Halibut and yellowtail talk anchors a calm Bay fall window

What's biting

What's next

Tide is the driver this week. The Bay station at 9418767 shows the next high at 10:13 UTC, which is 3:13 AM Pacific, and the next low at 15:05 UTC, about 8:05 AM Pacific. The second station, 9416841, lists a high at 09:41 UTC (2:41 AM Pacific) and a low at 14:16 UTC (7:16 AM Pacific).

That puts the morning low right around sunrise. Fish that hold near channel edges and structure often feed as current slows and then turns, so the hours after that low are worth planning around. Check tide tables before you go, since times shift roughly an hour each day.

With a waxing crescent moon, nights are darker early and the moon sets in the evening, which favors a pre-dawn start. Expect water temperature to hold in the mid-50s over the next few days unless a strong wind event stirs up cooler water. Watch for halibut on sandy transitions near the Bay, typically fished with slow-drifted baits, and check state regulations on size and season before keeping any fish.

Context

Mid-October is typically a settled period for the Bay and Bodega coast, often with lighter winds than summer and clearer water. Summer upwelling has usually faded by now, so water temperature tends to sit steadier than it did a few months ago. Halibut are commonly still available in the shallower parts of the bay through fall, and the Western Outdoor News — Saltwater yellowtail coverage out of San Diego reflects the warm-water edge of the same season further south. Northern California anglers usually see the pattern shift toward winter species as the water cools through November.