Where to fish for shark in the San Francisco Bay

"bouncing bottom" does that mean your drifting with the current and bouncing your weight and bait along as you drift? If so, you gotta remain stationary man, if you don't already, get a Quick Release Anchor System and anchor up and wait. Every time I've caught sharks and rays, I've been stationary. Adding some Pro-Cure Gel to your bait wouldn't hurt either. Also, I think you should bump up to at least a 4oz weight. Good luck, take lots of pics!

Just fish for Dinos and you are sure to catch Sharks. A Bouy straight off the Rockwall is a great place.

"bouncing bottom" does that mean your drifting with the current and bouncing your weight and bait along as you drift? If so, you gotta remain stationary man, if you don't already, get a Quick Release Anchor System and anchor up and wait. Every time I've caught sharks and rays, I've been stationary. Adding some Pro-Cure Gel to your bait wouldn't hurt either. Also, I think you should bump up to at least a 4oz weight. Good luck, take lots of pics!

Not sure if this was in reply to my post or not, but I wasn't bouncing the bottom. I was either trolling while getting to my spot, or - once at my spot - I was tied off to a channel marker and fishing on the bottom while stationary.

Yeah stay in one place...and keep casting fresh bait to the same general area until you know there no fish. Then make a dramatic move....deep to shallow, etc. it's like baiting when hunting vs spot and stalk. They have to come to you. You can forget the lures I have never had one take a lure. It's a stinky bait game for these guys.....damn I wanna go sharkin'

Wow, that's weird, I could swear I read bouncing bottom in your post. Oh well, you get the point. It will happen for ya, they are out there.

 

I fish out of San Leandro the launch is off Monarch Bay Dr. It cost $10 for a boat and $5 for a kayay,,but it has always been safe for my vehicle there.

I just follow the short little inlet out to the bay then follow the wooden channel markers and fish in about 6 to 12 foot of water. All I have ever used for bait is Squid and I have never been skunked there. I always anchor fish.

Be warned there are alot of rays and small sand sharks there, so bring extra bait. I have also caught lots of leopard sharks there, and at certain times of the year there are some decent seven gills.

Good Luck

I fish out of San Leandro the launch is off Monarch Bay Dr. It cost $10 for a boat and $5 for a kayay,,but it has always been safe for my vehicle there.

I just follow the short little inlet out to the bay then follow the wooden channel markers and fish in about 6 to 12 foot of water. All I have ever used for bait is Squid and I have never been skunked there. I always anchor fish.

Be warned there are alot of rays and small sand sharks there, so bring extra bait. I have also caught lots of leopard sharks there, and at certain times of the year there are some decent seven gills.

Good Luck

Thanks. I'll try this spot too.

REPORT BACK:  Went out again today.  This time to San Leandro.  Caught 3 sharks and 1 ray!  Thanks for all the tips!!!!

Nice! Don't forget to take pics next time! Happy for you!

Here's some photos.

p.s.  Anyone know what kind of sharks are in the first 2 photos (the ones with the black spots).  I thought they might be leopards but their patterns are so different from the other ones I've caught (like in the last photo).

I might be wrong, but I think it's a Seven Gill.

I might be wrong, but I think it's a Seven Gill.

I think you're right.

One more question to ask you guys since you've been money on everything else so far. 

Does anyone know a sure-fire way to identify a poisonous ray (like a stingray) versus a non-poisonous one (like a bat ray)?

I'd hate to guess wrong when I catch one.  I've seen one guy get stung by a stingray after he caught one off a pier in SF, and he was in some serious pain.  I'm trying not to end up like that.  Especially when I'm out on my yak.

I could be wrong but I think the rays you are going to catch in our neck of the wood will be bat rays. However, a sting from them still hurts like hell. When I am fishing for rays and sharks I use circle hooks and I pinch the barb down. I may loose one here and there but boing barbless makes the release super simple.