San Francisco Bay Fishing Report | December 9, 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
Fished on or just off the bottom, dropping an 8 ounce weight and letting the bait tick bottom every so often.
Presentation
Troll a frozen herring on a three-way swivel rig at 1.5 to 2 mph. Put a slight bend in the bait so it rolls and spins, and time your best water around the slack tide.
Lures and baits
Frozen herring on a sliding-snell double hook rig with an 8 ounce weight and a three-way swivel, dosed with Catch America scent.
Best time
Around the slack tide; low tide landed near 10:30 in the morning.
Weather
Great weather with hardly any wind, bright skies and warm air.
Advice for this week
Fish the tops and bottoms of the tides for the best halibut window. Always check the wind before a kayak day on the Bay, since wind is the main safety factor out here.
Next week
Peak season for Bay halibut is the summer months. It is tougher with fewer fish through fall and winter, but you can still put fish in the boat if you put in the time.
Notable catch
A keeper 23.5 inch California halibut to the net, plus a couple of short shakers released.
California halibut are catchable in San Francisco Bay in December 2025, though the peak is summer. Out of Alameda, the crew trolled frozen herring on a three-way swivel rig with an 8 ounce weight at 1.5 to 2 mph, fishing the slack tide. A bend in the herring gives it a spinning roll. The day produced a keeper halibut of 23.5 inches plus a couple of shaker shorts.
What is biting in San Francisco Bay right now?
California halibut, with a chance at striped bass and the odd shark or ray. Fishing out of Alameda in December is tough because it is past peak season, but the crew boated a keeper 23.5 inch halibut plus a couple of undersized shakers. You can catch halibut year-round with patience.
When is the best time to fish for halibut in San Francisco Bay?
Around the slack tide, at the tops and bottoms of the tides. Adam Irino targets that window for the best chance. Peak season is the summer months, but halibut are caught year-round through November, December, and January, just in fewer numbers.
How do you rig frozen herring for Bay halibut?
Use a double-hook rig with a sliding snell. Hook the front hook through the nose of the herring and the back hook an inch or two ahead of the tail. Tighten the sliding snell to put a bend in the bait so it spins when dropped. Tie it to a three-way swivel with a weight on one arm.
How do you present the herring in San Francisco Bay?
Drop to the bottom and keep it just off, ticking occasionally. The crew trolled 1.5 to 2 mph with an 8 ounce weight and Catch America scent on the bait. The Bay bottom near Alameda is free of rocks, so snags are not a concern.
What were the conditions in San Francisco Bay?
Excellent weather with light wind and bright skies, launching out of Alameda with views of San Francisco. Fishing was tough because it was late in the halibut season, but the tides cooperated on a plan to fish down to low tide and back up.
Watch the full report
San Francisco Bay December 2025 FAQ
Yes, but it is past peak season, so fish are fewer and tougher. The crew still boated a 23.5 inch keeper.
The slack tide, at the tops and bottoms of the tides.
Frozen herring rigged to spin, fished on a three-way swivel with an 8 ounce weight.
About 1.5 to 2 miles per hour.
The summer months, though halibut are caught year-round.
Out of Alameda, with a view of the San Francisco skyline.
A keeper of 23.5 inches, along with a couple of undersized shakers.
