In the spring and early summer, many salmon are typically caught along the northern California coast. The most common fishing areas near the Golden Gate are the coast of Marin, south of Bolinas, and the Duxbury Reef area off the southern tip of the Pt. Reyes peninsula. In late summer, salmon enter the Golden Gate, go through Racoon Strait, and turn north around the Tiburon peninsula to head for the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. When the conditions are right, the salmon fishing can be excellent in this protected location on the east side the Tiburon peninsula (sometimes called California City).
The recreational fishery for ocean salmon in the San Francisco area (south of Point Arena and north of Pigeon Point opened April 6, 2013 and runs through November 10. The daily bag and possession limit is 2 salmon of any species except coho. Minimum size is 24 inches total length through July, then 20 inches starting in August.
Draft recreational salmon fishing regulations for 2013
Learn More About Salmon
The Pacific Fishery Management Council has an excellent collection of reference information in the Salmon Document Library.