Lingcod Fishing Berkeley: Reef Trips From the Berkeley Marina

If you searched for lingcod fishing in Berkeley, this is the trip. We run out of the Berkeley Marina to the coastal reefs and fish for lingcod and a mixed bag of rockfish. We call it the reliable one. Of all the trips on our list, this is the one we point people to when they ask about their best odds of a full sack. It suits a lot of people. You do not need to bring your own gear or know the reefs. If you want a day of steady fishing and fish to take home, this is a good place to start. It works for a first trip with us and for people who fish all the time.

When can you go? Our home page lists salmon, lingcod and rockfish as on right now. Lingcod also shows up in our Crab Combo, which runs in November and December. That trip pairs Dungeness crab with lingcod or rockfish. I am not going to put exact opening and closing dates for lingcod on this page. Dates on the water can change, and I would rather you hear the current answer from me. Give the captain a call and he will confirm what is open and which days are still available. If you are planning around a holiday or a visit to the Bay, ask early. Weekends tend to go first.

What does it cost? The Lingcod & Rockfish trip is $330 per angler, with up to 6 guests on the boat. Gear is included and so is cleaning. Your fish comes back cleaned, so you leave with fillets and not a cooler of work. If you want the boat to yourselves, the Whole Boat Lingcod & Rockfish trip is $1,980 for the boat, up to 6 anglers. One price, nobody you did not invite. There is also the Ocean Potluck at $330 per angler, or $1,980 for the whole boat. On that trip the captain picks between lingcod, rockfish or halibut, whichever the conditions are pointing at on the day. The Crab Combo is $350 per angler, or $2,100 for the whole boat.

Reel Addiction Sportfishing is a small, captain-run charter out of the San Francisco Bay Area. Capt. Ben Mechling runs it. We have two 30-foot six-pack boats and two licensed captains. Each boat takes six anglers, so between the two boats we can put 12 anglers a day on the water. Our captains are USCG licensed master captains. A six-pack boat keeps the group small. That means more room at the rail and more time with the captain when you have a question or need a hand with a fish. Besides lingcod and rockfish, the same boats run salmon, halibut, bluefin tuna, sturgeon, sharks and Dungeness crab.

We leave from 201 University Avenue, Berkeley, at the Berkeley Marina. That is our home port. The areas we fish include Berkeley, San Francisco, San Francisco Bay, Oakland and Emeryville, and the lingcod trip heads out to the coastal reefs. Your check-in time and departure time come from the captain when you book. Ask about parking and where to find the boat at the same time, so you are not hunting for it in the morning. Once everyone is aboard, the captain will go over the boat and the plan for the day before we head out to the reefs.

What should you bring? Less than you think. All gear is on the boat for the Lingcod & Rockfish trip, and cleaning is included, so you do not need rods, reels, tackle or a fillet knife. Bring yourself and whoever is fishing with you. For anything beyond that, like food, drinks, clothing or how to carry your fish home, ask the captain when you book. He will tell you what makes sense for the day you are going out.

Do I need a fishing license? The rules on licenses are something I want you to hear straight from the captain, not from a web page. Ask him when you book and he will tell you what you need before your trip. That way nobody shows up at the dock missing something.

What if the lingcod are not the best bet that day? That is what the Ocean Potluck is for. You book it and the captain chooses between lingcod, rockfish or halibut based on what the conditions are pointing at. If you just want to fish and trust the call, that trip fits. If your heart is set on lingcod, book the Lingcod & Rockfish trip and talk with the captain about it.

Can I bring my own group? Yes. Take the whole boat. The Whole Boat Lingcod & Rockfish trip is $1,980 for up to 6 anglers. It works well for family, friends or coworkers who want the day to themselves. If your group is bigger than six, ask the captain about the second boat, since we run two.

Ready to go lingcod fishing in Berkeley? Use the Book a Trip button on this site to pick your day and lock in a seat or the whole boat. If you have questions about dates, what to bring or which trip fits your group, reach out to Capt. Ben Mechling through the Contact page and he will sort it out with you. You can also follow Reel Addiction Sportfishing on Facebook. That is where we post new dates first. We will see you at the Berkeley Marina.