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Horseshoe Bay

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

California, United States

4.4·467 catches

Top fish species at Horseshoe Bay

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Horseshoe Bay fishing reports

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Dungeness crab

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Grass rockfish

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Red rock crab

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Northern kelp crab

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Red rock crab

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General info

Horseshoe Bay is a part of an ocean located in San Francisco County, California, United States. It is also intersecting with Marin County, California. It is most popular for fishing Brown rockfish, Monkeyface prickleback, and Cabezon.

Location

37°49′57″N 122°28′31.2″W
Directions

Amenities

Fishing regulations at Horseshoe Bay, CA

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in California can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season closed: October 1 - October 31
Brown rockfish

Brown rockfish

Regulation boundaryCA San Francisco Area
Bag limit10

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit10

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Special gear

1 Line 2 Hooks

When angling, gear is restricted to not more than two hooks and one line. For purposes of this section, a hook is a single hook, or double or treble hook with multiple points connected to a common shank.

Restrictions & requirements

CA Spearfishing

Divers and shore-based anglers are exempt from season and depth restrictions affecting the RCG complex and other federally managed groundfish. Shore-based anglers are fishermen that fish from beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other manmade structures connected to the shore. Divers are spear fishermen entering the water either from the shore or from a boat or other floating object. The possession and transit provisions described for shore-based anglers, and divers are as follows: (1) When angling from shore (includes beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other man−made structures connected to the shore), allspecies may be taken and/or possessed year−round. No vessel or watercraft may be used to assist in the take, transport and/or possession of these species under this provision. (2) When diving or spearfishing all species may be taken and/or possessed year−round. When boat−based groundfish fishing is closed, all types of fishing gear, except spearfishing gear, areprohibited to be aboard the vessel or watercraft when taking and/or possessing these species under this provision.

CA Shore-based Anglers

Divers and shore-based anglers are exempt from season and depth restrictions affecting the RCG complex and other federally managed groundfish. Shore-based anglers are fishermen that fish from beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other manmade structures connected to the shore. Divers are spear fishermen entering the water either from the shore or from a boat or other floating object. The possession and transit provisions described for shore-based anglers, and divers are as follows: (1) When angling from shore (includes beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other man−made structures connected to the shore), allspecies may be taken and/or possessed year−round. No vessel or watercraft may be used to assist in the take, transport and/or possession of these species under this provision. (2) When diving or spearfishing all species may be taken and/or possessed year−round. When boat−based groundfish fishing is closed, all types of fishing gear, except spearfishing gear, areprohibited to be aboard the vessel or watercraft when taking and/or possessing these species under this provision.

Skin Attached

Fillets must have entire skin attached.

CA Descending Device

DESCENDING DEVICES REQUIRED: No Person shall take or possess any federal groundfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without a descending device in possession.

Additional information
Season Exceptions: May 1 - Sept 30: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only (Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line.)Nov 1 - Nov 30: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only (Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line.)No size limit. This species is included in the 10 fish RCG Complex limit, and also within the overall 20 finfish aggregate limit.For the latest information, call the Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations Hotline at 1-813-649-2801.
Synonyms
Sebastes auriculatus
Season closed: October 1 - October 31
Cabezon

Cabezon

Regulation boundaryCA San Francisco Area
Bag limit10

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit10

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Special gear

1 Line 2 Hooks

When angling, gear is restricted to not more than two hooks and one line. For purposes of this section, a hook is a single hook, or double or treble hook with multiple points connected to a common shank.

Restrictions & requirements

CA Spearfishing

Divers and shore-based anglers are exempt from season and depth restrictions affecting the RCG complex and other federally managed groundfish. Shore-based anglers are fishermen that fish from beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other manmade structures connected to the shore. Divers are spear fishermen entering the water either from the shore or from a boat or other floating object. The possession and transit provisions described for shore-based anglers, and divers are as follows: (1) When angling from shore (includes beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other man−made structures connected to the shore), allspecies may be taken and/or possessed year−round. No vessel or watercraft may be used to assist in the take, transport and/or possession of these species under this provision. (2) When diving or spearfishing all species may be taken and/or possessed year−round. When boat−based groundfish fishing is closed, all types of fishing gear, except spearfishing gear, areprohibited to be aboard the vessel or watercraft when taking and/or possessing these species under this provision.

CA Shore-based Anglers

Divers and shore-based anglers are exempt from season and depth restrictions affecting the RCG complex and other federally managed groundfish. Shore-based anglers are fishermen that fish from beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other manmade structures connected to the shore. Divers are spear fishermen entering the water either from the shore or from a boat or other floating object. The possession and transit provisions described for shore-based anglers, and divers are as follows: (1) When angling from shore (includes beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other man−made structures connected to the shore), allspecies may be taken and/or possessed year−round. No vessel or watercraft may be used to assist in the take, transport and/or possession of these species under this provision. (2) When diving or spearfishing all species may be taken and/or possessed year−round. When boat−based groundfish fishing is closed, all types of fishing gear, except spearfishing gear, areprohibited to be aboard the vessel or watercraft when taking and/or possessing these species under this provision.

CA Descending Device

DESCENDING DEVICES REQUIRED: No Person shall take or possess any federal groundfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without a descending device in possession.

Additional information
Season Exceptions: May 1 - Sept 30: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only (Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line.)Nov 1 - Nov 30: 20 Fathom - Inshore Only (Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line.)This species is included in the 10 fish RCG Complex limit, and also within the overall 20 finfish aggregate limit.For the latest information, call the Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations Hotline at 1-813-649-2801.
Synonyms
Scorpaenichthys marmoratus
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Local laws and licenses

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Reviews of Horseshoe Bay

4.4
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24 ratings

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Cities nearby

San Francisco

5.6 miles away

Mill Valley

6.4 miles away

Larkspur

8.0 miles away

Emeryville

9.9 miles away

Daly City

10.1 miles away

Albany

10.3 miles away

Richmond

10.9 miles away

El Cerrito

11.2 miles away

San Rafael

11.2 miles away

Berkeley

11.2 miles away

San Anselmo

11.5 miles away

San Pablo

11.6 miles away

Alameda

12.2 miles away

South San Francisco

12.7 miles away

Piedmont

13.4 miles away

Bolinas

14.1 miles away

Oakland

14.4 miles away

San Bruno

14.5 miles away

Pinole

15.2 miles away

Hercules

16.9 miles away

Novato

18.5 miles away

Nicasio

20.0 miles away

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FAQ about Horseshoe Bay fishing

📍 Where is Horseshoe Bay located?
Horseshoe Bay is a part of an ocean located in San Francisco County, California, United States. It is also intersecting with Marin County, California. Its coordinates are:
37°49′57″N 122°28′31.2″W
.
🎣 Where on Horseshoe Bay is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Horseshoe Bay by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Horseshoe Bay?
The most common species in Horseshoe Bay are:
📢 What are the latest Horseshoe Bay fishing reports?
The latest Horseshoe Bay fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Horseshoe Bay right now?
According to fishing regulations at Horseshoe Bay, some of the species in season this October include: Chinook salmon, Lingcod, Pacific halibut, Black rockfish, and Vermilion rockfish. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Horseshoe Bay?

Fishing in California requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Options include daily, annual, or combination licenses for residents and non-residents, purchasable online or at sporting goods stores.

In California, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16. There is no universal senior exemption. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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