About Alcatraz Island Hump

The Hump lies 0.8 km south of Alcatraz Island, a rocky pinnacle rising through inner, protected water in San Francisco Bay where depths run 35 to 80 feet. Chinook Salmon move through from April to September, with Coho Salmon in the mix, while Lingcod hold on the rock structure through their peaks in February and March, August to October, and December. Blue Rockfish and Black Rockfish stack up over the pinnacle from spring into summer, joined by Kelp Greenling, California Sheephead, and Pacific Halibut. Trolling whole anchovy, spoons, and hoochies works the salmon over this structure, while jigging with metal jigs and swimbaits pulls Lingcod and Black Rockfish tight to the rock. Blue Rockfish respond to shrimp fly rigs and squid strips worked through the same depth band, with the pinnacle concentrating fish as tide moves water across it.