Fishing & Crabbing

During the last week of June through the first week of August, Pacifica’s inshore waters offer some of the best fishing in the United States. The rocky coast, with its small bays, is renowned for its salmon. In July 1995, a remarkable salmon run saw 300 salmon caught within hours, 600 the next day, and over 1,000 the following day, attracting many anglers to the 1,140-foot Pacifica Pier. While salmon are less abundant now, striped bass, kingfish, sharks, perch, and occasionally sturgeon, barracuda, and bonito can still be caught.

Pacifica Pier is the only pier in the Bay Area where fishing and crabbing are free. Crabbing season runs from November through July, with abundant Dungeness Crab in the winter. Perch can be caught at Linda Mar Beach in the spring, rockfish at Pedro Point in the fall, and striped bass from any Pacifica beach in the summer. Although there are no public boat ramps, some launch small boats through the surf at Linda Mar Beach with caution.