Summary:  The autumn warm spell has hit the Bay area and the fishing has definitely improved.  Get out early for the best results--or fish at sunset.
 

STRIPED BASS:  There is a good chance of getting a striper anywhere in the Bay/Delta system, now that they have started moving in earnest.  Best prospects would be plugging Rat-L-Traps or hair raisers early morning in San Pablo Bay, or soaking Bullheads in the Carquinez.  But baits like pile worms and grass shrimp, even cut anchovies, are all taking bass, usually in the 5# range.

STURGEON: Check out Cache Slough or Sherman Island, where diamondbacks have been caught recently on grass shrimp.

PERCH:  No change. Black perch are available on the incoming by the rocky shores from Emeryville to Richmond and across the Bay in Sausalito to Fort baker.  Striped perch on the other side, too.

MISCELLANEOUS SPECIES:  There are still some halibut spread out on the Berkeley Flats and some anglers are picking them up from Chavez Park and rocky shorelines from Emeryville to Richmond.  Mostly illegal sizes, however.  But a hair raiser or a Rat-L-Trap can give you a good battle.  Salmon are swimming through San Pablo Bay into the Carquinez and the hotter spots have consistently been Rodeo or Benicia.  Just look for a lot of anglers.  Jacksmelt are hitting baits on the low tides all over.  Rockfish angling is picking up near shore.  Note: be careful fishing either side of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Security measures have restricted these areas and the federal folks are somewhat jumpy.

FRESHWATER:   Trout plants at Chabot and Los Vaqueros.  Trout are taking PoewrBaits with attractant.  Black bass are hitting spinners and plastics.  Morning is best.

DELTA RUMORS:  Striped bass are getting caught all over the Sacramento/San Joaquin system, with the best results from Sherman Island up to Rio Vista on and some of the adjacent sloughs. Top baits have been live mudsuckers, minnows, and shad.  Cut baits will get you a keeper but you have to wade through a score of little guys.  Best lures have been Rat-L-Traps , Rebels, and Bombers.  Salmon fishing has been very good but overrated to a ridiculous degree.  Some people are saying that there are more salmon caught than stripers and this is nonsense. True, Wiggle Warts are responsible for a good many salmon, especially near the Isleton bridge, but there are easily more boats than fish and the area is seriously crowded.  (Some of the unlucky anglers have resorted to blaming the bait shops for lying to them.  These fools are better off visiting Lake Safeway.)  Black bass fishing continues to be on the rise as the colder autumn weather settles in.  Buzz baits, spinner baits, and jerk baits are all effective.  Catfish are biting the usual baits and there are some monsters coming out of the Central Delta by Franks Tract.