Summary: Light rain is only a teaser, but at least the tides are moving this week.
 
 

STRIPED BASS:  Seasonably slow in the bays.  Some sporadic action around China Camp and then again past Rodeo, but if you really want striped bass you are better off in the Delta.

STURGEON:  Reports of diamondbacks are in from all over the bay system.   Most fish are the loners picked up by the lucky few, but there are some real possibilities in the following locales: Dumbarton, Emeryville (behind the restaurant) and Montezuma Slough from the big bridge to the Red Barn pier area.  Spots like Sonoma Creek and Bay Farm were surprisingly tame this past week, but all this could change with the big outgoing swing.  Times and tides are nicely on target, so get out there and get your baits down.

PERCH:  Black and pile perch are good on the incoming from the rocks or pier pilings along Emeryville through Richmond.  Pile worms and grass shrimp.  At Berkeley Pier the white perch are showing up about fifteen feet out on the same baits.  From the surf it's still a better strategy to go grubbing for barred, redtail, and walleye perch in nice sizes from a variety of sandy beaches between Bean Hollow and Point Reyes.  Incoming tide in the late afternoon is the best time.
 

MISCELLANEOUS SPECIES:   Note: Monday, 12/8 really ends the rockfish season and, I think, a lot of groundfish.  Check out the DFG's marine page: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/  Kingfish are the hot item from piers these days on pile worms and cut anchovies. Sharks, rays, jacksmelt are all scarce.  If sand dabs appeal to you, now is the time to get a head start and search for them by both towers of the gate wherever you can  find sandy bottoms.  Squid strips will do it.