Why No Fishing in San Francisco Bay at Night?

November 12, 2009

Question: Why it is unlawful to fish from a boat at night in San Francisco Bay? I’ve asked several people, but nobody knows. It could be a safety issue due to the large container ships, but the large container ships travel upriver into Sacramento and Stockton, too. So, could it be the ferries?

Answer: Yes, conflicts with other vessel traffic are the most likely reason. CCR Title 14 Section 27.56 states that “…there are no closed seasons, closed hours or minimum size limits on fin fish in the Pacific Ocean including all saltwater bays except that in San Francisco Bay between the Golden Gate Bridge and the Carquinez Bridge and in saltwater tributaries to the bay … fin fish may not be taken between one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise except from shore or piers.” The earliest reference we could find for this restriction was the 1959 CCR Title14 Section 55.

Sounds like a long way of saying we don't know. Regs on the books that the agency in charge doesn't know their purpose. 

Mostly its so we dont get run over by the freghters...

I (my dad and I) got zing'd in my early years (15yo) coming back from fishing off the break wall by the navy yard. We were legal, until I drop a line in about 500 yards from the ramp and the coast guard lite (lights, not  gun fire) our boat up like we were terriost...

We both got cite, I got a slap on the wrist and my dad got fined....

But what we were also told, is that they don't want unsuspecting vessel around the navy ships.... which I could understand....