San Rafael Tide Charts & Fishing
Monday, September 28 · NOAA station 9415052 (Gallinas, Gallinas Creek)
Tides live · forecast as of 2:08 PM PT
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
6.3 ft
· Slack water
Next high
3:20 AM
5.1 ft · in 13h 11m
Next low
9:00 PM
-0.1 ft · in 6h 51m
Wind
5 mph S
Light breeze
Fishing score
52 /100
Good
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Sep 28 | High | 2:27 AM | 5.3 ft |
| Mon, Sep 28 | Low | 8:09 AM | 1.6 ft |
| Mon, Sep 28 | High | 2:08 PM | 6.3 ft |
| Mon, Sep 28 | Low | 9:00 PM | -0.1 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | High | 3:20 AM | 5.1 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | Low | 8:42 AM | 2.1 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | High | 2:42 PM | 6.4 ft |
| Tue, Sep 29 | Low | 9:49 PM | -0.3 ft |
Today's Tide Times in San Rafael
Today in San Rafael, high tide arrives at 2:27 AM (5.3 ft) and again at 2:08 PM (6.3 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 8:09 AM (1.6 ft) and again at 9:00 PM (-0.1 ft). That's a 6.5-foot swing — big, fast-moving water that concentrates feeding fish.
The sun rises at 7:03 AM and sets at 6:57 PM, under a waning gibbous (94% illuminated). Tidal range is in the middle of its two-week cycle.
Tomorrow starts with a high tide at 3:20 AM (5.1 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
52/ 100
Best windows today
- 4:30 AM – 6:30 AMExcellent
- 4:30 PM – 6:30 PMExcellent
strong outgoing tide · dusk bite window
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 7:03 AM
- Sunset
- 6:57 PM
Waning Gibbous
94% illuminated
Moderate tidal range this week.
Conditions
75°F
Clear
- Wind
- 5 mph Sgusts 7
- Waves
- 1.5 ft @ 8s
- Water temp
- 69°F
Light breeze — Great fishing conditions
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
81° / 49°
Excellent
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Tue, Sep 29
92° / 57°
Excellent
Best: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
Wed, Sep 30
93° / 59°
Excellent
Best: 6:00 AM–8:00 AM
Thu, Oct 1
92° / 57°
Excellent
Best: 6:30 AM–8:30 AM
Fri, Oct 2
95° / 62°
Excellent
Best: 2:00 PM–4:00 PM
Sat, Oct 3
97° / 69°
Excellent
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Sun, Oct 4
97° / 66°
Excellent
Best: 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
What's Biting at Gallinas
Activity ratings reflect typical feeding seasons — not legal seasons. Regulations, closures, and size/bag limits change; always check current CDFW regulations before keeping any fish.
Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
Season: May – October
Baits: Anchovies, Topwater plugs, Swimbaits
Work troughs and rip currents on a moving tide. Dawn topwater in flat surf is the classic bite.
California Halibut
Paralichthys californicus
Season: April – September
Baits: Live anchovies, Swimbaits, Hair raisers
Drag baits slowly along sandy bottom near structure edges. Slow retrieve — halibut ambush from below.
Rockfish
Sebastes spp.
Season: April – December (check regs)
Baits: Shrimp flies, Metal jigs, Squid strips
Fish vertically over reef and kelp. Keep the bait just off bottom to dodge snags and hook quality grade.
Leopard Shark
Triakis semifasciata
Season: May – October
Baits: Squid, Mackerel chunks, Midshipman
Soak fresh bait on the flats during an evening incoming tide. Steel or heavy mono leader, circle hooks for a clean release.
Barred Surfperch
Amphistichus argenteus
Season: Year-round, best in winter–spring
Baits: Sand crabs, Gulp! sandworms, Motor oil grubs
Carolina rig in the first trough behind the shorebreak. Follow the tide in — perch feed where sand crabs wash out.
Gear for These Conditions
TheAnglerStore →Matched to the species feeding at Gallinas right now.
Rod & Reel Combos
Daiwa D-Wave Saltwater Spinning Combo — 8 ft, 2-Piece Medium
Eight feet is the honest middle: long enough to keep line above the wash on a gentle beach, short enough to fish from a pier or a boat without apologising to anyone.
$59.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Line & Leader
Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid — 20 lb, 300 yd
Seven HMPE fibers plus one GORE Performance Fiber, braided at 32 picks per inch. The GORE fiber is what makes this line quiet through the guides and stubborn…
$34.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Terminal Tackle
Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Offset Circle Sea Hook — 4/0, 50-Pack
The circle hook does the work for you: no strike, just let the rod load and the hook finds the corner of the jaw on its own.
$15.97Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Terminal Tackle
MO's Bank Sinkers — 4 oz, 20-Pack
Four ounces is the weight most 9 to 11 foot surf rods are built to throw, and the one to reach for when the water is moving hard enough that a 3 oz starts walking.
$32.99Shop at TheAnglerStore →
Gallinas Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in San Rafael today?
High tide in San Rafael today is at 2:27 AM (5.3 ft) and again at 2:08 PM (6.3 ft), measured at NOAA station 9415052 (Gallinas, Gallinas Creek).
›What time is low tide in San Rafael today?
Low tide in San Rafael today is at 8:09 AM (1.6 ft) and again at 9:00 PM (-0.1 ft). Today includes a minus tide — a good window for exploring structure that's normally underwater.
›When is the best time to fish in San Rafael today?
Today's best fishing window at San Rafael is 4:30 PM–6:30 PM (rated Excellent, 93/100), driven by strong outgoing tide, dusk bite window. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in San Rafael in September?
In September, the most active species at San Rafael are Striped Bass, California Halibut, Rockfish, Leopard Shark. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›Is this the tide chart for San Rafael?
Yes — Gallinas (NOAA station 9415052) is the closest official tide prediction station to San Rafael, California, so these are the tide times anglers and boaters in San Rafael plan around.
›How accurate is this San Rafael tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 9415052 (Gallinas, Gallinas Creek) and are the same data used in official tide tables. Actual water levels can vary with storms and barometric pressure, so treat predictions as planning guidance, not navigation data.
About Gallinas
This is the live tide dashboard for Gallinas, built on NOAA station 9415052 (Gallinas, Gallinas Creek) on the Northern California. Tide predictions update continuously, and the fishing score blends the tide swing with weather, light, and moon phase to point you at the best windows of the day. Gallinas is the closest NOAA tide station to San Rafael, California — if you fish, paddle, or boat out of San Rafael, these are the tide predictions to plan around.