Want to haul in a fish bigger than you are? Halibut fishing is physically demanding, but halibut is an extremely rewarding and very tasty fish to land. If you like fishing but have never tried a halibut trip, give it a shot! You'll never forget it, especially if you reel in one weighing over 100 pounds!

Every year the season gets shorter and shorter. Ironically, this is because the halibut stocks are increasing, so the weight quota gets filled incredibly fast. Instead of increasing the quota, they shorten the season. Tax dollars at work....

Boats depart BY 4:30 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 3:30 and 4:00 a.m.

Better yet, check in the night before. If you come into town the night before, the office is usually open until 5 p.m., and sometimes later. On Friday and Saturday nights, we'll be open until at least 7 p.m. If at all possible, please check in the night before and get your boarding pass so you can go directly to the boat the morning of your trip. It will save you from having to get up even earlier to avoid the morning checkin lines.

Generally, you may board a boat as soon as the Captain or deckhand is aboard, but not before. 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 before then.

Licenses Everyone who fishes is required by the State of Washington to have a Washington State Saltwater Food Fish license for all ocean fishing (except albacore tuna). 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 for $8 at the Ocean Charters office when you check in.

Fishing Derby The Fishing Derby is sponsored by the Westport Charterboat Association. The Derby runs Sunday through Thursday, with a weekly prize of half of the ticket sales, up to $500 for the biggest bottomfish (Lingcod, Blackcod, or Cabezon). During Halbut season, the money is split 60/40 between the biggest halbut and the biggest bottomfish. At the end of the season, the biggest halibut 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 arrangements 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 is provided on the boats for halibut fishing. Because of the depths involved, we need to have all of the gear be the same.

Safety First! Ocean Charters prides itself on having the safest boats and the safest, most experienced Captains possible. Bad weather, such as rain and even some wind, will not cause a trip cancellation. If it is less than ideal weather but 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 he can tell for sure if he has to cancel the trip.