Welcome to the 2026 Herring Spawn Report!
This page is dedicated to helping anglers get on the herring spawn. If this is your first time chasing the spawn, I recommend patience — it takes time to understand the madness of this fishery, but the reward is worth it!
This annual tradition has grown into a fun and exciting ritual, enjoyed by both dedicated herring hunters and newcomers alike. Join in! If you have updates, sightings, or photos, feel free to email them to me at [email protected].
This thread relies on community participation to make it work — thank you to all the dedicated herring hunters! For the best coverage, I recommend following this thread along with my updates on Instagram and YouTube, where I post the most reliable and up-to-date information.
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2026 Herring Spawn Report
December 12, 2025
The herring have arrived in the Bay! We now have multiple confirmed reports.
The first location is usually in the South Bay at the Alameda Rock Wall, but those early schools tend to be smaller and harder to catch. I recommend waiting until the larger bodies of fish arrive in mass around January into February.
I do have some dates in mind for when I think the fish will show up and begin to spawn. Last year they spawned around January 16, 2025. I still need to review the conditions, so for now let’s stay patient. NOTE – most of the activity will not occur until January. This thread will get busy when that happens, so until then just take time to enjoy the holidays.
— TLA
December 25, 2025
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 🎄 And we have some great news — the herring are in town, and people are already catching them!
The fish are moving around Sausalito, from Spinnaker to various docks throughout the area. I don’t believe they are spawning yet, but they are catchable as they move from dock to dock.
This is the first solid showing of sex herring in the Bay, with confirmed reports of successful netting. January is typically the most productive month of the year, but conditions can always change. We’re hoping for a spawn, though the next few days are forecasted to be windy and rainy. If you plan on heading out, please be careful and wear proper rain gear.
I recommend walking the docks until you see a group of seal lions or birds working the fish. If they are near, then try throwing a few times to see if you get on them.
I’ll continue to post updates as I get more information and on-the-water reports.
Good luck, herring hunters!
— TLA
December 26, 20254
Hey guys it’s Chovy with a quick herring hunters report for Friday December 26. Christmas Day has brought us some good herring hunting reports from Sausalito. The fish are in and they have been active. There has been steady reports from land and from boats through the day on the 25.
The guys who have been fishing in the evening and during the tide changes have had mix and good results depending when the fish swim through. The bigger fish spawners with the eggs have shown up and they are spawning and laying eggs on the eel grass and structure.
There has been action from Spinnaker to Dunphy Park with many hunters waiting along the shore line until the fish come within striking distance.
Some of the nets are getting 1-5 fish but many are limiting on 2 buckets when putting in the time and effort. While others are able to pull 1/4 or 1/2 bucket depending on the action. It can be hot for some and ok for others.
I hope this paints a realistic – on the ground report rather than cherry picked reels on social media. The fish are definitely there and active (For now,), but you still got to put in the work; so good luck and tight lines –TLA
December 29, 2025
After a few days of action, the sex herring have slowed down in Sausalito. This is typical behavior around this time of year. January has historically been the most productive month of the spawn, and I’m anticipating larger shoals moving in soon.
Those who have followed me for a while know that I’m a firm believer in a spawn occurring around my friend Thuy’s (Fishing247) anniversary on January 15. To prove my point, last year we found them in Sausalito on January 16—so fingers crossed the pattern holds.
Where are the fish? That’s a good question, and I may have an answer… maybe. Over the years, many of us have marked large schools of “something” laying in the deep channel at Belvedere Point. Without the ability to cast net in deep water, we could only speculate. This year, however, we brought sabikis and confirmed that those massive schools are, in fact, herring.
That said, they are highly non-reactive to lures—even sabikis to an extent—and they quickly swim away from any potential threats. For now, everyone (sea lions, birds, herring hunters, and other predators) can only wait patiently until the fish move out of the channel.
Here are some fish finder images showing massive schools sitting in about 40 feet of water in the channel.
I’m hoping for a showing around January 4 or 5, and another around Fishing247 anniversary. I have my own (somewhat crazy) speculative reasons for thinking this way, but that’s an article for another time.
Good luck, herring hunters.
– TLA
I am willing to lead a Throw (Cast) Net Clinic at Martin Luther King Park in Oakland close to the Oakland Airport on Doolittle Drive.
Clinic will be at the park picnic area just North of the Kayak/Canoe Boat Ramp.
Because of the weather dates would be:
Friday Jan. 2 @ 11 AM – Superfish
Tuesday Jan. 6 @ 11 AM
Sat. Jan. 10 @ 11 AM.
Need at least 5 people (more is always welcome) to hold the Clinic.
We will start on land and get the basics down than move over to the ramp and catch live bait.
Reply here if you want to come.
You will be an expert after attending this clinic.
I’d like to come on Friday.
Maybe not
My lady and I would also like to come Friday!
All quiet at Point Richmond right now. No birds no seals no herring
Thanks for the update. I think the Majority of the fish are still in Richardson Bay. I’m hoping the next few days will produce favorable conditions for them to get active.
My understanding is there is only one commercial boat who will be fishing this season.
Keith, thanks for the realistic Herring report for Friday Dec 26th.
He reported all of the key indicator that I pay attention to: Spawning, Eggs, From shore, ect.
I understand that he doesn’t want to over state ” Spawn ” and have disappointed Herring trips happen. It’s just the facts and everyone can decide for themselves. I like that approach.
For me, the fact that the Herring are already spawning is a sign that you better get on them now.
It could be quick and over or is may be the start of many runs and spawns around the Bay.
For me, I’d hedge bets and get on them sooner rather than later.
I myself have waited too long some years and missed some good spawns and seen the runs and spawns not materialize later. Go get em !
They are staging in the deep channel. I’ll wait them out and give you guys as much accurate details as i can as it comes up.
It is common to see some early schools off of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. I’d see them from there on over to Racoon Straight. It was as if they were massing just outside of Richardson Bay before they went in closer. I would occasionally see the commercial boats cruise on by to check out the size of the schools before they decided to start netting them. Once they reach critical mass, then all hell would break loose and the commercial boats would be out there 24/7 with their nets. I miss the excitement and anticipation. I don’t miss the all night and day netting activities, as they would be so noisy they would keep me up some nights. It was like a city ON the bay with all the lights from the boats. I hope you have a good season this year. The Herring Run abundance goes in cycles. You are due for a good one.
After these rains it should mess with the salinity a bit and bring them closer into Richardson bay. I missed them last year, this year I am taking the kayak and not waiting for the shore spawn. Looking forward to herring bait and maybe some food too.
Confirming that herring are definitely in the bay! Came across a large mass of diving pelicans and seal activity just outside of Richardson Bay in about 90 fow near the water treatment plant. Seemed fishy so I tossed my net and caught my first of the season around 4pm. Not a lot of fish in the net but It was nice to see that the herring have returned.
Hey TLA, thanks for opening the page. I’m going to agree as the last three days there’s been more bird activity right outside the Golden Gate with today being the most..
The spawns last year were for the most part weak amd looking back on my notes. It looks like Richardson Bay will be loaded within a week or so..
I sure would like to see Paradise or and the Chase Center go off this year. Fingers crossed.
I’ll definitely keep you all in the loop as the date approaches. I’m planning to ramp up my efforts in the last week of December and into early January. I believe that should be a great window to start looking for potential candidates.