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Where are the best spots to catch sharks in San Francisco Bay?

Leopard sharks are the Bay Area’s most approachable summer target for anglers who cruise the local waters, and they show up where the bait and current line up with structure. Here are reliable spots and practical tactics to get you on sharks this mid-summer in SF Bay.

Top spots (sanity-tested by local anglers):

Gear and rigging (bass angler friendly):

  • For leopard sharks, you don’t need heavyweight gear, but you do want robustness. Pair a 6'6"–8' medium rod with 20–40 lb line and a 20–30 lb leader. A circle hook workhorse setup helps reduce gut hooks.
  • Bait options include whole or cut mackerel, squid, or live/baitfish—presented on the bottom around channel edges or close to structure. If you’re used to soft plastics for bass, keep a few heavier red/black bucktails handy for a fast drop or jig along sandy bottom edges.
  • Gear suggestions you can shop today (click to view):

Pro tips (specific to mid-summer SF):

  • Weather matters. In San Francisco, mornings are often misty and cool (today the air is around 57–60°F with light mist). Leopards bite best when the shallow bays warm a bit—so target late afternoon to dusk when the sun breaks the marine layer.
  • Tide timing. Look for the last part of the incoming or the early part of the outgoing tide; these edges concentrate bait and offer ambush lanes for sharky cruisers.
  • Presentation. Keep a steady, slow bottom presentation with a modest sinker and a 2–3 ft fluorocarbon leader; subtle, long-drops near structure tend to outproduce quick hits on fast retrieves.

Weather-specific tip (today's context): With a misty morning and light winds, the bite often shifts later in the day as temps rise. If you’re not getting bites by mid-afternoon, switch to a slower drift, dip the bait slightly deeper, and shorten your leader to keep the bait moving naturally with the current.

Weather summary (seasonal): Mid-summer SF Bay commonly sees cool mornings, marine layer, and turning afternoons into mild warmth in the 60s F. Winds stay light to breezy; water remains clearer near the surface around the edges of channels. Leopards patrol sandy edges and creek mouths most reliably on flood tides, especially when bait schools are present along structure.

If you stay flexible with spots and tides, you’ll stay ahead of the sharks’ moves. Tight lines, and may your drifts be plentiful! 🦈🎣

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