Need rockfish charter boat suggestions - HMB or SC area

Need to plan a company fishing trip in July.  Most likely will be for rockfish.  I've only been out on couple trips, but out of Emeryville/Berkeley area so I'm not too familiar about other areas.

Most of the anglers will be first timers/beginners so I wanted to plan a trip where they'll be put on some good fishin'.

Looking for any suggestions for charter boats out of Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz if possible.  A boat that can handle about 20-25 people would be good.  If anyone here can chime in on their past experience with charter boats in these areas, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance. 

I would go out of HMB; less travel time on the water to the fishing grounds, means more time on the water to fish!

Hulicat or Gravy II are my recommendations!!!

Queen of Hearts
www.fishingboat.com

+1 for Queen of Hearts
www.fishingboat.com

also Tigerfish is very good

I've chartered Tigerfish few times- Capt Allen is a pro and will work with you to accommodate any special request. In fact, I had specail charter for family fishing trip last year with young anglers.  He will make sure u have limits and a great fishing experience!  http://tigerfishsportfishing.com/index.php

Call Allen at (650) 455-9599

Fish strong!
D

Might want to get on a boat that does crab too, the HMB ticket office will tell you they don't do it, but there are boats in HMB that do, you might have to research it a little more. nothing better than a little crab to go with you rockfish!

Yeah, out of HMB I'd go with any boat other that the QoH.  Crab will be out of season in July.


Why have Emerryville and Berkeley been ruled out?  Best customer service, skippers fish all day and burn fuel to get fish if they have to. There were a couple of the east bay boats fishing that block of salmon that moved up to Pigeon point last month.....that is a long freakin haul.  Plus July is prime for live bait potluck fishing, which is a great experience in itself for people that have never been on the water before. May have an early shot at salmon.  If everyone gets sick you can ask to come back in the bay and fish stripers and butts.     

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. 

Emeryville/Berkeley hasn't been ruled out, just that I was looking to try a different area for a change. 

What is live bait potluck fishing?  Just going out for any fish?  Never been on one of those charters so I'm not familiar with it, but how productive are they and what type of fish tend to be caught usually?

Live bait potluck is very newb friendly.  You start by cruising accross the bay into the city and stopping at pier 39 to load the bait tanks. Gives folks a chance to get used to being on the boat and get their sea legs in order, plus the view of the city from the waterfront at sunrise is killer.  The rest is up to the fish and weather, the boats will target whatever bite has been hot in or outside of the bay. In july I've had bass (bay rocks and beach), halibut (bay and bar), rockfish and lings (along marin up to pt reyes or out at the islands), salmon outside the gate.  Tackle for live bait is just a 3 way rig and a 4-8 oz sinker (unless you're fishing salmon), super basic.           

Halibut has been kind of scratchy lately, they just got bait in the receivers so the live bait season is just starting.  As far as catch goes, I don't think you can get around the "fishing" part of the deal, nothing is guarenteed but I've never been on a bad trip.  The fishing is tide dependent, sometimes you get periods of inactivity then all hell brakes loose.

You may wanna schedule the trip for live bait rockfish and just go from there, I'm sure whichever skipper you picked wiould be cool with that.

 

Why are you dissing the Queen of Hearts without saying why? Every boat has its pluses and minuses.

Queen of Hearts
www.fishingboat.com

+ contact capt Bob or Sherry, Heather is the deckhand and very hard worker...good luck...

Why are you dissing the Queen of Hearts without saying why? Every boat has its pluses and minuses.

Aside from the boat having a history of playing slalom with my bros on the san mateo coast, I've had poor trips that had nothing to do with the fish.  Besides I didn't diss it, I said its the last boat I'd ride, especially for a charter.  Given the number of quality skippers and crews we have here on the central coast I wouldn't settle for mediocre.  From my experiences its like getting a ride from a cab vs getting limo service.     

IMO

HMB- New Capt. Pete                       Dennis Baxter     free comedy act
S Cruz- Stagnaro's Sportfishing         Ken Stagnaro     newest nicest boat on the coast
Monterey- Chris' Sportfishing-           Any  skipper       Been here forever, great catch rate
SF Bay- New Huck Finn (Emeryville)  Jay Yokomizo      Best on the Bay Halibut/Stripers

All good boats/crews

Allen