Moody dawn fog over Half Moon Bay with a small fishing skiff near a channel buoy, salmon trolling rods set, cool blue and green tones

Bite Report — September 2026: Salmon Reopens at Half Moon Bay

Week of September 6, 2026 — last updated September 2026.

Every week I send out a San Francisco fishing report to the Hao2Fish list. Here's the lightly-cleaned web version of the September 6 report for anyone who isn't on it.

Salmon

Season closed August 24th. I went out to Bodega on the 23rd — zero bites, kayakers and boats all skunked. Something changed with the water.

The new season opened September 1st: a 20,000-fish quota, in the zone from the 38°02′ N latitude line down to Pigeon Point.

Half Moon Bay was slow on the opener — a few small shorts and small keepers around 21 inches, caught by kayakers near the south red buoy. I'll report more after I go out Saturday.

Striped bass

Continues to be caught at Ocean Beach and Mussel Rock.

Halibut

Half Moon Bay has them near the first green buoy and along the beach in about 50ft of water. Santa Cruz has them on the sandy bottom before the red buoy.

Rockfish

Still going strong at the reefs in Santa Cruz. Lingcod are showing up near the red buoy in Half Moon Bay.

Squid

Reported at the red buoy in Half Moon Bay. Nothing out of Monterey.

Bluefin tuna

Counts out of the Golden Gate are down from previous weeks and the bite has slowed. Water temps are running high in spots — rumors of 81°F.

All reports are from friends and public sources of Hao2Fish.

Hao2fish Tip

Salmon reopened September 1st — 38°02′ N to Pigeon Point, 20,000-fish quota. The first keepers came from kayakers near HMB's south red buoy, around 21 inches. More after Saturday's trip.

New: the Torpedo Duo

The Torpedo Duo just dropped — the 300g and 400g together: the 300g for calm, shallower marks, the 400g to punch through current and hold deep. Both come rigged with heavy-duty BKK assist hooks, ready to fish. $104.98 at retail, $84.99 as the Duo. First-run quantities are limited. Torpedo Duo 300g and 400g Get the Torpedo Duo.

28L Tackle Box preorder

I designed a saltwater tackle box around the way we actually fish out here: a waterproof gasket lid, a rod holder on the side, and trays that hold full-size jigs instead of trout spinners. A $25 deposit holds first-run pricing at $159 instead of $199.99. I order production the moment 50 anglers reserve — if we don't hit 50 by September 30th, every deposit is refunded automatically by October 7th. Shipping estimated December. Hao2Fish 30QT Tuna Tackle Box See the Tackle Box preorder.

My gear recommendations

  • Scotty Downrigger — essential for catching salmon and getting your bait down.
  • Penn Rival Reel — I've been using this for 5 years. Works for salmon and halibut.
  • SP Minnow — for stripers. Tested by surf casters, very enticing action.
  • Ugly Stik Salmon Rod — medium 6'6" rod to absorb the salmon headshakes.
  • Trilene 30lb Mono — great for salmon, all the stretch you need to tire them out.
  • Bubble Box Air Pump — keep your crabs alive with this bubbler. Also great for purging crabs overnight.

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This report covers the NorCal side of Hao2Fish. If you're fishing offshore for bluefin tuna out of San Diego at night instead, the complete guide to night jigging bluefin tuna is the other pillar.

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