I've been crabbing from Torpedo Wharf for decades. Only brown and red rock crabs are allowed to be taken from these waters. Keeping any Dungeoness crabs is illegal and you will be cited and fined by the Department of Fish & Game wardens if you are caught. It is such a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors where anglers, passerbys, visitors, and tourists can mingle. During days where the weather is nicer, you will be treated to epic views of San Francisco and surrounding area. Other times, it can be overcast, foggy, and chilly! Come check it out! read more

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I went crabbing for the first time with a few friends and it was amazing. It was a pretty easy process but make sure you know the regulations regarding size and kind you can take. Torpedo Wharf is also right by the bridge so you can get a nice view of it. Highly recommend for those who want a somewhat interactive activity in the bay. read more

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After having brunch at nearby (sort of) Colibri, our gang decided to take a leisurely stroll as we were stuffed. That stroll turned into a mini hike as we ended up here by chance. I love having no agenda! BRIEF HISTORY: The original pier was built in 1854 (same year that Louis Vuitton was established, LOL) for the construction of nearby Ft. Point which is located beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. The current structure is from 1941. EXPERIENCE; Aside from fishing, this is the perfect spot to take in the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. You can't get any closer on land! Unfortunately the fog wasn't letting up so all we could see were Ft. Point and the roadway deck. But, the skyline of the city was 100% visible. TIP: The Warming Hut, a retrieve from the blustery chill, is nearby and sells food, beverage & gifts. OVERALL: Nonchalant landmark with impressive results. read more

Torpedo Wharf - SF skyline - VN - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - San Francisco, California

This spot is a great place to do Rock Crab fishing with both crab hoop traps and snares. Keep in mind that this is a sanctuary for Dungeness Crabs (San Francisco Bay) so any caught must be released or you'll get a fine/ticket. There's ample parking around with restrooms. The cafe is also open during daylight hours next to the pier entrance. Also be aware that there are no railings on the pier so you can fall off so keep an eye on where you are walking. Depending on the season you'll find people here fishing for Striper, Halibut, Perch, Shiners, Sharks, Rays, and other small fishes - you do not need a fishing license to fish on this pier. read more

The Torpedo Wharf is a place where local fishers and visitors mix. There's something beautiful in every direction from this vantage point, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the city skyline along the San Francisco Bay. It's very windy here, and I would suggest visitors wearing layers to adjust to the change of local climate conditions. read more

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It can get really windy here. So far I've caught rock and dungeonous crabs here and spotted a few sea lions. read more

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The wharf is a great place to visit at night. Walking there feels amazing. Parking is very limited read more

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This is a very popular fishing Pier that's actually a Wharf, and yes, I had to look up the difference between the 2 because I definitely thought this was a Pier, but I was wrong, sort of... Torpedo Wharf, which is sometimes referred to as Fort Point Pier, is a pretty popular spot. The Wharf itself is made up of broken up concrete, so you do have to watch your step a bit when walking out on here. Big time fishing and big time Golden Gate Bridge views, those are the two main draws here. But you gotta luv the name, Torpedo Wharf, which was named after the Army constructed a submarine mine here long ago!! Another unsung SF landmark with interesting history behind it!! read more

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Fishing with a view! We came here to go crabbing! It's free and it's absolutely beautiful with a pano view of the SF Bay! There are some drawbacks to crabbing here: No close parking Only rock and red crabs Lots of seals Pulling up your cage can be challenging Even with those minuses, you can still catch a good number of rock crabs. Oddly enough, we did have our bait stolen by a seal but the funny thing is, he replaced our bait with a large metal bait box! True story! Happy crabbing! read more

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Fishing pier in SF and cool landmark With the name like "Torpedo Wharf" you know there's got to be a cool history behind it so I began to research. Besides it being a great place for fishing and crabbing and getting a picture-perfect view of the Golden Gate Bridge, back in 1907-1909 the Army constructed a submarine mine depot and used the wharf to plant underwater mines as part of the harbor defense. We could see Fort Point nearby at the south anchorage of the bridge and if you get a chance to visit San Francisco you should make it a point to check out one of the City's historic places. Entry to Fort Point is FREE and is located at the end of Marine Drive on the Presidio... walking distance from the wharf. Locals come here to fish and go crabbing. Dungeness crabs are off limits but there are plenty of rock crabs and red crabs. Once in a while you will see a California sea lion at the wharf too. It can get windy here so dress in layers. There are restroom facilities before entering the wharf and also a cafe nearby, although I'm not sure if they're open or what their business hours are during Covid-19. There are limited parking in this area and it gets full pretty quickly. We parked at the Battery East Vista and from there headed down towards the wharf. Review #2020 read more

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Nice view of the Golden Gate bridge. On the lot of a former military base, it's a cool place to walk or bike. It's near the Palace of Fine Arts and the Marina district. Folks are crabbing or fishing from the dock. They have a gift shop call the warming hut run by the National Park Service with books and warm drinks. No bathrooms that I saw but they may have been outside. read more

Great place to visit with a nice view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay. Sometimes you'll see sealions hunting for food. A good place to go crabbing. A lot of parking spots available nearby, however no longer free on the weekdays. Also the card readers on the parking permit machines do not work on many of the machines, at least the ones close to the wharf, so it might be a good idea to bring coins. It can get cold and windy at times so a sweater or jacket is recommended. read more

Torpedo Wharf - Parking Rates - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Back in my high school and college days this was the place I had gone to do my fishing and crabbing. Over the years gone less and less of course. And I believe 10 years ago was my last. 10 years ago there wasn't as much tourist so parking wasn't an issue and half the place doesn't look as nice as it currently is. And 10 years ago the water quality wasn't as bad. Now even buying crab from the stores I wonder how clean the water is several miles out since whales and other animals are dying too. read more

Torpedo Wharf - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - San Francisco, California

Torpedo Wharf is one of those landmarks in San Francisco that everyone should experience. It offers some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, a chance to watch local fisherman and you'll generally see some sea lions. I always pass Torpedo Wharf on my runs to Fort Point and you'll find me stopping there often. For some reason I love the little detour. Back in the day I used to do a lot of crab fishing on this pier. Grab a few libations, friends and you crab net and you're all set. The photos tagged in this post are a few years old but still embody those epic evenings. Make sure to take a detour to Torpedo Wharf, it's a great part of the area. read more

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Wow what an amazing view. Lots of people go fishing here. I am kind of tempted to try it myself in the future.Seeing the bridge from this close makes me actually believe it would be possible for me to bike or even run across it. For some reason I never thought it was possible and even though I had heard of people biking across the bridge. I did see something called the warming hut which I just closed five minutes after I arrived. I will need to visit that next time. The blinds to the windows were shot but it appeared to be some sort of shop. read more

Great spot for crabbing and fishing! Came here with a few friends and decided to drop the crab net down the pier. Within a few minutes, we were able to catch some nice size rock crabs. Didn't have much luck with the fishing poles, but maybe another time. On top of being a cool place to crab and fish, you can also get a really nice photo op of the Golden Gate Bridge. It's literally next to you. Remember to bring a coat! They have a parking lot, but park at your own risk after hours. read more

If you are visiting San Francisco for the first time, this has the very best view of the San Francisco Golden Gate bridge. It is a must-see stop in your trip! it is a great opportunity to take photos in front of the Golden Gate bridge, and people are very friendly, and are willing to take a photo of you and your group together. There are also public restrooms available, if you need to take a pit stop. It is really cool to see some fisherman trying to catch assortment of sea animals such as crab and other fish. read more

Torpedo Wharf - Best view of golden gate bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - San Francisco, California

This location is hard to find if you're coming from Sausalito area on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge. The maps app on my iPhone 5 gave us directions but didn't give us the entrance where cars could enter. Took a while to find, but it's worth it once you get there. Ended up getting there around 11am. We came prepared with fishing rods, bait, nets, tackle box, lures, extra line for our rigs, buckets, etc. the whole nine yards. Come prepared to this spot because the closest bait and tackle shop is on balboa street. Too far to easily reach. Parking: Seemed to be pretty limited but we managed to snag a spot. Six dollars for all day parking. Not a bad deal. Amenities: There is usually a gift shop and rest area for tourists to patronize. On this particular day, it was shut down due to the government shutdown. There's a bike shop just down the street, with many different bikes to offer. Also a trampoline place to bring kids and have family fun for the day. Looked like a nice place from the outside. The dock: It's a bit rustic looking with no railings. The wood isn't in very good shape and the cement pillars look pretty worn down. Other than that it's a great place to fish. Plenty of space so that you're not elbow to elbow with every other person fishing. The fish: Caught a crab. Good sized one but threw it back into the ocean. We used shrimp as bait. Went thru about a pound and a half of it between the two of us. Glad I brought my deep sea fishing rod. Definitely helped out a lot. My buddy also caught a bullhead and a jack smelt. Views: Spectacular views overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Couldn't have asked for better weather either. Sunny with practically no overcast. A little breezy but what can one expect right on the shore. I will definitely come back here to fish! read more

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Great place to stroll around and take pictures of the beautiful scenery of the Golden Gate Bridge and the sunset. Romantic for couples and fun for families. With Fort Mason right outside of this wharf, it's an easy walk to just stop and take in the views. Night time still attracts a lot of tourist to the views. There's a lot of fishermen and people crabbing along the side. With most of them pretty friendly. But watch out for the rude ones who tie their lines to the opposite poles, don't trip! Free parking after 5PM, but even so it's only meters. Good luck driving through to find the area in the dark! read more

Torpedo Wharf - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - San Francisco, California

Off in the water, uneven walking surface, many trip hazards but worth the vigilant and cautious walk for some Of the best views of the Golden Gate. read more

Torpedo Wharf - Torpedo Warf - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - San Francisco, California

This location also offers a great view of the golden gate bridge and the city! Other people come here for crabbing, but I love this place for the view. Be careful if you walk onto the pier. The ground is uneven and there are no safety railings to prevent people from falling into the ocean. Definitely not a place to bring young children. read more

Torpedo Wharf - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - San Francisco, California

Torpedo Wharf's pier was the first place I learned to fish for crab. The pier itself is sketchy with holes in the ground, and no railing to safeguard you from falling into the ocean, so please be careful; especially at night! There is a sign that list the difference between Rock crab (legal catch) and Dungeness crab (illegal catch). Please be informed further through fish and game to know the rules of what you may keep legally or be fined for your actions. Sea Lions will do their best to steal your bait so don't be shocked if you pull up a net with no bait and no crabs. Tides may change so be wary if using a net. I've seen fishermen catch a leopard shark from time-to-time on this pier. Unsure what other fish you may catch. There is a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge from this angle on clearer days so be prepared with a camera for good photo opportunities. There are BBQ pits near the park and a great grass area for outdoor activities on sunny days. read more

We came here to fish for crab. The views are absolutely gorgeous, with the Golden Gate Bridge almost overhead, and perfect views of Alcatraz, Angel Island, and the sunrise over the San Francisco skyline. The pier was busy when we arrived at 6 am, but we were able to find a spot. We got a good haul, of about 5 crabs within the first hour. Unfortunately, we were unable to catch anything after that, since we were joined by 4 or 5 sea lions who were raiding our nets in search of tasty bait. The currents will play with your net, so be wary of the nets getting snagged on the pier. read more

This is my favorite location whenever I visit San Francisco. Great view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city. I could sit here and gaze at the views for hours. Plenty of free parking is available on Hamilton St behind the Warming Hut Cafe. read more

This place is gorgeous and an excellent place to take a beginning fisher. Came here with a friend for my first time fishing and literally had fish biting on my hook every few minutes or so. Plentiful fish here (although we couldn't keep most of them since it's mating season). There's also just such a nice community here--everyone just bonds together and you have this mixture of tourists and the pro fishers who catch sharks and then show them off to the tourists. It's a friendly community and also gives you a spectacular view of the Golden Gate bridge on the right side. Probably best view of the bridge you're going to get on that respective side. read more

Absolutely the best view in the Bay Area. You alao catch a chance to see dolphins swim by. Plenty of parking. The best crabbing too but not so much fishing. If your coming to fish come early & leave before 9am. Anytime after 9 you will be bothered by floods of tourists asking you to take a pic for them. The tourists really kill the fishing vibe. read more

Torpedo Wharf - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love riding my bike over here. Great views of the GG Bridge. Picnic tables to rest or lunch at. read more

Torpedo Wharf - At night - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - San Francisco, California

Pros: Dirty, potholed, no railings, full of tourists and minorities. If you are looking for a posh destination, this is not it. Please stay away. Please do not convert my favorite spot into a spot like every other sanitized spot in America. First, the lack of railings enables you to feel the wind in your face, to feel the closeness of the ocean, and generally to get a little of that feeling you get standing on a rock over the ocean. If you dont like that, try Pier 39. It has railings and is very safe. The tourists are happy people. They are on holidays. They remind you just how blessed you are to be crabbing on this pier. They spend thousands of dollars to spend just 20 minutes at a place where you are crabbing for hours. The families with kids bring adorable boys who peer into your bucket and recoil with an "Ew!!!!" or a "Eek!", depending on whether your catch is slimy or waving a sharp claw. The look on their face, and on their parents seeing their kids reactions, is priceless. You want a "fishing vibe"? Go to Pacifica. I love the tourists. I love talking to people from all over the world. The potholes, the oil stains, the seaweed - this is a pier. These things are what make piers, well, piers. If you were to rip it up, you would be ripping up the tramlines where the torpedoes were brought out of the sheds to load onto the submarines in WWII. Please do not do that. The sealions are a menace, and one or two of the Pelicans can be downright scary. The seagulls defecate over everything. Yes, thats why I'm here and not in a strip mall. I like seeing nature face to face on its own terms. The minorities remind me that some people get their pleasures cheap, and perhaps dinner. It reminds me that this is how all our ancestors used to live. And when you sit and watch them, and their families, and talk to them, you realize that we are all the same. So whether you come here to meet the locals, the local wildlife or the tourists, remember that you are in one of the few places where you can interface with these all in one place, each on their own terms, and all in one of the best natural settings that the earth has to offer. If you like your pleasures sanitized, please stay at Pier 39 or other sanitized location. Somewhere where a sealion is something to take pictures of, not something you try and wrestle your trap up in time so he doesnt steal your dinner. Oh - and you cant catch the Dungeness crab here, because apparently the size limits are not enough to protect the baby crabs (2-3 inches) as they move to the sea. Personally, I think the size limits DO protect the breeding space, but it forces people onto tourist boats if they want to catch them - or to buy them from corporate fishing boats that clean out entire areas in days. Far better to allow Dungeness to be caught (under the usual size guidelines) and to cut the commercial season or quota (do they even have a quota?) by a few percent to compensate. They could even rent out crab traps to the tourists to give them happy memories. Too much common sense? One thing that infuriates me. The barrier between the golden gate road and the car park. If I come down and find the few spaces near the huts taken, I have to drive 2 miles to the Marina and back, polluting and spitting out CO2 as I go, and clogging the roads. Seriously? Why that barrier? Its not like it prevents me from parking there - it just forces me to drive around the long way. Another bright idea by some useless civil servant. So lets just give it 4.99 stars. read more

Not quite as good as a torpedo sandwich, but in a pinch, it will do.

Beautiful view on Monday, wished the Warming Hut had been open!

An Amazing spot to view the bridge from, chat with some fisherman, and even enjoy an interesting view of the city. Like other said, the wharf is a little uneven so you want to be very careful walking on it - especially if it's dark. read more