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Fishing Richardson Bay: what the data says
2,156-acre bay near Sausalito. The water tops out around 27 ft. The depth chart is built from real NOAA hydrographic survey soundings (depths referenced to low tide), so the channels, holes and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
California Halibut fishing at Richardson Bay
Start shallow in spring: california halibut sit in 5 to 27 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 5 to 27 ft, and winter fish hold in 7 to 27 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow feeding flat: a feeding flat around 14 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Tie on a paddletail dragged on sand or a bucktail + strip and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 27 ft | midday & dawn | Swimbait on 1/2-1 oz head (drifted), Hair raiser jig |
| Summer | 5 to 27 ft | dawn | Paddletail dragged on sand, Bucktail + strip |
| Fall | 5 to 27 ft | midday | Heavier jig + swimbait (channels), Drifted bucktail |
| Winter | 7 to 27 ft | midday | Slow-dragged swimbait in deep channels |
Striped Bass fishing at Richardson Bay
Spring striped bass on Richardson Bay hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 27 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 27 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 21 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a flutter spoon (deep) or a umbrella rig (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 8 to 27 ft | dawn & dusk | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 27 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 8 to 27 ft | midday | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 21 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 14 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 5 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 3 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 3 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
- Marina / dock area: dock line, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Richardson Bay?
Richardson Bay is about 27 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real NOAA hydrographic surveys (charted soundings referenced to low tide), so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Richardson Bay?
Anglers target striped bass, california halibut on Richardson Bay.
Where is the best fishing spot on Richardson Bay?
Shallow feeding flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for california halibut in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Richardson Bay?
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.
Nearby waters
San Pablo Bay · Suisun Bay · Big Break · Lake Del Valle · Bethany Reservoir · Franks Tract
See how Richardson Bay stacks up: best striped bass lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.