SPRING TIME STRIPERS

LCO Ambassador Jonny Ng chases stripers in and around the Bay

By Lost Coast Outfitters

May 8^th, 2024

Have you been fishing lately? If the answer is “No” and you live in the Bay Area, did you know that you’re a mere 20-minute drive from plenty of easy-to-access spots where you can catch anything from a 28-inch striped bass to an elusive 40-inch white seabass?

One of the most rewarding things about living in the San Francisco Bay Area is discovering that epic honey hole that happens to be in your backyard. Simply put, if the itch to fish hits you, it’s not hard to bust out a quick 30 to 60-minute session: easier and more rewarding than hitting the gym.

Since the beginning of April, I’ve had a little more personal time to catch up on fishing. Though I can easily get anywhere in NorCal by car, I’ve chosen to figure out my local spots, getting to know the tides from land and by boat. Many days when the water clarity is good, I’ve seen schools of fish busting on top, birds diving, multiple fish chasing my fish, and an extremely large halibut cruising the shoreline. It has been quite the National Geographic-like experience!

If you live locally, I encourage you to get acquainted with your backyard home water and talk to the local community. A ”quick fix” is not far away!

But before you head out, here's a little advice from a guy who’s been hitting it pretty hard lately. My goto setup for stripers, whether from shore or from the boat, is a fast action 7wt. I’m currently throwing a 7wt Sage X, but a 7wt Sage SALT R8 will definitely do the trick. For line, I typically use an intermediate or sink 3 fly line for Striper. depending on current and depth. I use these lines from the shore, which also worked great this past weekend from the boat. When it comes to flies, you can’t go wrong with an Adachi Clouser. Grab a bunch of them in a variety of sizes and colors.

As for locations, everyone knows about Crissy Field, but a good idea is to fire up Google Earth, look for fishy spots, and go check them out during different tides. I’m not gonna make it that easy for you!

Speaking of tides, we recommend the Nautide app. You can save locations that you tend to frequent and it’s a great way to really figure out when a particular spot is good. We also suggest a good wind predictor. We like Windy.