Although striped bass, halibut, and salmon continue to be the favored fish for Bay Area pier anglers, more common prizes this time of the year are the sharks and bat rays, some of which are reaching a pretty impressive size. Along the central coastline piers the typical prize is a good-sized surfperch although an occasional halibut or striper does provide some excitement. Further north, the coastline north of San Francisco, perch, cabezon and a few lingcod provide thrills to anglers on piers in rocky areas while bay piers continue to kick out perch and some nice-sized bat rays.

Central California Piers

Monterey-Santa Cruz-San Mateo County Piers — Monterey Wharf #2 — The pier is seeing some sanddabs on the bottom and some Spanish mackerel (jack mackerel) on the top. Locals with the know-how are taking some striped, rainbow, and rubberlip perch down around the pilings. Try pile worms (if you can find them), fresh mussels or cut shrimp for the perch. Seacliff State Beach Pier — Red tide has moved in and slowed the fishing for the past week. When the water’s clean, the pier is seeing mostly small walleyes, silvers, kingfish, and a few barred surfperch. A few halibut and striped bass are falling to locals using live bait. Capitola Wharf — Derek, at the Capitola Baitshop, reports some nice stripers being caught this month. A 22-pound striped bass was taken by Jim Lindsey, a 14-pound striper by Chris Behm, and a 5-pound striper by Gordon Imoto. A 12-pound halibut was taken by Rob Halbach. Derek says 3-5 decent sized stripers were taken some days. He says there are also some mackerel, perch, leopard sharks and tons of anchovies in the water. All of the stripers were taken on live anchovies. Santa Cruz Wharf — Morgan, at the Santa Cruz Boat Rentals, reports that there is lots of bait in the water which has resulted in a few halibut being taken during the day and some stripers in the evening hours (on live anchovies and bobber). Perch are also present but red tide has moved in some days. Piller Point Pier — It’s mainly small kingfish (white croakers) together with some jacksmelt. A few rockfish are being taken along the inshore rocks. Pacifica Pier — Joe, at the Rusty Hook in Pacifica, says the salmon action has pretty much ended. Anglers are concentrating on jacksmelt, kingfish (white croaker), perch and crabs.

San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco Piers — Fort Point Pier — Hippo, from Hi’s Tackle Shop, says anglers are getting an occasional striped bass and halibut together with a few sharks at the pier. There was also a flurry of HUGE jacksmelt for a few days but the school has seemed to move on. Fort Mason Piers — It’s mainly kingfish, sharks and rays with an occasional small flatfish—sanddabs and a few sand soles. San Francisco Municipal Pier — Some perch and quite a few jacksmelt  (and many are the “huge” horsesmelt, fish approaching 18 inches in size). Pier 7 — Guycognito reported that “sharks are still present in decent numbers at this pier at night. Although most of them are small smoothhounds (under 2-ft), there are occasional leopard sharks and bat rays. The most effective bait seems to be squid or anchovies (fresh not frozen), and the most effective rig (or at least the most common) is a hi-lo with appropriately sized hooks.” The pier is also seeing good numbers of jacksmelt along with a few striped bass and halibut and. Ferry Building Pier/Pier 2 — Good action on jacksmelt together with some kingfish (white croaker) and the usual sharks and rays. South Harbor Marina Pier — It’s mainly kingfish (white croaker) and some sharks and rays. Do expect to see a flotilla of boats in the cove area when the Giants are playing at home. Most are hoping to retrieve a Bond’s home run from McCovey Cove. Agua Vista Pier — It’s been slow. Mainly it’s a few kingfish, perch, an occasional flurry of jacksmelt and the usual sharks and rays. Heron’s Head Pier — The mix is mainly a few jacksmelt,, some perch, and an occasional striped bass. Candlestick Point Pier — It’s mostly a shark and ray pier at this time although a few halibut and stripers are still making an appearance.

South Bay Piers — Brisbane Fishing Pier — It’s been slow. Mostly it’s small sharks, a few kingfish, and an occasional evening time striped bass. Oyster Point Pier — John, at Oyster Point Bait and Tackle, says most of the action has been on sharks (a variety) and rays with an occasional striper entering into the mix. (A few 7-gill sharks have joined the more common brown smoothhound and leopard sharks). Regulars netting live anchovies or sardines are getting some stripers and a few halibut. Robert E. Woolley Peninsula Park Pier — This small pier in Burlingame is mostly yielding up jacksmelt and, as usual, some fair numbers of small sharks and big bat rays. Redwood City Marina Pier — Small perch, bullheads, and some sharks and rays (generally at night). Dumbarton Pier — It’s mainly a striped bass, shark, and bat ray pier at this time of the year although a 70-inch diamondback was taken on August 14 by an unidentified angler using a combo bait—eel and ghost shrimp.

East Bay Piers — Arrowhead Marsh Fishing Piers — Good numbers of jacksmelt are showing along with flurries of striper action, generally in the evening hours. Veterans Court Fishing Pier — Jacksmelt together with leopard sharks and bat rays. Fruitvale Bridge Piers — Most of the regulars are concentrating on striped bass in the evening hours. San Antonio Pier — It’s decent jacksmelt action when you can get through the shinerperch. Good bat ray action is also available, especially in the twilight hours, but the local police have prohibited nighttime fishing. Estuary Park Pier — The pier is seeing a few kingfish (white croaker), jacksmelt, and sharks and rays. Some stripers have been spotted but not too many have been taken. Port View Park Pier/Seventh Street Pier — The pier is apparently open and it’s a good spot at night for some decent shark and rays fishing. During the day it’s a place to take your kids for small perch and rockfish (fish in the cut out section using pile worms and small hooks). Emeryville Piers (Chevy’s and Shorebird Park) — James Kim reports that the Chevy’s Pier is producing a good number of sharks and rays; it’s typically best at sunset and with a cast off the right side corner of the pier. Emeryville Marina Fishing Pier — Some jacksmelt, a few kingfish and quite a few bat rays and sharks. Berkeley Pier — The pier’s seen a drop off in the excellent halibut and striper action that started the season. It’s pretty dead with most anglers concentrating on sharks and rays. A salmon was taken in August but the debate continues on whether it was a legal king or illegal silver salmon (although some also say it was a sea-run steelhead). The fish was eaten and we’ll never know. Ferry Point Pier — It’s still kicking out some kingfish and perch together with decent shark and ray action (including a few 7-gills).

Piers in the Carquinez Strait, Suisun Bay and the West Delta —Eckley Pier — Action is centered on small striped bass and a few sharks and rays. One lucky angler did nab a 60-inch sturgeon. Martinez Pier — Tina, at the Martinez Marina Bait and Tackle shop, says the pier is yielding striped bass, more striped bass, and even more striped bass on a variety of baits—pile worms, anchovies, etc. The action on sturgeon has slowed although a small green sturgeon was taken on 9/2. Benicia Ninth Street Pier — Pam at the Benicia Bait & Tackle says most of the action has been on small stripers (although a few keepers have been taken). Nothing much else although a huge bat ray was hooked a couple of weeks ago that fought the angler for nearly an hour. The fish was finally landed and then released. Anglers are casting for salmon but so far it’s still slow.  City of Benicia Fishing Pier — Pam says the story is the same at this pier, it’s mainly striped bass. She says to fish the incoming tide as the outgoing tide can be brutal on tackle. Some salmon are being taken from the jetty adjacent to the pier. She’s recorded about 6-10 salmon up to 10 pounds although she’s heard reports of 17-20 pound salmon. The low tides have resulted in muddy water and somewhat slowed fishing. Pittsburg Pier — Lots of small stripers but not too much else (although some decent catfish action is reported at night). Antioch Pier — Like most of the local piers, it is seeing tons of small stripers but again not too many keepers. Antioch Marina Pier — Some striped bass (mostly too small), some catfish, and an occasional sturgeon hookup. Do take extra tackle with you to that pier since the bottom will grab some of your rigs. Antioch Bridge Pier — David, at Gotcha! Bait & Tackle, says the small stripers are at the pier in force. Unfortunately that’s about all. A few keeper size bass have been weighed but most have been under 5 pounds in weight. Some black bass have also been landed inshore; one weighed 3 3/4 pounds. Rio Vista Pier — the usual hoard of summertime juvenile striped bass. Better stick to the catfishing at night (and clean up after yourself).

North Bay Piers — Point Pinole Pier —  Kingfish, a few striped bass, and some sharks and rays make up the action. Vallejo Pier — Luis, at Norm’s Bait and Tackle, reports that it’s mostly small, illegal stripers being taken at the pier. An occasional keeper fish shows up but not too many. Sturgeon have been absent. McNear Beach Fishing Pier — The action is on kingfish, decent shark and bat ray fishing, and an occasional striped bass of which a few are keeper size. The halibut action has slowed. Paradise Park Pier —It’s much the same as McNear. Mainly it’s kingfish, stripers, sharks and rays. A small“Mud Marlin Derby” produced quite a few bat rays including the winning 35-pound fish. Elephant Rock Pier — The usual summertime variety: perch and rockfish on the bottom around the pier; jacksmelt in waters around the pier; a few stripers fishing close to shore; sharks and big rays when fishing on the bottom in deeper water. Fort Baker Pier— Jacksmelt and perch with the usual crabbers filling buckets. A few lonely souls are trying for stripers and salmon but action is slow to date. Sharks and rays are available at night

Northern California Piers

Bodega Bay/Tomales Bay — It’s summertime so that means decent action for sharks and rays from local piers. Miller Park Pier —Bat rays are the main offering. Lucas Wharf and Tides Wharf — Big bat rays and an occasional leopard shark. Spud Point Marina Pier— Jacksmelt continue to be the main species here while flurries do show at both Tides and Lucas Wharf.  Some schoolie perch are also showing—walleyes and silvers—but you have to get through the shiners to get the bigger perch. Lawson’s Landing Pier — The pier is kicking out a few perch and smelt but you have to fight for space and avoid the boats. Point Arena Pier — When the winds cooperate there is still some decent action on striped seaperch, kelp greenling, grass rockfish, a few cabezon, and lingcod. Smelt are also making an occasional appearance.

Humboldt Bay/Eureka — Del Norte Street Fishing Pier — Greg, at Bucksport Tackle, reports that some perch are showing up (piling, walleyes and redtail) together with some sharks and rays at night. Apparently a few salmon have also been hooked off the pier but shore anglers fishing from the Humboldt Bay jetty have a much better chance at the kings. Downtown piers are seeing good action on jacksmelt as well as walleye surfperch and small rockfish (mainly brown rockfish). Trinidad Pier — Michelle, at Bob’s Boat Basin (at the foot of the pier), says things are really slow off the pier. People are fishing the pier but not catching much EXCEPT a couple of sea gulls. One monkeyface eel was reported by an angler fishing the shallow-water end of the wharf. Crescent City — Both the Citizens Dock and the B Street Pier are seeing occasional flurries of jacksmelt along with the regular perch and small flatfish (mainly sand sole) action. Most of the action at the B Street Pier is from crabbers. Citizens Dock also sees some small rockfish in the inshore area together with a few cabezon, greenling, and an occasional sole.

Pier Fishing In California, Second Edition, by Ken Jones, was published in June of 2004. Covering every aspect of pier fishing in California’s waters, from the history of the piers, to tackle, techniques, fish identification, and both how to clean and cook the fish, the 516-page book has quickly become the “Bible” for many fishermen. It can be purchased at book stores, many tackle stores, and directly through the pierfishing.com web site.