Fishing near me in San Francisco : 7 spots within 50 miles
There are 7 mapped fishing venues within 50 miles of San Francisco, and the closest, Torpedo Wharf, is about 3.6 miles from the city center. Below they're ranked by distance, with California license info, the species you can expect, and answers to the questions San Francisco anglers ask most.
Top Fishing Spots Near San Francisco
Every mapped venue within 50 miles of San Francisco, nearest first. Click any spot for full venue details, directions, and species.
Closest first
- 1
Torpedo Wharf
3.6 mi awaySan Francisco city, San Francisco County
Torpedo Wharf is a fishing pier in San Francisco managed by the National Park Service, with camping and food facilities nearby.
- 2
Pacifica Municipal Pier
11 mi awaySan Mateo County
- 3
Eckley Pier
23 mi awayContra Costa County
- 4
City of Benicia Fishing Pier
23 mi awayBenicia city, Solano County
- 5
9th Street Boat Ramp
24 mi awayBenicia city, Solano County
- 6
Vasona Reservoir
44 mi awayLos Gatos town, Santa Clara County
- 7
Cliff House Fishing Access Area
48 mi awaySacramento County
Want more options? Browse all California fishing venues or the California fishing near me guide.
Do You Need a Fishing License in California?
The short answer for San Francisco anglers, plus where to find the current California prices, exemptions, and free fishing days.
License Info
In most cases, yes: a California license before you cast
Fishing licenses in California are issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Anglers above the state minimum age need a valid license to fish public water around San Francisco. Age thresholds, resident and non-resident fees, short-term options, and exemptions all vary by state and change each season, so check the current rules on the CDFW site before you buy.
The linked guide is updated for 2026 with current resident, non-resident, and short-term fees, where to buy online and in person, and this year's free fishing days.
What Can You Catch Near San Francisco?
We're still building species records for the venues around San Francisco. Log your catches on GilledIt to help map what's biting where.
What's Biting
Open GilledIt to see real-time catch reports around San Francisco, and log your own to help map what's biting.
Keep Exploring California Fishing
More Resources
Fishing Near Me in San Francisco: FAQ
There are 7 mapped fishing venues within 50 miles of San Francisco, and the closest is Torpedo Wharf, about 3.6 miles from the city center. The list above ranks them by distance: city-park ponds, reservoirs, and public-access water. Open GilledIt to see live catch reports near your exact location.
Often, yes. Many city-park ponds and public reservoirs around San Francisco are free to access once you hold a valid California fishing license, and many states also run free fishing days each year when no license is needed. Dates and rules change, so confirm on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) website or in our California license guide.
In most cases, yes: anglers above the state's minimum age need a valid California fishing license to fish public water around San Francisco. Licenses are issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Age cut-offs, fees, and exemptions vary by state and change each season, so check the CDFW site or our California fishing license guide for current prices, where to buy, and free fishing days before you go.
Our species records for the venues around San Francisco are still growing, so we don't yet list confirmed species here. Check each venue's page, open GilledIt for real-time catch reports around San Francisco, and log your own to help map what's biting.
For most waters around San Francisco, spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the most productive windows: fish feed hard around the spawn and again before winter. Early morning and the last hour of light are the best daily bites in summer. Check the GilledIt community feed for what's working near San Francisco this week.
Start logging catches around San Francisco
GilledIt is the social fishing app for American anglers. Log catches with photos, auto-tagged weather, pressure and moon data. Free on iOS and Android.