Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
If you are interested in fishing in the San Francisco area, you basically have three options: shore or pier fishing, private boat fishing, and charter boat fishing. Any of these three options can bring you success. You just have to decide which you prefer, or if you have the time, you might want to try all three.
Shore or pier fishing is probably the most convenient form of fishing, and San Francisco provides plenty of areas to shore or pier fish. You will need to decide if you want to fresh water fish or salt water fish and plan accordingly. If you are interested in fresh water fishing, you might want to check out the numerous rivers in the area. In the spring, one of the most popular banks to fish from is the banks of the Sacramento River. The San Joaquin River is also a favorite during the spring and fall.
Pier fishing is some of the most popular fishing in and around San Francisco, and you can start at the well-known San Francisco Municipal Pier. The locals refer to this pier as the Muni or Horseshoe Pier. There are numerous varieties of fish that are caught from this pier including striped bass, flounder, sea perch, walleye, halibut, kingfish, herring and even leopard sharks. Many people also do some crabbing here.
Pier 7 is another popular fishermans spot. It is the second longest fishing pier in San Francisco. Make sure you cast a few times close to the concrete pilings, and if you dont have success there, throw close to the rocks that jut out from the bank.
You dont have to limit your fishing to piers, however. You can try your hand at surf fishing from San Francisco beaches or in the San Francisco Bay area in the summer. San Francisco and San Pueblo bays, along with Suisun Bay, are also good places to shore fish especially during the fall migration of striped bass.
If you have access to a private boat, then you have access to many more good fishing areas. Make sure you use common sense and caution, though, especially in the bay areas. You will need to have a large enough boat because seas can become very rough when strong winds occur in these areas. Smaller boats are fine for area rivers, creeks, and sloughs. Check with one of the many bait shops and marinas in the area for maps on where to locate boat ramps.
Many private boat anglers troll for albacore in the San Francisco Bay area. Halibut is another popular type of fish that provide plenty of action in the spring and summer, and one of the best places to catch halibut is outside of the Golden Gate Bridge. Most experienced private boat fishermen suggest fishing according to the tides, not according to the time of day.
Finally, if you want the guidance of an expert angler, then your best bet is to go out on a chartered fishing boat with an experienced captain at the helm. Charter boat captains and crews know when and where to go, and they save you the guesswork, so you are ready to start reeling those fish in as soon as possible. When you go out on a charter boat, you may be fishing for salmon, tuna, stripers, halibut, shark or perch, just to name a few. Along the way, you may actually get to see some whales in action. Whatever your fishing preferences, beautiful San Francisco and its surrounding bays and rivers are sure to please you. You can shore or pier fish, use a private boat, or hire a charter service.
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