Summary: Extreme tides on both ends of the spectrum have done much to scour the Bay System.  The water is moving and full of bait, a good news-bad news situation that many are finding frustrating.  Others, seizing the opportunity to catch or forage fresh bait, and either use it right away or store it, are faring much better.
 
 

STRIPED BASS:  Pretty bad all around this past week.  Blame it on the abundant bait supply and cooler water temperatures.   Find some back sloughs where the variables don't change severely and you might have a chance on live baits.

STURGEON: McNear's Pier has produced for the shimp-baiters, though of course it gets crowded in short order.  All along the banks from China Camp to San Quentin offer great potential on these big incoming tides and for an hour or two on the outgoing.  Then you need to get into the channels and use heavy sinkers.  Point Pinole and Rodeo are a good choices.  So is the Alameda Rockwall.

PERCH:  Some good fishing off the rocks in Berkeley for black perch and the odd rubberlip this week.  Pile worms and gras shrimp.  Elsewhere it's been slower except by the rocks on the seashore.   Grubbing has slowed  due to the violent tidal swings and the swells which are slow to settle down.
 

MISCELLANEOUS SPECIES:  Some flounder getting caught in San Pablo Bay by sturgeon anglers.   Not much else going on save a large herring spawn by Fort Baker and available bait (fish and roe).  For rock fishing enthusiasts, a bureaucratic nightmare right now, as the DFG has announced that the old 2003 regulations preside over the new provisions for 2004.  Read about that here: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/sportfishing_regs2004.html  Until further notice, the season is closed.