Fall Fishing Equinox: Bay Area Striper Run Meets Crab Season

The Fall Fishing Equinox is upon us! The weather is still warm(ish), the stripers are running, and crabbing season is here. The Fall run will soon come to an end, and crabbing season is best at the beginning, so the time to act is now. But don’t worry - we’re here and we’ve got you covered.

This is big news… the first stockings of the season are here!!!

The striped bass run is well underway, and man are these fish fun to catch. This time of year is always a bummer to me though because I know the striper surf fishing is declining. Some stripers are being recorded in Pacifica still, and that number is going to continue declining. That being said, I’ve been scoring some absolute hogs in the Bay itself. That’s the place to be right now.

Right now, the stripers have for the most part begun their journey towards the delta. You'll find many in sloughs, rivers, inlets, and any coves with sandy shores. They’ll be feeding more on baitfish and less on sand crabs since they are less plentiful within the Bay itself. Live bait, soft plastics, and jerkbaits are going to be your best friend.

I’ve been having success on the North shore of San Francisco, mainly in that area stretching from Fort Point towards Fort Mason. The North Bay will also be on fire this time of year. If you look into it there will be some notable hot spots in the waters from the Richmond Bridge Area to the Petaluma River. Not to mention the gateway to the delta, which is going to be absolutely slammed.

To the South, the biotech offices around Sierra and Oyster Point seem to be producing alright.

*Always check conditions before going out there, this data may no longer be up to date so please be safe

While the commercial crabbing season has been delayed, it seems that the recreational season is still in play. On the November 1st opening day, we have the opportunity to finally catch some delicious Dungeness Crab. I don’t know about you, but I’m stoked to get a break from Rock Crab…

Luckily, you don’t need very much to get started crabbing. The first thing you need is some quality gear. The most common way is to use a crab trap AKA a crab pot. A crab pot is a big circular trap you can throw off a pier. You put your bait in a bait holder or zip tie it to the trap, toss it in the water for 5-15 minutes, and haul it back up (hopefully) filled with delicious crabs.

A second way, and my preferred method, is to use a crab snare. A crab snare is a small cage with loops attached. The idea is you tie the snare onto a heavy fishing rod combo, fill the cage with bait, and cast it out into a sandy area. When the crabs descend on the snare you reel in, closing the loops and effectively trapping the crabs. You’ll need some weights to attach to the snare to make sure it stays in one place too.

I’ve put together an Amazon list here to help you get started:

*We use affiliate links to quality gear to keep Hooked West going - we wouldn’t recommend anything that we wouldn’t use ourselves?

You have a lot of options when choosing bait for crabbing. The best would be some sort of oily fish, like mackerel, sardines, or herring. Remember, it’s all about the smell and attracting the crabs. That’s why I’m going to throw squid in as a good bait option too.

Another cost effective alternative is chicken! The meatiest, smelliest parts you can get are going to be your best friend. I’ve also heard good things about clams, but as I haven’t tried myself I’m going to leave that up to you.

Remember - DON’T KEEP DUNGENESS CRAB FROM WITHIN THE BAY. It carries a massive fine, it’s not worth it and the Bay is their breeding ground.

If you want to throw crab pots, you’ll be restricted to piers and jetties. If you ask any local where in the Bay Area to throw crab pots, they’ll likely point you towards Pacifica Pier. Be warned, everyone and their mother will be crabbing their for most of November. You could also try the jetties in Half Moon and Bodega Bay. But be careful, know the conditions, and try not to lose your pots on the rocks.

If you are using snares, you’ve opened yourself up to a plethora of opportunities. Casting off piers and jetties is still possible, and you can get farther out than anyone else. But the real game changer is being able to cast right from the beach. I obviously haven’t been this year, but a case can be made for the beaches by Daly City around this time of year.

*Always check conditions before going out there, this data may no longer be up to date so please be safe

Thanks for reading our FIRST EVER edition of the Bay Area Fishing Newsletter by Hooked West. We’re stoked to be putting this together, and we hope we’re providing some valuable info. Please please don’t hesitate to give us some guidance here, we’re looking for feedback right now!

Good luck out there 😎