I have surf-fished for stripers out of Pacifia a few times, to no avail. A few times the water was flat calm, and I could see birds working offshore, out of casting distance.

Question: Does anybody chase stripers in the shallow water around Pacifica in smaller boats (15 - 20 ft., whalers, etc.)? Is there an adequate launch facility in Pacifica?

I know that it would be dangerous to come too close into shore, but this could be productive on calm days, especially to cover miles of water and locate the schools.

Just curious,

Mike F

There are no ramps in Pacifica. The closest one would be on the south end of linda mar beach, but I hear it's pretty squirrely. The closest real boat ramp facilities would be down in princeton. The boaters do very well with the stripers as well as pick up a lot of salmon close to the beach.

Are they trolling for the most part? Do you hear of any surface action with the stipers?

Back in the 70's, I was in the USCG stationed at Yerba Buena Island on the Cutter USCGC RESOLUTE (WMEC-620)

In the summer when I had the duty, a couple of us guys would shine the fantail floodlights off the stern of the ship and cast crocs and absolutely nail the Strippers!

Used to surf off Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica when it wasn't uncommon for Silver Salmon to school right in tight in the soup zone. Is that old trailer still there that used to sit at the north end of the beach? It was like a landmark of sorts.

Tight Lines!!

The striper fishing there is hit or miss, with the fish often beyond casting reach. If you are willing to spend several hundred dollars the are special rods (14'?) and reels for super long surfcasting (article a few weeks ago in WON or WO magazine). Go to the Rusty Hook on Palmetto in Pacifica for such rods (special made there I think) and reels, and advice. Also, it is too early for stripers there now.The launching at Linda Mar is very risky (sliding on long logs) and may be private for the boat owners who live there. i would not take a chance. I commuted to work for many years past there and even on a rare morning when it was calm and launchable, most of the time the late AM or early PM wind and chop would make it very risky to get back in. If you launch from Princeton this wind and chop can make it very difficult to get back safely from Pacifica (remember, this Princeton area is where the famous Mavericks monster surfing waves occur). I often have experienced 20 to 30 knot winds there, and this was not during storms.

The salmon runs close to shore do not occur every year, but some years they come very close. You can also fish for salmon from the Pacifica Pier, but when there is a run, get there at the crack of dawn or earlier, because the best spots at the end of the pier at quickly taken. The pier used to be open 24 hours, but check to see if that is still true. Again the Rusty Hook shop has the special terminal gear (a must) and crab type pier landing nets (a must) for this kind of angling, and advice.

Good luck.

Bob