LivewellCalifornia · Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma County · Coastal
San Francisco Bay
Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for San Francisco Bay, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.
18 species with advisories · contaminants: Mercury, PCBs
California also has statewide guidance
California publishes rules that apply to coastals across the state — 34 recommendations covering 17 species — in addition to anything listed for San Francisco Bay below.
Strictest statewide rule: Rockfish: Black And Yellow, China, Copper, Gopher — For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated Mercury.
What's safe to eat from San Francisco Bay
American Shad
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to four meals per week. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Barred Surfperch
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to three meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Black Perch
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to three meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
California Halibut
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Chinook Salmon
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to four meals per week. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Jacksmelt
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Mississippi Silverside
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Northern Anchovy
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Pacific Sardine
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Rubberlip Surfperch
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to three meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Shark
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Shiner Perch
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Striped Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Topsmelt
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Walleye Surfperch
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
White Croaker
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to one meal per week due to elevated PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
White Sturgeon
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: do not eat due to elevated Mercury and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
White Surfperch
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women 50 and older and men 18 and older | Limit to three meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women 18–49 and children 1–17 | For women 18–49 and children 1–17: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
How to prepare fish from San Francisco Bay
Some contaminants build up in fat and skin, so cleaning and cooking can lower your exposure. Others — mercury and PFAS — are in the muscle itself and trimming does nothing.
PCBs
- Skin the fish — most of the contaminant sits in the fat just under the skin.
- Trim the fatty areas away: the belly flap, the top of the back, and the dark lateral line down each side.
- Cook on a rack — grill, broil, or bake — so the fat drips off the fillet.
- Throw the drippings out; don't use them for soup, sauce, or chowder.
- Choose smaller, younger fish — they've had less time to build it up.
Is it legal to keep?
These are California's statewide limits — a water-specific rule may override them. Always verify the current regulations before keeping a fish.
| Species | Size | Daily limit | Open season | Keep season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Smallmouth Bass | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Striped Bass | 18" min | 2 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Rainbow Trout | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | — | 25 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Channel Catfish | — | 10 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: California — California DFW