Can't wait to get out on the water and start hauling in fish? Rockfish are always plentiful and good eating. Ling Cod are real battlers, and tasty too! One of our customers recently hauled up a Ling Cod weighing nearly 30 pounds!

Bottom Fishing Season. Bottomfishing usually starts around March. Even with a limit of 10 rockfish and 2 Ling Cod per person, our boats almost always completely limit out! It's ALWAYS a great bottomfish season. And keep an eye out for a chance to do one of our Salmon/Bottomfish combo trips. Fill your freezer with one day of fishing!

Boats depart by 7:00 a.m. from Float #6 (right across the street from the office). It takes time to get everyone checked in and onto the boats, so please plan to check in at the office between 6 and 6:30 a.m. If you come into town the night before, the office is usually open until 5 p.m., and sometimes later. If you check in the night before and get your boarding pass, you can go directly to the boat the morning of your trip, which makes it easier for everyone.

You may board a boat early, IF the Captain or a deckhand is on board. Boats will leave early if all passengers show up early. BOATS WILL NOT WAIT FOR YOU IF YOU ARE LATE!!! Boats return between 3 and 4 p.m., earlier if the boat limits out earlier.

Licenses Everyone who fishes is required by the State of Washington to have a Washington State Saltwater Food Fish license for all ocean fishing. If you have one, be sure to show it when you check in. If you do not have one, you can purchase a 2-day license at the Ocean Charters office when you check in.

Fishing Derby The Fishing Derby is sponsored by the Westport Charterboat Association. The Bottomfish Derby runs Sunday through Saturday, with a weekly prize being half of the ticket sales, up to $500 for the biggest bottomfish (Lingcod, Blackcod, or Cabezon). During halibut season, the prize money will be split between the biggest halibut and the biggest bottomfish. During salmon season, the prize money goes up to $500 for the biggest salmon and $100 for the biggest bottomfish. At the end of the season, the biggest ling cod of the year receives an additional $1,000 prize. Tickets cost $5 each, and can be purchased at the office when you check in.

Sun protection Bring sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and lip balm, even on cloudy days. The water reflects and amplifies the sun's rays, so you can get very sunburned if you don't protect yourself.

Lunch Bring a brown-bag lunch, including beverages. You can get a box lunch the morning of your trip at any of several places: Coley's, right next door to the office; at Castaways; or at the Inn of the Westwind. The Islander Motel will provide you with a box lunch if you make arrangments the night before. As with everything else, make sure you leave plenty of time in the morning to take care of this.

Drinks. All boats have coffee. Bring all other drinks with you, including bottled water. Make sure you have enough to drink - there's no store once you're out there. Alcohol is permitted on the boats; on the Lucky Pierre and Hawk II, beer and wine only please.

Wear layers. It is best to dress in several layers instead of one heavy coat. This allows you to more easily adjust to the weather as it changes through the day.

Raingear and non-slip rubber boots. If you don't have these, bring old clothes and shoes that don't slip. Even on a clear, sunny day, fishing can be a wet and messy business.

Cameras or video recorders are a good optional item to have with you.

We provide all fishing gear. All needed gear and bait are provided on the boats for bottom fishing.

Safety First! Ocean Charters prides itself on having the safest boats and the safest, most experienced Captains possible. Bad weather, including rain and wind, will not cause a trip cancellation. As long as it is safe, the boats will go out. However, if the Captain feels that the situation is not safe, he will cancel the trip. Sometimes, the boats will get out to the "bar" (where the boats cross out of Westport's natural harbor area and into the deep-water ocean) before the Captain can tell for sure if he has to cancel the trip.

If you have any other questions, please call. --- Thank you & have fun!