Leopard Shark Fishing Berkeley: Whole Boat Trips in the Bay

Leopard shark fishing in Berkeley is our Bay Shark trip. We fish for it inside San Francisco Bay, not out on the ocean. The species our trips target include leopard shark and sevengill shark, and this is the trip where we go after them. It is a whole boat trip, so the boat is yours and nobody you did not invite comes along. We list it as something different, and that is the honest way to put it. Maybe you have already done salmon or rockfish and want a change. Maybe you have a group that wants a day together on the Bay. Either way this trip is worth a look. If you are not sure it fits your group, ask the captain before you book.

When is the season? Our facts do not set fixed months for sharks, so the captain confirms shark dates by phone or message. What we can tell you is how the rest of our calendar runs, since shark days fit in around it. Salmon runs in July, September and October. Halibut is on the ocean side from April to August. Dungeness crab is November and December. Catch and release sturgeon runs January to April inside the Bay. If you have a date in mind for leopard shark fishing in Berkeley, reach out early and we will tell you what is open and what makes sense for that time of year.

The Bay Shark trip is $1,500 for the boat, for up to 6 guests. That is one price for the whole group, not a per angler rate. Our other trips include gear and tackle, and most include free fish cleaning, but the facts for the shark trip only list the whole boat rate. So ask the captain exactly what comes with the shark trip before you book, including gear and what happens with your catch. We would rather you know the details up front than find out at the dock.

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, six anglers on each boat. That is 12 anglers a day when both boats are out. Our captains are USCG licensed master captains. Capt. Ben Mechling runs the operation out of the Berkeley Marina, and the same boats fish salmon, halibut, lingcod, rockfish, bluefin tuna, sturgeon and Dungeness crab through the year. We carry a 5.0 rating across 170+ Google reviews. With six anglers at most, everyone gets a spot at the rail and the captain can actually help each person on board.

We leave from the Berkeley Marina at 201 University Avenue, Berkeley. Our home port is Berkeley, and we fish the waters around Berkeley, San Francisco, Oakland, Emeryville and San Francisco Bay. On a Bay Shark trip we stay inside the Bay. The captain gives you the meeting time and the plan for the day when you book, so you know when to show up and where to find the boat. If anything changes on your day, the captain will reach out to you directly.

What should you bring? On our trips the boat carries the fishing gear, and on most trips gear and tackle are included. For the Bay Shark trip, confirm with the captain what is on board and what you need to bring yourself. Bring anything you need to be comfortable for the day, along with your group. If you plan to take fish home, ask the captain what to bring for that too. When you book, ask for the full list and we will go over it with you.

Do I need a fishing license? Our facts do not cover licensing for the shark trip, so ask the captain when you book. The captain will tell you what each person in your group needs before the day. Do not assume either way. Sort it out ahead of time so nothing holds you up at the dock.

Can I keep a leopard shark? We do not list keep or release rules for sharks on this page, so we are not going to guess. Ask the captain about what can be kept on the day you fish. The captain will walk you through it before you go and on the boat. Our sturgeon trips are catch and release, and the captain handles those fish the same careful way.

Can I book just one seat on a shark trip? The Bay Shark trip is listed at a whole boat rate, $1,500 for up to 6 guests. If you are on your own or only have two or three people, you can still book it and have the boat to yourselves at that price. If you would rather pay by the seat, our per angler trips include salmon, halibut, lingcod and rockfish, the ocean potluck, bluefin tuna, crab and sturgeon. Ask the captain which one fits.

To book leopard shark fishing in Berkeley, go to reeladdictionsportfishingllc.com and use the Book a Trip button, or use the Contact page to reach the captain. Tell us your group size and the dates you are looking at, and the captain will confirm shark days, what is included and when to meet at 201 University Avenue. For tuna dates and last minute openings, follow Reel Addiction Sportfishing on Facebook. We post there first.