San Francisco Tide Charts & Fishing
Saturday, September 19 · NOAA station 9414290 (San Francisco (Golden Gate))
Tides live · forecast as of 10:56 PM PT
Tide chart and current conditions
Tide now
2.0 ft
▼ Falling · 0.8 ft/hr
Next high
9:28 AM
4.5 ft · in 10h 32m
Next low
1:43 AM
0.7 ft · in 2h 47m
Wind
12 mph W
Moderate breeze · gusts 20
Fishing score
62 /100
Good
drag to pan · scroll or pinch to zoom · hover for detail
| Day | Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 19 | Low | 12:38 AM | 0.9 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | High | 8:44 AM | 4.3 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Low | 12:52 PM | 3.6 ft |
| Sat, Sep 19 | High | 6:11 PM | 5.1 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Low | 1:43 AM | 0.7 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | High | 9:28 AM | 4.5 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Low | 1:58 PM | 3.4 ft |
| Sun, Sep 20 | High | 7:20 PM | 5.2 ft |
Today's Tide Times in San Francisco
Today in San Francisco, high tide arrives at 8:44 AM (4.3 ft) and again at 6:11 PM (5.1 ft), and low tide bottoms out at 12:38 AM (0.9 ft) and again at 12:52 PM (3.6 ft). That's a 4.3-foot swing — a solid mid-size swing with reliable current on each side of the extremes.
The sun rises at 6:55 AM and sets at 7:11 PM, under a first quarter (61% illuminated). With the moon near a quarter phase, tidal movement is on the mild side this week.
Tomorrow starts with a low tide at 1:43 AM (0.7 ft) — see the 7-day outlook below to plan the week.
Fishing Score · Now
62/ 100
Best windows today
- 4:30 AM – 6:30 AMVery Good
- 8:00 PM – 10:00 PMVery Good
strong outgoing tide
Sun & Moon
- Sunrise
- 6:55 AM
- Sunset
- 7:11 PM
First Quarter
61% illuminated
Neap tides — gentler water movement. Fish the dawn and dusk windows.
Conditions
57°F
Fog
- Wind
- 12 mph Wgusts 20
- Waves
- 3.7 ft @ 7s
- Water temp
- 63°F
Moderate breeze — A little chop — very fishable
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Today
67° / 57°
Very Good
Best: 4:30 AM–6:30 AM
Sun, Sep 20
62° / 56°
Very Good
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Mon, Sep 21
64° / 57°
Excellent
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Tue, Sep 22
70° / 59°
Excellent
Best: 5:30 AM–7:30 AM
Wed, Sep 23
73° / 58°
Excellent
Best: 6:00 AM–8:00 AM
Thu, Sep 24
75° / 60°
Excellent
Best: 6:00 AM–8:00 AM
Fri, Sep 25
69° / 60°
Excellent
Best: 6:30 AM–8:30 AM
What's Biting at San Francisco
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 San Francisco 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 →
San Francisco Tide & Fishing FAQ
›What time is high tide in San Francisco today?
High tide in San Francisco today is at 8:44 AM (4.3 ft) and again at 6:11 PM (5.1 ft), measured at NOAA station 9414290 (San Francisco (Golden Gate)).
›What time is low tide in San Francisco today?
Low tide in San Francisco today is at 12:38 AM (0.9 ft) and again at 12:52 PM (3.6 ft).
›When is the best time to fish in San Francisco today?
Today's best fishing window at San Francisco is 8:00 PM–10:00 PM (rated Very Good, 74/100), driven by strong outgoing tide. The score blends tide movement, dawn/dusk light, moon phase, wind, and water temperature.
›What fish are biting in San Francisco in September?
In September, the most active species at San Francisco are Striped Bass, California Halibut, Rockfish, Leopard Shark. See the species section above for baits, techniques, and seasons.
›How accurate is this San Francisco tide chart?
Predictions come directly from NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions for station 9414290 (San Francisco (Golden Gate)) 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 San Francisco
San Francisco Bay funnels enormous tidal flows past beaches, piers, and rocky points — and moving water means feeding fish. Striped bass blitz Ocean Beach and Crissy Field, halibut stack up on the flats, and sturgeon prowl the deep channels in winter.