Torpedo Wharf
Crissy Field, San Francisco — inside the Gate on the city side.
When: Last two hours of the flood into high slack; a dawn flood is the A-plus combo. The ebb rips too hard to hold bottom.
How: Sliding-sinker anchovy off the end for halibut while the flood runs; throw swimbaits along the west riprap at first light for stripers. Jacksmelt on sabikis all day.
Free public pier, no license needed. Parking at Crissy Field East Beach.
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What to target at Torpedo Wharf
Peak targets first. Open each fish for the spots, technique, and the exact rod-reel-rig setup to bring.
California halibutPeak
Best time: Mid-flood through high slack, mid-morning — drift while the current runs; the bite gets soft right at slack.
Where: Central bay flats — Berkeley flats, Alcatraz, Treasure Island, Paradise Cay. Drift with the current over 15–40 ft of sand.
How: Drift live bait just off the bottom on a sliding-sinker rig, or slow-troll a hoochie/anchovy combo. Softest bite in the bay — feed them a three-count before swinging.
| Rod | 7' medium-light conventional, fast tip (halibut rod) |
| Reel | Small low-profile or round conventional, smooth drag |
| Line | 30–40 lb braid, 3 ft of 20–25 lb fluoro leader |
| Rig | Sliding sinker (6–12 oz) above swivel, size 2 live-bait hook or two-hook trap rig |
| Bait | Live anchovy or shiner perch; frozen 'chovy or 4–5" swimbait when live isn't around |
CDFW size and bag limits apply (currently 22" minimum); check current regs before keeping fish.
Leopard sharkPeak
Best time: Any moving tide; evening into dark is prime, especially a summer flood over warm flats.
Where: Mudflats and channels bay-wide — South Bay sloughs, Candlestick, Berkeley pier area, Crissy Field on the flood.
How: Soak an oily bait on the bottom in a moving tide and let them eat. The most reliable big-fish tug in the bay, great from shore.
| Rod | 8'–10' medium-heavy surf or boat rod |
| Reel | 6000-size spinning or small conventional |
| Line | 40–50 lb braid, 40 lb mono top-shot or leader |
| Rig | Fish-finder/sliding rig, 4–8 oz pyramid weight, 5/0–7/0 circle hook, short wire or 60 lb mono bite leader |
| Bait | Midshipman, mackerel chunks, squid, salmon bellies — the oilier the better |
36" minimum, bag of 3 (verify current CDFW regs).
Striped bassIn season
Best time: Last two hours of the ebb or flood at dawn or dusk — moving water plus low light is the whole formula.
Where: Everywhere current pushes bait — Raccoon Strait, Alameda rockwall, Oyster Point, Brothers/Sisters islands, beach troughs at Ocean Beach in fall.
How: Fish the last two hours of a big ebb or flood. Toss swimbaits and topwater at dawn, or soak cut bait on the bottom. Trolling worm-tail jigs covers water fast.
| Rod | 7'–9' medium-heavy spinning |
| Reel | 4000–5000 spinning reel |
| Line | 30 lb braid, 20 lb mono or fluoro leader |
| Rig | ¾–2 oz jig heads, hard baits, or a fish-finder rig for bait |
| Bait | 6" paddle-tail swimbaits, Pencil Poppers, anchovies, bullheads, pile worms |
18" minimum, 2-fish bag (verify current CDFW regs).
Surfperch & jacksmeltIn season
Best time: Incoming tide in daylight — the two hours before high, in the trough behind the first breaker.
Where: Ocean Beach, Baker Beach, Pacifica surf for barred perch; any bay pier for jacksmelt and walleye perch. The everyday shore option.
How: Light Carolina rig cast into the trough behind the first breaker; for jacksmelt, a sabiki or high-low rig under a float off the pier. Fast, kid-friendly action.
| Rod | 7'–9' light/medium spinning |
| Reel | 2500–4000 spinning reel |
| Line | 10–15 lb braid, 8 lb fluoro leader |
| Rig | Carolina rig with ½–1 oz egg sinker, size 4–6 hooks, or sabiki/high-low rigs |
| Bait | Sand crabs, pile worms, Gulp! sandworms, small strips of squid |
No license needed on public piers; license required on beaches. Standard finfish bag limits.