The Westport charter boat season begins each year with the opening of the bottom fish season, the middle of March. From the name you can guess that during these trips we are seeking the pinnacle-dwelling, or “bottom fish” of the area. We primarily target sea bass, also called rock fish, and ling cod. Bottom fishing is fun for several reasons: you get the most fish (ten rocks plus two lings per limit) and they’re the easiest to catch compared to our other fisheries. Plus, at only $99, it's the least expensive day of fishing!

 Bottom fishing trips depart seven days a week. Boats depart the dock no later than 7am. Where you go for rock fish depends on where the fish are biting that particular week. We fish on rock formations anywhere from outside the harbor up to Point Grenville, located two hours north of the harbor.

   Most of our boats use a lead/lure/bait combination to fish for Ling Cod. We use eight- to 12-ounce leads, depending on how strong the current is. Different boats in our fleet use different lure combinations. Most boats will target rock fish using a set of double shrimp flies. Ling cod are attracted  with large herring or squid on a leader below the weight.

   Once the captain reaches the area where he wants to fish, he’ll stop the boat and either anchor or set a drift. He’ll tell you how far down he’s seeing fish on the finder. Be cautious and listen to the crew when you drop your line down: if the fish are at 60 feet, don’t go more than that many pulls on your line, or you’ll get stuck on the rocks below and lose your lead. If that happens, you’ll have stop and take the time get a new leader and meanwhile, the person next you could get the big fish of the day!

   When you’re bottom fishing you don’t have to yell “fish on” like with salmon, mainly because since each person on the boat is allowed ten sea bass we’d have everyone yelling all day. When you do get your rock fish close to the boat, either call out “I’ve got color here,” (meaning you can see the color of the fish) or reach out like I do: grab your line and haul the fish into the boat. Then you can unhook him (if you’re brave) or wait for the captain or crew to do so. If you want to unhook your own fish, bring a good pair of gloves with you (rubberized, like Atlas gloves).

   When fishing for lings, do NOT pull the fish out of the water. Lings tend to thrash and you may lose him. Just call out “color!” and keep the fish just below the surface while you wait for crew to net him. We are allowed to keep any lings exceeding 22 inches in length.

   Another thing to remember is always grab your lead (sinker) as you swing the fish over onto the deck  This is the case for all your fishing trips except tuna: hang onto the lead unless the crew says otherwise. They can do some real damage to body parts.

   Just as with our other fisheries, we do what’s called “fishing for the boat” in Westport. That means that you don’t have to stop fishing when you get your limit. We fish until the boat has its limit (in some cases of inclement weather we may have to head in without a full load of fish). Since the captain and crew also have their licenses you keep fishing and keep the biggest fish for yourself.

   Once fishing is done, the Captain will say something like "reel 'em in; we're heading home." Now it's time to relax and finish your lunch, or you can sit out on the back deck and watch the deckhand fillet the customers' fish. He'll bag each set; you'll get your bag once the boat is back at the dock. Don't forget to tip and thank him when you walk off the boat!