San Francisco Bay Halibut Fishing Charters

San Francisco Bay Halibut Fishing Charters

Top San Francisco Bay Halibut Fishing Destinations

Best Halibut Fishing Charters in San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay: 23 fishing charters available
Excellent
4.9 / 5
(447 reviews)
San Francisco
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $195
Excellent
4.9 / 5
(6 reviews)
San Francisco
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $180
Richmond
trips from US $1,800
Excellent
4.5 / 5
(21 reviews)
San Francisco
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $250

Halibut Fishing in San Francisco Bay

Halibut
  • Size 20 to 150lbs
  • Food Value Excellent
  • Game Qualities Good
  • Habitats Nearshore, Offshore

(Hippoglossus stenolepis / hippoglossus)

The Halibut fishing San Francisco Bay is famous for is the love child of the area’s mild weather and year-round Halibut bite! Whenever you decide to go fishing in this area, chances are that you’ll find a Halibut at the end of your line. While fishing for California Halibut is open year-round, the fishing season for its Pacific relative is open from May until the end of October.
 
These bottom dwellers are not only incredibly tasty table fare, but they can be surprisingly ferocious fighters. Drift fishing and trolling are the name of the game here. Your best bet of catching a fair few of these peculiar-looking fish is a couple of hours before high tide. If you’re going for quantity, trolling is the recipe for success; if you’re looking for your next high-octane fishing experience, drift fishing is a better choice. 
 
Because Halibut is such a popular catch, there are many places where you can test your luck searching for them. But when you have a skilled guide by your side, there’s no need for guessing. There are more than a few captains that excel in putting anglers on Halibut, and have decades of experience under their belt.
 
If you want to book a trip with a local fisherman, you can do so for as little as $170 per person on a shared half day trip. Longer trips usually cost around $200–$250 per person, and for group outings you can pay up to $1,200 for six anglers.
 
All you’ll need for your angling trip is a California fishing license for everyone age 16 and older, warm clothes, and a supply of snacks and drinks. And after you’ve chosen your captain, Halibut fishing in the San Francisco Bay is yours to explore!
 

San Francisco Bay Halibut Fishing Seasons

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Seasonality

Halibut fishing in San Francisco Bay varies slightly throughout the year. High season is April to September. Low season is January to March and October to December. There is no closed season.
San Francisco Bay
Excellent
4.6 / 5
Based on 28,443 reviews by FishingBooker anglers

What anglers said about Halibut Fishing in San Francisco Bay

The fish we caught were fillet by the first mate. They were absolutely delicious. Thank you so much.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
The fish we caught were fillet by the first mate. They were absolutely delicious. Thank you so much.
Warrior Poet Sportfishing
Warrior Poet Sportfishing
Weather was perfect for a T shirt and jeans or a lightweight sweater. 10 out 10 would recommend
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Weather was perfect for a T shirt and jeans or a lightweight sweater. 10 out 10 would recommend
SF Boat Support
SF Boat Support
Get upstanding about parking and the time you need to be so that you are not to early
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Get upstanding about parking and the time you need to be so that you are not to early
fishSFbay
fishSFbay
A nice captain and a well run boat BUT the captain is a chain smoker and in the confines of the forward cabin we found that a MAJOR problem.
Excellent
4.3 / 5
A nice captain and a well run boat BUT the captain is a chain smoker and in the confines of the forward cabin we found that a MAJOR problem.
Bills Sportfishing And Guide Service
Bills Sportfishing And Guide Service
Great fishing boat and expert Captain. Arrive to dock at least 30 minutes early for best parking.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Great fishing boat and expert Captain. Arrive to dock at least 30 minutes early for best parking.
Warrior Poet Sportfishing
Warrior Poet Sportfishing
Good options with lots of parking and cleaning areas. Dock and location wasn't packed or rushed.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Good options with lots of parking and cleaning areas. Dock and location wasn't packed or rushed.
David Rooney
David Rooney Milpitas, CA
All the fish you want to catch are spawning and hitting and being caught at this time of year. Book charters out of san fran in july/august
Excellent
5.0 / 5
All the fish you want to catch are spawning and hitting and being caught at this time of year. Book charters out of san fran in july/august
Warrior Poet Sportfishing
Warrior Poet Sportfishing East McKeesport, PA
Go with a positive attitude fishing is fishing and can go either way just have a great time.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Go with a positive attitude fishing is fishing and can go either way just have a great time.
fishSFbay
fishSFbay CEDAR E BETHL, MN
Make sure you have warm clothes on. Take something for motion sickness because the water is VERY choppy.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Make sure you have warm clothes on. Take something for motion sickness because the water is VERY choppy.
fishSFbay
fishSFbay Holt, MI
Bring sunscreen, windblazer, snacks, and friends to relax with as you all wait for the bite.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Bring sunscreen, windblazer, snacks, and friends to relax with as you all wait for the bite.
Warrior Poet Sportfishing
Warrior Poet Sportfishing Cottage Grove, MN
Actually speak with the captain and make sure you know where you're fishing and what you're fishing for.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Actually speak with the captain and make sure you know where you're fishing and what you're fishing for.
Argo Sportfishing
Argo Sportfishing Red Bluff, CA
It's not like fishing for bluegill or other varieties in technique listen to the captain and you will do great!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
It's not like fishing for bluegill or other varieties in technique listen to the captain and you will do great!
Warrior Poet Sportfishing
Warrior Poet Sportfishing North Las Vegas, Nevada
Hire John and he'll put you where it gives you the best chance to land the fish you're looking for.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Hire John and he'll put you where it gives you the best chance to land the fish you're looking for.
Addictive Sport Fishing
Addictive Sport Fishing
Halibut! Lots of them. HUGE!!! Leaving from Fisherman's Wharf passing Alcatraz, seeing the sun come up over the east bay ills, watching the yacht regatta, passing all the freighters and cruise ships, going under the bridges, seeing the rising sun reflected off the skyscrapers; it's a gorgeous place to catch BIG fish.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Halibut! Lots of them. HUGE!!! Leaving from Fisherman's Wharf passing Alcatraz, seeing the sun come up over the east bay ills, watching the yacht regatta, passing all the freighters and cruise ships, going under the bridges, seeing the rising sun reflected off the skyscrapers; it's a gorgeous place to catch BIG fish.
Argo Sportfishing
Argo Sportfishing San Jose, CA
Leave early to account for traffic delays and bring windproof jacket just in case.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Leave early to account for traffic delays and bring windproof jacket just in case.
Warrior Poet Sportfishing
Warrior Poet Sportfishing Pacific House, CA
Give time to get there as there was some construction at Marina that can be confusing.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Give time to get there as there was some construction at Marina that can be confusing.
The Codfather SportFishing
The Codfather SportFishing Castro Valley, California
It's windy and cold out there in the pacific, so wear good windbreaker and warm clothes.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
It's windy and cold out there in the pacific, so wear good windbreaker and warm clothes.
Argo Sportfishing
Argo Sportfishing Palo Alto, CA
Bring a jacket and lunch. If you not sure how your stomach will hold take meds ahead of time.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Bring a jacket and lunch. If you not sure how your stomach will hold take meds ahead of time.
David Rooney
David Rooney Fair Oaks, California
Captain Rooney said that Salmon Fishing is great right now, but I really liked going around the bay hunting halibut. So much action throughout the day!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Captain Rooney said that Salmon Fishing is great right now, but I really liked going around the bay hunting halibut. So much action throughout the day!
David Rooney
David Rooney San Pablo, California
Bring layers. California doesn't always mean sunny and warm. But bring sunscreen too.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Bring layers. California doesn't always mean sunny and warm. But bring sunscreen too.
Warrior Poet Sportfishing
Warrior Poet Sportfishing

Fish Species Similar to Halibut in San Francisco Bay