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Elite SF Lingcod Charter | HelpUFish Offshore
- Published Date: September 11, 2025
- Fishing
- San Francisco
- $1,100 - $3,000 price range
Summary
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Offshore Action Shots
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San Francisco's Ultimate Lingcod Adventure
Get ready for a full day of fishing action on the Pacific! Our San Francisco Deep Sea Fishing Charter takes you straight to the hotspots where big lingcod lurk. With 8 hours on the water, you'll have plenty of time to master your technique and fill the cooler. Plus, we're throwing in some crab action to sweeten the deal. Whether you're a seasoned angler or bringing the whole family along, this trip's got something for everyone.
What's the Deal?
We'll push off from the dock at 6:30 AM sharp, so grab your coffee and be ready to roll. The boat's set up for 6 guests max, which means you'll have room to move and plenty of attention from the captain. We're talking prime fishing season from mid-April through New Year's Eve. You'll be targeting those hard-fighting lingcod, but don't be surprised if you hook into some other tasty bottom-dwellers too. And let's not forget about the crab - nothing beats fresh Dungeness for dinner!
Rods, Reels, and Crab Pots
Our captains know these waters like the back of their hand, so you're in good hands. We'll start by dropping some crab pots - you'll get to help set them and learn the tricks of the trade. Then it's time to rig up for lingcod. We use heavy-duty bottom fishing setups with strong lines and sharp hooks. You'll be dropping baits and jigs down to the rocky structure where the big ones hide. The key is to feel for that telltale "thump" when a ling grabs your bait. Set the hook hard and get ready for a fight - these fish don't give up easily!
Why Anglers Keep Coming Back
Folks love this trip because it's the best of both worlds. You get the thrill of battling big, aggressive fish, plus the chance to haul in some of the best-eating crab on the coast. It's perfect for groups who want a little variety in their day. The long trip time means you're not rushed, and there's plenty of opportunity to learn from the pros. Plus, there's nothing like the satisfaction of putting your own catch on the table at the end of the day.
Lingcod: The Prize Fighter
Lingcod are the undisputed champs of the Pacific rockfish scene. These aggressive predators can grow over 5 feet long and top 70 pounds, though most you'll catch are in the 5-20 pound range. Don't let their ugly mugs fool you - they're some of the best-eating fish in the sea. Lingcod love to hang around rocky structure and kelp beds, often in depths from 50 to 300 feet. They're ambush predators, so once you find their haunts, you can often catch multiple fish from the same spot. The bite can be hot year-round, but fall and winter tend to see the biggest fish move shallower. When a big ling hits, hold on tight - their powerful runs and head-shaking fights will test your gear and your arms!
Bonus Round: Dungeness Crab
While lingcod are the stars of the show, don't sleep on the crab action. Dungeness crab are prized for their sweet, tender meat, and San Francisco Bay is famous for them. The commercial season typically runs from November through June, but on a charter, you can often catch them year-round (with proper licensing). We'll set pots early in the day and check them before heading home. There's nothing quite like pulling up a pot full of big, feisty Dungeness. Just remember, there are size and catch limits, so listen to your captain's instructions. A couple of good-sized keepers can feed a family, and they're incredible steamed or turned into crab cakes.
What to Bring and Know
Dress in layers - San Francisco weather can change fast out on the water. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. We provide all the fishing gear, but if you've got a favorite rod you want to use, run it by the captain first. Don't forget your camera - you'll want proof when you're telling fish stories later! A small cooler for drinks and snacks is a good idea, as meals aren't included. And speaking of food, you might want to bring some motion sickness meds if you're prone to seasickness. Better safe than sorry when you're offshore for 8 hours.
Conservation Matters
We're all about sustainable fishing here. Lingcod populations are generally healthy, but we follow all size and bag limits to keep it that way. Your captain will help you identify your catch and make sure you're following regulations. We practice catch-and-release for any fish we're not keeping, and we're always happy to teach proper handling techniques. It's all about making sure there are plenty of fish for future generations to enjoy.
Time to Get Your Fish On!
This San Francisco Deep Sea Fishing Charter is the real deal for anyone looking to experience the best offshore action the Bay Area has to offer. With a full day on the water, expert guidance, and the chance to target both prized lingcod and delicious Dungeness crab, it's an unbeatable value. Whether you're a serious angler or just looking for a fun day out with family and friends, this trip delivers. Spots fill up fast, especially during peak season, so don't wait to book. Get ready to make some memories and bring home some serious bragging rights (and dinner). See you on the water!
Learn more about the specie
Lingcod
Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus)
Lingcods (Ophiodon elongatus) or Ling Cods are a popular saltwater gamefish of the Hexagrammids family. Despite the name, they’re not actually cods but greenlings. They have elongated bodies that narrow toward the tail. Thanks to their wicked set of huge sharp teeth, spiny dorsal fins, and grey, brown, and greenish speckled coloring, they have a pretty gnarly appearance. They are also sometimes called “Buckethead” because of their particularly large head and mouth.
Lingcods are often found in rocky seafloor among seaweeds, kelps, and eelgrass. They use their mottled coloring to blend in their environment and ambush unsuspecting fishes, squids, crabs, octopus, and other smaller lingcods. Adults spawn between December and April, often in shallow waters over rocky reefs with strong tidal currents. They reproduce externally—meaning, the females just deposit their eggs in rocky crevices and leave, while the males find and fertilize them. And after the eggs are fertilized, the males become territorial and guard their nests from predators for eight to ten weeks. When the eggs hatch, they just feed on zooplankton until they’re big enough to prey on smaller fishes.
Interesting Facts About Lingcods
- The largest reported Lingcod caught was sixty inches long and weighed around eighty-five pounds.
- Lingcods are known to be voracious carnivores.
- They eat anything that can fit in their huge mouth.
- They are cannibalistic.
- A female can deposit from 40,000 to 500,000 eggs in a single spawning season.
- Females are significantly larger than males.
- They have been known to attack humans, especially during spawning seasons.
- They are bottom dwellers and prefer to be solitary.
- They typically don’t stray too far away from their home.
- They only migrate to mate and have been known to go back to their home base after spawning.
- They can live for up to twenty-five years in the wild.
- They’ve become a near-endangered species due to overfishing in the late 90’s.
- Multiple regulations such as catch and size limitations have been put into place.
- Lingcod population have since stabilized.
- They can be caught all year round.
Lingcod Average Speed and Size
Lingcods aren’t really known to flee from any predator—including humans. In fact, because of their aggressive nature, they’d rather fight it out with you than try to escape. One other thing about Lingcods is that they’re a pretty lazy fish in general and usually rest with their belly lying on the bottom. So knowing their average speed is not really going to be helpful if you’re going Lingcod fishing.
Females are much bigger than males. On average, females usually grow for more than two feet; while males often just grow less than two feet in length.
Where to Find Them
Lingcods are endemic throughout the west coast of North America. Most, however, are found in the coasts of British Columbia and Washington. If you’re going for the big ones, your best bet will be in Alaska where 70-pounder monsters have been reported.
They usually live near shore with rocky reefs from thirty to three-hundred feet. You’d probably find them in their dark and rocky lairs at the bottom where they lie still to ambush preys. They also love to dwell in areas that have strong currents.
Lingcod Fishing Tips
Lingcods may be aggressive when it comes to fighting for territory and food, but they can be easy to catch once you’re able to pull them away from their rocky home. If you’re going Lingcod fishing, here are some tips you might find helpful:
- Tackle – a medium weight conventional setup is enough to handle this gnarly fish. But because this fish lives in rocky underwater terrains, you may have to use a braided line of at least 30lbs. as it’s more durable; and at the same time, it doesn’t stretch that much, thus, allowing for a more effective hookset.
- Lure – we highly recommend metal jigs for Lingcod fishing as many anglers have been successful with one.
- Bait – you can use either live or dead—it’s all up to you—as Lingcods usually just grab anything they would find.
