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The Pier
A backbone of the club is our fishing pier stretching nearly ½ mile into San Pablo Bay and open everyday of the year from sunrise to sunset.
It is for the exclusive use of our members, their families and guests. Striped bass, perch, sturgeon, and halibut are just some of the fare that can be caught from the pier.
Pier Fishing Report
Written by: Dan Schuster.
December, 2025
I’m out of town for the Thanksgiving week, so I can’t give you a fish count or get internet to check water conditions. I have heard that big Bass are still around, with folks landing 28” to 32” Strippers. A fish like that would win the Fishing Derby on New Year's Day! The prize is a bunch of cash from the $5 entry fee.
There are two Derby categories, Biggest and Most. This year, New Year's Day has a full moon, so the tide swing is massive. There's a 7’ high tide at 9:30 AM and a -1.5’ low tide at 4:50 PM for an 8.5’ tide swing. The Derby runs from 10 AM to 2 PM, so the Ebb tide (outgoing) will be building the whole time. Fast-moving water will inform your fishing strategies.
Fishing for the biggest can include bottom fishing with cut Anchovies, squid, or shrimp. A “Surf Rig” with 30-40 Lb Test is a good leader. Slide the loops through the eye of your hooks and double back. Use a 1/0 to 3/0 hook for the big boys. Use a 1-3 ounce weight to keep your bait on the bottom, adjusting as required as the current increases. Always cast downstream of the pier, South during our January 1 Derby. With all the distractions of socializing, potluck yummies, and Bloody Marys, put a bell on your rod to alert you when your winning fish bites.
Fishing for the most prized usually means Surfperch and Jacksmelt. Both use similar rigs but are positioned differently. Sabiki rigs are popular with small hooks in the #6 -#12 range. The rigs come with six hooks, but the max allowed inside the bay is three, so cut off the excess hooks. Some folks use a light surf rig with the same hook sizes but baited with worms or shrimp.For Perch, use a % -1 ounce weight depending on the tide and jig downstream of the pier close to the bottom. Downstream of the pilings is productive as the Perch wait for food to be washed off the piling in the fast current. I recall years when we caught 20+ perch in an hour! Jacksmelt tend to be near the surface. Add a bobber to your rig so the Sabiki is in the top foot or two of the water. On light gear, a smelt can give you a fun fight.
See you on New Year's Day!Dan Schuster
~end of report.
Tide and weather forecast, tips, and fishing derby results.
Surfperch refers to family of viviparous, bony fish (Embiotocidae) found in shallow, coastal waters along the Pacific coast of North America.
Fishing at MRGC |
CDFW licenses, regulations, and gear restrictions.
CDFW Article 28.65. General. (partial)
(a) San Francisco Bay, as described in Section 27.00, where only one line with not more than three hooks may be used.
Member's Boat Launch
See the home page for the current status on boat ramp
So reliable that the emergency responders uses it!
Our boat launch is a well-maintained concrete slab with drainage grooves, properly sloped, and safe, with clear access to the water and plenty space for staging and parking. We power wash the ramp at least twice per year.
Our composite floating/piling dock can host 2-3 boats depending on the boats' LOA.
We also have a very comfortable boat washing station located on the newly paved back parking lot.
Don't forget to check for high tides and weather forecast before going out (links above).
Bait is available on the pier.
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