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RockfishRetention openBar · California
Sandpiper Spit
37.91°N · 122.38°W · Bar · San Pablo Bay, Suisun Bay, the West Delta and the San Francisco Bay north of the Bay Bridge
Species here · tap to switch
Best score today · 8 PM · Rockfish
- Now
- 5912 PM PDT
- Best window
- 7-10 PMFlood tide
- Tide now
- Ebbing4.9 ft ▼
Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine
Notify me when Sandpiper Spit scores 75+
Checked every morning against the 14-day forecast. Free by push and email.
14-day forecast
Best days to fish
24-hour conditions · rolling from now
Conditions · 12 PM · now
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS
62Tide: EbbingCurrent: SlackWind & pressure
ECMWF
89Wind: 2 kt NEPressure: SteadyWater temp & sky
NDBC + Open-Meteo Marine
55Water temp: 64°F, hotLight: Partly cloudySolunar: Near a majorSeas: 1.6 ftSeason & habitat · Rockfish
Species seasonality
83Season: PeakHabitat: Usable structureDepth: In rangeRegulations: Retention open
Current regulations
What you can keep here today
San Francisco Groundfish Management Area
Rockfish
Retention open- Daily limit
- 10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined)
- Possession
- Not published
- Size
- No minimum size limit.
- Season
- Apr 1 to Dec 31, 2026
- Annual quota
- Not published
- Other
- Shore-based anglers and spear divers are exempt from groundfish seasons and depth limits. All groundfish fishing is prohibited at Cordell Bank. Within the 10-fish RCG limit: no more than 1 copper rockfish, 2 canary rockfish, and 2 vermilion/sunset rockfish. RCG complex: all rockfish, cabezon, and kelp and rock greenlings combined. A descending device must be aboard when fishing from a boat. Yelloweye, cowcod, bronzespotted and quillback rockfish may not be kept.
From CDFW Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations (updated June 23, 2026), read Sep 13
Other species here
- Albacore tuna Retention open (25 per day)
- Barred sand bass Retention open (4 per day (5 kelp bass, barred sand bass and spotted sand bass combined))
- Cabezon Retention open (10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined))
- California halibut Retention open (2 per day)
- Chinook salmon Retention open (2 per day (2 salmon combined))
- Coho salmon Closed (No retention)
- Kelp bass Retention open (5 per day (5 kelp bass, barred sand bass and spotted sand bass combined))
- Kelp greenling Retention open (10 per day (10 rockfish, cabezon and greenlings combined))
- Leopard shark Retention open (3 per day)
- Lingcod Retention open (2 per day)
- Mahi-mahi Retention open (10 per day)
- Pacific bluefin tuna Retention open (2 per day)
- Pacific halibut Retention open (1 per day)
- Sablefish Retention open (10 per day)
- Striped bass Retention open (2 per day)
- Surfperch Retention open (20 per day)
- White seabass Retention open (3 per day)
- Yellowfin tuna Retention open (10 per day)
- Yellowtail Retention open (10 per day)
Source: CDFW · synced today
Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed
When Rockfish is best here
Peak season for Rockfish · 1 more week at peak
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- This week
Spot profile
Sandpiper Spit
- Depth
- 2-30 ftNearest water
- Structure
- Bar · Inner · Semi-exposedBar · slope
- Season
- Peak seasonRockfish
NOAA NCEI DEM, sampled Sep 14 on a 3.4 m grid. Depths are feet below NAVD 88, not chart datum (MLLW), so they can differ from a chart by a few feet. Not for navigation.
About this spot
Fishing Sandpiper Spit
Sandpiper Spit is a bar in San Pablo Bay, Suisun Bay, the West Delta and the San Francisco Bay north of the Bay Bridge, California. Depth in the nearest water is 2-30 ft, with a slope. Its profile reads bar, inner water and semi-exposed.
Waterlands scores 11 species here; the best right now are cabezon, California halibut and surfperch. It is peak season now for cabezon, surfperch, striped bass and rockfish, and shoulder season for California halibut, kelp greenling, Pacific halibut and Chinook salmon. Cabezon peak from May through September. California halibut peak from May through August. Surfperch peak in May and from July through September.
Tackle & technique
- Rockfish
- Rockfish live on rocky reefs, pinnacles and kelp from the shoreline out past 300 feet, with black and blue rockfish schooling mid-water over shallow reefs and copper, quillback, yelloweye and vermilion sitting tight to deeper bottom. Drift over the structure with a shrimp fly above a lead-head grub or metal jig, or a squid strip, and reel up a few cranks after touching bottom to cut snags. Use a descending device to release any fish brought up from deep water.
- Cabezon
- Cabezon sit in rock crevices, kelp beds and jetty boulders from the intertidal zone to about 100 feet and feed mostly on crabs and small fish. Fish a fish-finder rig with sand shrimp, squid or crab right on the bottom in the rocks, or drag a lead-head grub slowly through the kelp. Expect snags, and do not eat the roe, which is toxic.
- California halibut
- California halibut are ambush feeders that lie on sand or mud bottom, mostly in water shallower than 100 feet and often inside bays, harbors and estuaries. Drift or slow-troll a live anchovy or sardine on a sliding sinker rig, or bounce a swimbait along the bottom over flats, channel edges and sandy areas near structure. Keep the bait within a foot or two of the bottom and give a fish time to turn the bait before setting the hook.
Nearby spots
Other spots within an easy run
- Brickyard Cove66
Bay · 0.5 mi
Top: SurfperchPeak season- Surfperch 66
- California halibut 64
- Cabezon 62
2 kt NEL 4:44 PM · 2.3 ftH 10:28 PM · 5.8 ft
- Point Potrero65
Cape · 0.7 mi
Top: CabezonPeak season- Cabezon 65
- Striped bass 62
- Surfperch 62
3 kt NNWL 4:36 PM · 2.1 ftH 10:17 PM · 5.7 ft
- Point Potrero Reach63
Channel · 0.2 mi
Top: California halibutShoulder season- California halibut 63
- Surfperch 61
- Striped bass 59
2 kt NEL 4:36 PM · 2.1 ftH 10:17 PM · 5.7 ft
- Harbor Channel63
Channel · 0.9 mi
Top: California halibutShoulder season- California halibut 63
- Surfperch 61
- Pacific halibut 59
3 kt NNWL 4:36 PM · 2.1 ftH 10:17 PM · 5.7 ft
Scores and forecasts are for planning only and can be wrong. Conditions on the water change fast; check the marine forecast before you go. Regulations change during the season, so confirm limits and closures with CDFW before you keep a fish.