Just so happens I'll be right next to Berkeley peir this friday and will have all afternoon to fish my heart out. Been hearing some butts been coming out of there but (no pun intended) does anyone have experience fishing here?

I've never fished for halibut before but I plan on soaking frozen anchovies/squid under a bobber (just above the floor) and maybe tossing out a drop-shotted jerkbait if that gets boring.

I've been there twice in the winter but got skunked both times.
The pier is the longest I've ever seen. You will need to walk to the end of the pier(about 3000ft) for catching halibut. Maybe you will have better luck in the spring.

Yea, I've seen a few reports of people getting them already (not many but they're there) and this is supposed to be a hotter time for them. I dunno, we'll see just really wish I could get some live bait.

The halibut fishing is not as usual this year. This is due to the fact that we had a lot of rain this winter and spring, and the massive freshwater runoff from the delta into the bay has changed the water conditions. There have been a few halibut caught, but it was before the heavy storms. I fished BP recently, and when retying, I had the line in my mouth and it didn't taste salty at all. The salinity as of last weekend was way low. The halibut will then move out of the area, as they like water with higher salinity. 2-3 years ago when we had a drought, record numbers of halibut were being caught in the bay.

I've also had a recent discussion with a BP OG, about the salinity. When throwing castnets for live bait, he's noticed some particles and color in shallow water, indicating a possible halocline. It will probably take a couple weeks of good weather for the salinity to return to levels that halibut prefer. By the way, there is bait around the pier, as I have seen birds diving for smelt and shiners. Good luck.

Ouch, oh well won't hurt to get my lines wet, maybe I should also bring a line for stripers, they shouldn't be bothered by the salinity, right?

As expected, spent about 4 hours there not a bite...well except for some half-shelled muscle of some sort. Birds were even hiding.

Im sure the wind didnt help any. Where on the pier were you and what did you throw out for bait? Maybe we can make some suggestions on what to try next time.

Yea it was pretty damn windy, only saw 4 other anglers out there, it was a ghost town. Me and a guy I fished with tossed sandworms/cut sardines/clams and various plugs and jigs, nothing. Wish I had some live bait but couldn't even find any bait to catch.

Keep trying. The fish will be there anyday now.