Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at San Pablo Bay
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing San Pablo Bay: what the data says
65,494-acre bay near Vallejo. The water tops out around 79 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. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Striped Bass fishing at San Pablo Bay
Start shallow in spring: striped bass sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. They move out to 25 to 60 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 50 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 20 ft, rated prime for fall striped bass. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. 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 | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
California Halibut fishing at San Pablo Bay
Start shallow in spring: california halibut sit in 5 to 30 ft that time of year. They move out to 8 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow feeding flat: a feeding flat around 20 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A paddletail dragged on sand or a bucktail + strip covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 30 ft | midday & dawn | Swimbait on 1/2-1 oz head (drifted), Hair raiser jig |
| Summer | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Paddletail dragged on sand, Bucktail + strip |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | midday | Heavier jig + swimbait (channels), Drifted bucktail |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | midday | Slow-dragged swimbait in deep channels |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 75 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 24 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 24 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 20 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 20 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 20 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 16 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 10 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 6 ft
- Marina / dock area: dock line, around 3 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 3 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 3 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is San Pablo Bay?
San Pablo Bay is about 79 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 San Pablo Bay?
Anglers target striped bass, california halibut on San Pablo Bay.
Where is the best fishing spot 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. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish San Pablo Bay?
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.
Nearby waters
Richardson Bay · Suisun Bay · Big Break · Franks Tract · Lake Del Valle · Bethany Reservoir
See how San Pablo 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.