BY KEN JONES
Special to Western Outdoor News
Northern California Pier Report
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, rubberlip, and sharpnosed 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 — 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 — Ed, at The Capitola Wharf bait shop, says some big rubberlip perch are hanging around the pilings but they don’t seem to want to bite while baitfish—sardines, anchovies, and jack mackerel—are hanging out just away from the pier. A 14-pound halibut was taken together with a number of dogfish, guitarfish, and several rays and skates. One of the skates was a large longnose skate while another sounded like a California skate. A 12 and a 15-pound striped bass were also reported from the pier and more have been seen. Santa Cruz Wharf — Noelle, at the Santa Cruz Boat Rentals reports that most anglers are getting baitfish—anchovies and sardines—along with kingfish, small rockfish and perch; all on the bottom. A couple of keeper-size halibut were also landed together with a few bat rays. 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 Pacifica Pier is seeing some salmon each day (but nothing like the banner years). One weekend looked promising but the baitfish moved offshore and the salmon followed along. Mostly it’s kingfish, small perch, lots of bait (anchovies and sardines) and a few good-sized striped bass. The bass are inshore while the salmon can be found mid-pier to the end.
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. With the lifting of the perch closure anglers are now targeting perch at the pier. 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 god numbers of jacksmelt along with a few striped bass, halibut and leopard sharks. 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 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 the first week of 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. 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 as the water gets saltier a few sharks and jacksmelt should make an appearance. 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. At both piers anglers are starting to cast out spinners for salmon but results to date are still slow. 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 — Edgar, 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. An unusual (for the area) black perch was caught mid-month. Smelt are also making an occasional appearance.
