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

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

**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):**
- **Corte Madera Creek / Marin estuary** – shallow flats and creek mouths draw cruising leopards. This area is commonly featured in Bay Area shark clips (great for a first session). See a recent example here: [Leopard Shark Fishing SF Bay – Corte Madera Creek Marin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7835i8R33g).
- ** Hunters Point Bank (SF proper)** – the harbor channels on the city side see steady leopard traffic; good for a mid-summer drift with a light tackle setup. Example video: [San Francisco Bay Shark Fishing | Hunters Point | Bank Fishing For Leopard Sharks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETJ0q8BF6TY).
- **Bay Area piers and shoreline cuts** – many bite windows open along downtown SF piers when water is clean and current is moderate. A solid reference: [EPIC Bay Area Pier Fishing Adventure – Catching a Leopard Shark!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqnhiI1EgJw).
- **Marin coastline & nearby cuts** – other Marin bays and inlets consistently produce action when bait schools ride the flood tide.

**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):
  - [**PENN 6'6" Squall II** Combo](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096L54JVR?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
  - [**PENN 8' Battle IV** Spinning Combo](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D156BNH9?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
  - [**PENN Rival 6'6"** Level Wind Combo](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IDEN402?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)

**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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