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65,494-acre bay near Vallejo. The water tops out around 79 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. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
On the chart, San Pablo Bay draws 65,318 acres inside 48.6 miles of shoreline. At index 1.4 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. 83% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 12.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 11.9 mi at the beam. For a second option, Petaluma River lies 11 mi northwest.
When the water first warms, striped bass slide up into 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 25 to 60 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 50 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 20 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (24 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Old creek channel (24 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Spring puts california halibut in skinny water — 5 to 30 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 40 ft, wintering in 15 to 60 ft. Spring california halibut concentrate at Shallow feeding flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 20 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A paddletail dragged on sand or a bucktail + strip covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 30 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (20 ft) | Swimbait on 1/2-1 oz head (drifted), Hair raiser jig |
| Summer | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Shallow feeding flat (20 ft) | Paddletail dragged on sand, Bucktail + strip |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | midday | Break off the point (24 ft) | Heavier jig + swimbait (channels), Drifted bucktail |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | midday | Break off the point (24 ft) | Slow-dragged swimbait in deep channels |
Structure-wise the chart holds 19 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 75 ft.
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 San Pablo Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
San Pablo Bay is about 79 ft (24 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 striped bass, california halibut on San Pablo Bay.
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on San Pablo 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.
Petaluma River 11 mi · Napa River 13 mi · Richardson Bay 13 mi · Suisun Bay 22 mi · Big Break 37 mi · Lake Berryessa 39 mi · Franks Tract 42 mi · Bethany Reservoir 46 mi · Clifton Court Forebay 47 mi · Lake Del Valle 48 mi · American River (Lower) 67 mi · Clear Lake 71 mi
See how San Pablo Bay stacks up: best striped bass lakes in California · best california halibut lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps or 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.