Some months the fish make you fight for every bite, and July 2025 has been one of those grind-it-out months for NorCal striped bass. I’ve been fishing my whole life thanks to my dad, Manuel, who put me on my first striped bass from the surf in Pacifica, CA. My name’s Joel, founder of Vivid Snares & Fishing LLC, born and raised in the SF Bay Area, and I’ve been fishing these waters for two decades.

This summer, the bite’s been slow, but trust me—they’re still out there if you know where and when to look.

During June’s More Than Fishing Striped Bass Surf Fishing Tournament, even the OG surfcasters from Montauk back to San Mateo and up through San Francisco coastlines had a hard time matchi...