SF Party Boat Recommendation

The company that bought our company want us to put on a training course in San Francisco for our international sales force.  They have suggested a fishing trip as an entertainment option.  I was hoping someone could provide a recommendation or dis recommendation as appropriate for a charter sport fishing boat out of San Francisco.  The trip will be in late August or September.  I have never fished from a party boat so any information will be welcome.  I am assuming there will be rockfish and hopefully also salmon trips at that time.  We would be expecting anywhere from 15 to 40 more or less?

This new company may turn out to be OK to work for after all.   

Etienne, I hear good things about Capt Wacky Jacky out of SF, though I am not sure which boat she skippers or how many she can take out.  I will ask around.

Not too many party boats can take more than 25.  Out of Emeryville I like the New Seeker skippered by Harry Garabedian and his deckhand Tom is good.  They're not the bad guys.  Superfish goes for salmon then and can take maybe 30.  You can call Craig Stone at Emeryville Sportfishing 510-654-6040, if leaving from Emeryville is okay.   www.emeryvillesportfishing.com is the site - they have 2 or 3 boats for salmon that time of year - Craig can tell you which one can take the most people.  Shim is a good captain too, out of there.

I think the Goldeneye can take more people, and it may be out of Berkeley.

Here, I just found this page - should help:

http://www.sfsportfishing.com/fleet_page.html

That will be a fun trip!

Queen of Hearts, out of Pillar Point Harbor north of San Mateo), takes up to 35. And it doesn't take an hour to get out of the Bay like it does for boats leaving Berkeley or Emeryville. C-Gull II out of Emeryville. Don Wong, is a great boat too. Free parking at either place.

BTW, Jacky Douglas skippers the Wacky Jacky at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, but parking is an issue there.

I too would recommend the Queen of Hearts, then there is Dennis Baxter who is Capt of the New Capt Pete, then any other boat out of Half Moon Bay.

Emeryville is a real good choice - also out of Suasalito is the Outer Limits - I haven't been out with them recently I really prefer the six pack boats these days. But Capt. Jim Roberts is a real nice guy with a fast stable ride.

Here is a good web site for SF bay boats in general http://www.sfsportfishing.com/

Jeff

also out of Suasalito is the Outer Limits

Great choice for rookies with that Cat hull very stable and a lot of room.

I've been doing the PB thing for a loooong time.  For a company trip like that I'd stick with an Emeryville potluck trip.  Around that time you'll have a shot at hog salmon, Island rockies/lings or Bay butts/stripers and still be able to duck in away from the weather should it not cooperate.  The Emeryville fleet is all about service, very important when you're going out with people that have little to no experience.  My recomendation would be the New Huck Finn, Jay will put you on the fish and always has a top notch crew with multiple DH's to take care of you.  C-Gull and NSQ are also a good call. I've fished alot of ports, HMB is better suited toward an experienced crew.  BTW...not all boats are good you can pm me for a list I wouldn't patronize and the reasons why.

       

Etienne, Jay out of Emeryville is a safe choice. Great Capt. Boat and crew. Sounds like you need SF though. good luck and have fun. Randall

If your group is big enough to charter the whole boat, the captain may be willing to pick your group up in SF.

Thank you all for your contributions.  I will do some research based on your recommendations and let you know what we end up doing.  Of course if we do go fishing I will post a report and if we have extra space I  may also post a hookup. 

Check out USAfishing.com  most of the party boats in our area report on this site.  A few things you may not like about the SF Wharf Fleet is the Parking and climbing down the ladders to get on the boats.

Ken kickfish

I appreciate the parking concern but I am not too worried about that.  Most of the people will be from out of town and will be staying in a hotel near the office which is near the wharf and has parking.  I don't think they will be driving.  The ladder point is a good one though considering who might want to go.