California Halibut Fishing in Berkeley, Ocean Side Trips

If you searched for california halibut fishing Berkeley, this is the trip you want. We run it out of the Berkeley Marina and fish the ocean side for California halibut. It is a flat fish, and the reason people come back for it is simple. Big fillets. This trip suits anyone who wants a good fish for the table and a day on the water without having to figure anything out. You do not need your own gear. You do not need to know where to go. That part is our job. Beginners do fine. People who have fished for years do fine too. If you want to put halibut on the dinner table, this is the one to book.

The halibut season runs April to August. That is the stretch we fish California halibut on the ocean side, all summer long. If you want the whole boat to yourselves for halibut, that option runs after July. Dates fill up, and the summer weekends go quickest. If you are planning a visit to the Bay next spring, you can lock in a halibut date now. For exact dates this year, and for anything about how the season is shaping up, the captain confirms it by phone.

A seat on the Ocean Halibut trip is $300 per angler, with up to 6 guests on the boat. Everything you need is on the boat, and cleaning is included. So you show up, you fish, and your halibut goes home ready to cook. If you would rather have the boat to yourselves, the Whole Boat Ocean Halibut trip is $1,800 for the boat, up to 6 guests, after July. One price, and nobody on board you did not invite. There is also the Ocean Potluck at $330 per angler, or $1,980 for the whole boat. On that one the captain picks lingcod, rockfish or halibut, whichever the conditions are pointing at on the day.

Reel Addiction Sportfishing is a small, captain-run charter out of the San Francisco Bay Area. We run two 30-foot six-pack boats with two licensed captains. Each boat takes six anglers, so that is twelve anglers a day across both boats. The captains hold USCG master licenses. Capt. Ben Mechling runs the operation out of Berkeley. Our home port is the Berkeley Marina, and we fish around Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, San Francisco and San Francisco Bay, then out to the ocean side for halibut. We hold a 5.0 rating across 170+ Google reviews. A six-pack boat means a small group. You get room at the rail and the captain is right there if you need a hand.

We depart from 201 University Avenue, Berkeley, at the Berkeley Marina. That is where you meet the boat. Departure times can change with the season and the conditions, so the captain confirms your start time when you book. Get there with a little time to spare so you can park, find the boat and get settled. Once everyone is aboard, we head out and run to the ocean side, where the halibut are. From there it is fishing until it is time to come home. When we get back to the dock, your catch is cleaned and ready to take with you.

On the halibut trip, everything you need is on the boat. That means the rods, the reels and the tackle are covered. You do not need to buy or rent anything to fish. Cleaning is included too, so you do not need to bring a fillet knife. For anything personal, like food, drinks, clothing or something to carry your fish home in, ask the captain when you book and he will tell you what makes sense for the day. If you are unsure about anything, just ask. It is easier to sort it out on the phone than on the dock.

Do I need a fishing license? The captain will go over licensing with you when you book. Rules can apply differently to different people, so ask him directly rather than guessing. He will tell you exactly what you need before the day of your trip.

What if the halibut are not the best bet on my day? That is what the Ocean Potluck is for. You book it and the captain picks the target. It could be lingcod, rockfish or halibut, whichever the conditions are pointing at on the day. It is $330 per angler, up to 6 guests. If you have your heart set on halibut, book the Ocean Halibut trip and talk to the captain about what to expect for your date.

Can I bring a group and take the whole boat? Yes. The Whole Boat Ocean Halibut trip is $1,800 for the boat, up to 6 guests, after July. It works well for families, friends or a work group who want the boat to themselves. Before that, you can book seats on the Ocean Halibut trip at $300 per angler, or ask the captain about other whole boat options. For anything about how many people, how many fish, or what else you can do on board, ask the captain.

To book california halibut fishing in Berkeley with Reel Addiction Sportfishing, use the Book a Trip button on this site. Pick your trip, pick your day, and you are set. If you have questions about dates, start times, licensing or what to bring, reach out through the Contact page and the captain will get back to you. You can also follow us on Facebook, which is where we post new dates first. Book a seat, or take the whole boat. We will see you at the Berkeley Marina.