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Pier Fishing & Crabbing in San Francisco Bay Area
California Fishing
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Mar 26, 2023 19:16:25   #
Milanda Loc: San Francisco, California
 
I would love to get the inside track on where to fish and drop my crab nets in the San Francisco Bay Area. The weather is improving and I need get out and start catching me dinner. Time to drop a line.

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Mar 26, 2023 20:02:12   #
Still above water Loc: San Francisco ca
 
Milanda wrote:
I would love to get the inside track on where to fish and drop my crab nets in the San Francisco Bay Area. The weather is improving and I need get out and start catching me dinner. Time to drop a line.


Are u fishing from a boat, pier, or shoreline?

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Mar 26, 2023 20:07:45   #
Milanda Loc: San Francisco, California
 
Still above water wrote:
Are u fishing from a boat, pier, or shoreline?


I am always fishing from a municipal pier.

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Mar 26, 2023 20:27:29   #
Still above water Loc: San Francisco ca
 
I would try the pubic pier at Fort Point. Can be good for crabbing ( not allowed to keep Dungeness crabs inside the bay) Use small jigs for perch along the pier pilings. Can be a good spot for halibut this time of the year. Also the east side of treasure island has good shore access, no pier. Can also be a good choice for halibut, especially night fishing.China Camp in Marin is another option. There are also public piers in the east bay, Pittsburgh and Antioch.

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Mar 26, 2023 20:52:54   #
Milanda Loc: San Francisco, California
 
This information is golden. You definitely know the area of where I speak. I need to hustle over to Fort Point pier. Any advice on bait? What do the Halibut like? I keep using shrimp. I use old chicken for me crab net. I have never been great at using lures or little plastic thing of a joggers.

Golden
Golden

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Mar 26, 2023 21:02:06   #
Still above water Loc: San Francisco ca
 
Milanda wrote:
This information is golden. You definitely know the area of where I speak. I need to hustle over to Fort Point pier. Any advice on bait? What do the Halibut like? I keep using shrimp. I use old chicken for me crab net. I have never been great at using lures or little plastic thing of a joggers.

Golden
Golden

For the halibut use frozen anchovies with a three way swivel rig. Adjust your weight in relation to the tide. Keep your weight on the bottom.The area has a nice sandy bottom that halibut love. I don’t do much crabbing so can’t help u there. Any questions, feel free to ask. This is what this site is all about!👍

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Mar 26, 2023 21:26:05   #
Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio
 
Milanda wrote:
I would love to get the inside track on where to fish and drop my crab nets in the San Francisco Bay Area. The weather is improving and I need get out and start catching me dinner. Time to drop a line.


Welcome to the stage Milanda. Sorry I can't help you others maybe along. Good luck and share your pics girl. You might PM saw1 he fishes out there I believe

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Mar 27, 2023 12:45:09   #
bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington
 
Best crab bait I have found is fresh fish carcasses. As for chicken, I have had far better luck with fresh or frozen still eatable chicken legs. I have far far better luck with the dark meat of chicken. It must be oily or something. Back to fresh fish carcasses. There are lots of bullheads (staghorn sculpin) in the bay. They make outstanding bait. Just half fillet each side, opening the stomach cavity. You can freeze them as well and open the stomach when you bait the traps. You will be amazed at how many crabs you catch with the gut cut sculpins when others are getting skunked.

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Mar 27, 2023 12:55:41   #
bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington
 
bapabear wrote:
Best crab bait I have found is fresh fish carcasses. As for chicken, I have had far better luck with fresh or frozen still eatable chicken legs. I have far far better luck with the dark meat of chicken. It must be oily or something. Back to fresh fish carcasses. There are lots of bullheads (staghorn sculpin) in the bay. They make outstanding bait. Just half fillet each side, opening the stomach cavity. You can freeze them as well and open the stomach when you bait the traps. You will be amazed at how many crabs you catch with the gut cut sculpins when others are getting skunked.
Best crab bait I have found is fresh fish carcasse... (show quote)


I forgot to mention, the sculpin can be caught in almost any saltwater backwater, or shallow bay, often in just a few feet of water. I use gulp alive 2 inch sand worms for bait. five inch or larger sculpins work just fine for crab bait. Just be sure to half fillet them. Most fish will work, but I have had no luck with dogfish sharks and Irish lords.

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Mar 27, 2023 13:54:53   #
Milanda Loc: San Francisco, California
 
Dear Papa Bear,

You are the crab king! To be honest I have not seen a bullhead fish in decades. We used to catch them and use as bait. Very sticky. They have a funny face tho.

Now with all this great advice on crab bait you are making me want to go drop a net right now. I like Pacifica Pier but I have been known to get my net stuck on the cement pier legs. I might head over to Fort Point to try my luck. Of course with frozen fish that has been in my freezer way too long. I might try to throw a little sauce on it to get their attention.

Thank you,

Milanda
Bullish in San Francisco

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Mar 27, 2023 14:40:31   #
4tfive7t Loc: Pittsburg Ca
 
And just around the corner from Fort Point ocean side is Baker Beach no place for dropping hoops or nets. But you have a chance of snaring a couple of keeper Dungeness crabs with a serf rod & snare

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Mar 27, 2023 14:50:52   #
Milanda Loc: San Francisco, California
 
Dear 4tfive7t,

I have never fished from the beach. Do I need a fishing license? I have a snare for my rod.

Thank you,

Milanda

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Mar 27, 2023 16:20:23   #
Still above water Loc: San Francisco ca
 
Milanda wrote:
Dear 4tfive7t,

I have never fished from the beach. Do I need a fishing license? I have a snare for my rod.

Thank you,

Milanda


Yes unless you are fishing from an authorized pubic pier you will need to have a fishing license in California. And please remember that you are not allowed to keep any Dungeness crabs that are caught inside the bay, like from the pier at Fort Point. Major fine! As far as bullheads go, you are right. Haven’t seen them in the bay for years!

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Mar 27, 2023 19:35:25   #
Djsowards Loc: Roseburg OR
 
Hi Miranda…up here in Oregon the crabs really go for turkey drumsticks. They are easy to zip tie to your trap. P.s. You will get WAY more crabs using traps (than snares).

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Mar 28, 2023 00:29:16   #
The Human Limp Loc: French Gulch ca
 
I've always had good luck on the Pacifica pier. Just watch the tide so you don't hang up on the pilings

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