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2,156-acre bay near Sausalito. The water tops out around 27 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetric surveys, so measured depths remain distinct from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Traced from the shoreline, Richardson Bay runs 2,151 acres with 12.4 miles of edge. Index 1.9 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Tip to tip the water measures near 3.8 mi with a 1.8-mi widest point. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Bolinas Bay, 10 mi west of here.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: california halibut in 5 to 27 ft. The depth story barely changes: 5 to 27 ft through summer, 7 to 27 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Shallow feeding flat, a feeding flat in the 13 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a paddletail dragged on sand or a bucktail + strip gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 27 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (13 ft) | Swimbait on 1/2-1 oz head (drifted), Hair raiser jig |
| Summer | 5 to 27 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Shallow feeding flat (13 ft) | Paddletail dragged on sand, Bucktail + strip |
| Fall | 5 to 27 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 50 ft | midday | Break off the point (5 ft) | Heavier jig + swimbait (channels), Drifted bucktail |
| Winter | 7 to 27 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | midday | Deep basin (24 ft) | Slow-dragged swimbait in deep channels |
Spring striped bass on Richardson Bay hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 27 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 27 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 24 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (5 ft) | 3-5 inch baitfish swimbait, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 8 to 27 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (24 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 8 to 27 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (24 ft) | Baitfish swimbait, Metal jig |
| Winter | 8 to 27 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | midday | Deep basin (24 ft) | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
Start shallow in spring: jacksmelt sit in 2 to 20 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 4 to 27 ft. Top water on the chart: Dock / pier line, a dock line in the 9 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a micro jig or a small spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Dock / pier line (2 ft) | Sabiki-style small-flash rig, Tiny metal jig |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Dock / pier line (9 ft) | Micro jig, Small spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 27 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 30 ft | dawn | Dock / pier line (9 ft) | Tiny metal jig, Small-flash rig |
| Winter | 4 to 27 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | midday | Dock / pier line (9 ft) | Micro jig worked deeper, Small-flash rig |
Early season leopard shark use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 25 ft; winter keeps them in 5 to 27 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow feeding flat — feeding flat, 13 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a scented bottom jig and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dusk | Shallow feeding flat (13 ft) | Scented shrimp jig crawled on bottom |
| Summer | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (13 ft) | Scented bottom jig |
| Fall | 3 to 27 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (13 ft) | Scented shrimp or baitfish jig |
| Winter | 5 to 27 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 45 ft | midday | Deep basin (24 ft) | Slow scented bottom jig |
The chart marks 18 structure features on Richardson Bay; the deepest is Deep basin at about 24 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for California waters are set by the California DFW (ocean sport fishing) — and special regulations can apply to Richardson Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
Richardson Bay is about 27 ft (8 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetric surveys, so measured depths remain distinct from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target california halibut, striped bass, jacksmelt, leopard shark on Richardson Bay.
Shallow feeding flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for california halibut in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For california halibut, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Richardson Bay is regulated by the California DFW (ocean sport fishing). Check the official California regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Bolinas Bay 10 mi · San Pablo Bay 13 mi · Petaluma River 19 mi · Drakes Bay 23 mi · Napa River 26 mi · Half Moon Bay 28 mi · Tomales Bay 30 mi · Suisun Bay 30 mi · Bodega Bay 39 mi · Big Break 44 mi · Lake Del Valle 46 mi · Bethany Reservoir 48 mi
See how Richardson Bay stacks up: best striped bass lakes in California · best california halibut lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.