and Lingcod. Not bad for a short boat ride!
To avoid San Pablo Bay’s mudflat shores, most fishing guides depart from Richmond, Paradise Cay, Berkeley, or Emeryville. Trips out of these bayside towns will have you reaching your Halibut and Salmon fishing spots in no time.
Rules & Regulations
All anglers over 16 need to buy a California fishing license before their trip.Fishing regulations change every year, so it’s best to ask your captain about current bag limits and what species are legal to keep.