You can fish for striped bass in California’s Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, San Francisco and San Pablo bays, and nearby coastal waters. For spring, focus on the Delta and Sacramento River toward Colusa and Princeton; summer and fall generally favor San Francisco Bay and nearby beaches. Access points include Berkeley Fishing Pier, the Berkeley shoreline near Ashby Avenue, Candlestick-area South Bay, and Pacifica Pier. Rules differ by water, so check the exact location before fishing.
Where to fish by season
Striped bass move between bays, rivers, and the Delta, so the best area depends on the time of year. The seasonal pattern is general rather than a guarantee: fish may remain in rivers through summer, and Bay fishing can sometimes be good in spring.
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Spring: Sacramento River and the Delta
As water warms in March, striped bass move upstream from the bays toward freshwater spawning areas. The Sacramento River from Courtland to Colusa is a popular spring bank-fishing stretch. The Delta and Sacramento River farther north toward Colusa and Princeton are also spring options. Near Stockton, the San Joaquin River is a popular choice in spring and fall.
Summer: San Francisco Bay and the coast
By mid-June, most legal-size fish have returned to the bays. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) describes San Francisco Bay fishing as strongest in summer and fall. Shore anglers can also try South San Francisco Bay and beaches in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties.
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Fall: Bay, Suisun Bay, and Delta
Bay fishing can remain productive as fish begin moving toward the Delta, sometimes as early as October. CDFW notes good fishing in Suisun Bay at the start of the migration; bait fishing in the Delta may improve as fish enter the area.
Winter: Bay and Delta, with lower expectations
Fish spread from San Francisco Bay through the Delta, but CDFW says fishing is generally poor in cold water because bass feed less actively. Occasional large catches still occur.
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Shore, pier, boat, or surf: choose your access
CDFW says shore fishing is generally less productive than boat fishing, though it can still be rewarding. These named locations offer different ways to reach the water:
| Access | Places to try | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Bank or river shore | Sacramento River from Courtland to Colusa; San Joaquin River near Stockton | Spring on the Sacramento; spring and fall near Stockton |
| Pier or Bay shoreline | Berkeley Fishing Pier; shoreline near Ashby Avenue in Berkeley; South Bay around Candlestick Park; Pacifica Pier | Shore access without a boat; seasonal action varies |
| Surf | Beaches in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties; Monterey Bay at times | When anchovy schools bring bass within casting range |
| Boat | Raccoon Strait; south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge; submerged rocky reefs in central San Francisco Bay; waters off Alcatraz and Treasure Islands | Especially summer and fall in the Bay |
CDFW describes charter operators in the bays and guides in the Delta and upper Sacramento River. A charter can help inexperienced anglers learn, and rental tackle may be available; reservations are desirable. This is general agency guidance, not an endorsement of a particular operator. Check local access, conditions, and any closures before setting out.
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Check the rules for the exact water
Do not assume the San Francisco Bay District limits apply to every river or Delta reach. CDFW’s district description covers San Francisco and San Pablo bays, their tidal bays, and connected tidal portions of rivers, streams, sloughs, and estuaries between the Golden Gate and Carquinez bridges. A place name alone may not show which regulation area applies.
San Francisco Bay District
CDFW’s summary, reported updated October 1, 2026, lists striped bass as open year-round in the San Francisco Bay District, with a daily bag and possession limit of two fish and a minimum total length of 18 inches. It also prohibits taking striped bass with a sinker weighing more than four pounds or with a power-driven gurdy or winch. In San Francisco and San Pablo bays, anglers may use one fishing line with no more than three separate hooks or lures, except when fishing from a public pier. Boat fishing is restricted to daylight hours, defined in the summary as one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. See CDFW’s San Francisco Bay Region regulations for the current details.
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Delta and inland river reaches
Freshwater rules are separate. The sources cited here do not establish current bag, size, or reach-specific limits for each Delta or Sacramento River location. Check the exact water and date in CDFW’s freshwater regulations and interactive map rather than carrying the Bay District limit over to inland waters.
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License and pier exception
A sport fishing license is generally required to take fish in inland or ocean waters. CDFW provides an exception for qualifying public piers in ocean waters, but that does not waive other applicable regulations. Not every pier, jetty, bank, or shoreline structure qualifies as a public pier. CDFW’s 2026 license page lists a resident license at $64.54 and a nonresident license at $174.14; confirm fees and requirements on the sport fishing license page before buying.
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Match your method to the water
CDFW describes bait fishing and trolling as common approaches. Strong tidal currents are frequent on striped bass grounds, so carrying several sinker weights lets you adjust as current changes.
Bait fishing
In the Delta, CDFW names threadfin shad, sardines, anchovies, bloodworms, and pile worms as common baits. In San Francisco Bay, live-bait drifting with shiner perch or anchovies is popular. In San Pablo and Suisun bays, anglers use sculpins (bullheads) and oriental gobies (mudsuckers), alive or dead.
Trolling and shore casting
Trolling is specialized; CDFW recommends observing the method before trying it. Plugs, jigs, and spoons are among the lures used, often in double combinations. From shore, heavy metal lures can work when anchovies bring bass close enough to cast to; without baitfish near shore, surf action may stop. These are general method notes, not a guarantee of a catch.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhat to expect from California’s striped bass fishery
CDFW’s seasonal descriptions are qualitative guidance, not measured catch probabilities. The agency identifies California’s sport-record striped bass as a 67½-pound fish caught at O’Neill Forebay in Merced County in May 1992. That record is a historical benchmark, not an indication of typical size or likely catch.
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