Garibaldi Bottom Fishing: 8-Hour Shared Charter
Shared Trip
Offshore Fishing
Full-day bottom fishing charter off Oregon CoastSmall group experience with maximum two guestsAll fish cleaning and crab cooking included
Captain Craig Izzi knows these Oregon waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some serious bottom fish just off the Garibaldi coast. This isn't your typical crowded party boat situation – we're talking a max of 2 anglers, so you get the personal attention that makes all the difference between going home with stories or going home with a cooler full of fresh fillets. The Oregon coast serves up some of the best bottom fishing on the West Coast, and when conditions line up right, you're looking at shots at lingcod, rockfish, halibut, and black sea bass that'll have you planning your next trip before this one's over.
You'll meet Craig at the Garibaldi harbor bright and early, ready for a full 8-hour day targeting the rocky reefs and structure that hold Oregon's prized bottom fish. The beauty of fishing with Izzi's Big Mouth Guide Service is the intimate setup – with just 2 spots available, you're not fighting for rail space or waiting in line to get your bait down. Craig runs a tight ship but keeps things relaxed, sharing decades of local knowledge about reading the sonar, working the tides, and putting baits right where the big fish live. We're talking about dropping lines in 80 to 200 feet of water, working the productive bottom structure that makes the Oregon coast famous among serious anglers. Ocean conditions dictate our exact spots, but Craig's got backup plans for his backup plans. Plus, all your fish cleaning is included, and if we get into some crab, Craig will cook them up fresh right on the boat.
We fish heavy tackle out here because Oregon bottom fish don't mess around. You'll be using conventional reels spooled with braided line, dropping 12 to 16-ounce sinkers to punch through the current and get your baits down to where the fish are holding. The standard rig is a spreader bar setup with circle hooks, loaded with fresh cut bait – think herring, anchovies, or whatever's running hot that day. Craig provides all the tackle, but if you've got your own bottom fishing gear, bring it along. The key to success is feeling the bottom, keeping contact with your weight, and recognizing when a lingcod or rockfish picks up your offering. These fish don't always slam the bait like a surface strike – sometimes it's just a subtle weight on the line, and that's where Craig's coaching pays off. He'll walk you through reading your rod tip, setting the hook with circle hooks, and working fish up through the water column without losing them to the rocky structure below.
Lingcod are the kings of Oregon bottom fishing, and these aggressive predators can push 20 to 30 pounds when you find the right reef. They're ambush feeders that love rocky pinnacles and underwater structure, hanging motionless until something tasty swims by. Spring through fall offers the best lingcod action, with bigger fish often holding in deeper water during summer months. What makes lingcod so exciting is their attitude – they'll grab your bait and fight dirty, trying to wrap you around every rock and kelp strand they can find. Plus, lingcod meat is absolutely top-shelf eating, with firm white fillets that work great on the grill or in fish tacos.
Yellowtail rockfish are another customer favorite, running smaller than lingcod but making up for size with numbers and flavor. These bright golden fish school up around rocky bottom and underwater ledges, often in 100 to 180 feet of water. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, and when you dial in a school of quality yellowtail, you can fill the cooler fast. They're scrappy fighters for their size, and the meat has a sweet, delicate flavor that locals prize for fish and chips.
Pacific halibut represent the trophy potential of Oregon bottom fishing, with fish ranging from "chicken" halibut around 10 pounds up to barn doors pushing 50 pounds or more. These flatfish bury in sandy bottom adjacent to rocky structure, and they're notorious for their powerful runs once hooked. Summer months typically offer the best halibut opportunities, and landing a keeper halibut is always a trip highlight. The challenge with halibut is the technique – you need to keep your bait moving slightly off the bottom, and when they bite, it often feels like you've snagged the bottom until the fish starts moving.
Black sea bass round out the target list with their distinctive dark coloration and excellent table fare. These fish prefer deeper rocky habitat and can grow surprisingly large in Oregon waters. They're methodical feeders that often require patience, but when the bite turns on, black sea bass provide steady action. Best fishing typically occurs during summer and early fall, and their firm, mild meat makes them a favorite among chefs and home cooks alike.
With only 2 spots available and Captain Craig's reputation for putting clients on fish, these charters book up fast during prime season. You're looking at a full day of world-class bottom fishing with all the personal attention and local expertise that comes from fishing with a top-rated Oregon guide. The fish cleaning service alone saves you hours of work back at the dock, and if we luck into some Dungeness crab, having them cooked fresh on the boat is worth the price of admission. Whether you're a seasoned bottom fisher looking to explore new Oregon waters or newer to the game and wanting to learn from one of Garibaldi's best, this is your chance to experience what makes Oregon coast fishing legendary. Ocean conditions permitting, Craig fishes year-round, so don't wait – secure your spot with Izzi's Big Mouth Guide Service and get ready for some serious bottom fishing action off the beautiful Oregon coast.
Captain Craig's 29-foot D Tech aluminum fishing boat cuts through Oregon's coastal waters with a powerful 250 HP engine, taking up to six anglers out for serious bottom fishing action. This sturdy vessel comes equipped with everything you need for a productive day on the water - advanced GPS navigation and fish finder technology to locate the best fishing spots, plus a wireless trolling motor for quiet positioning over productive bottom structure. The spacious deck provides plenty of room to fight those lingfish and rockfish, while the onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and your drinks cold throughout the 8-hour trip. What sets this charter apart is the wheelchair accessibility, ensuring everyone can enjoy Oregon's fantastic bottom fishing opportunities. With all the electronics needed to find fish and the space to land them comfortably, this boat is built for anglers who want to experience the productive waters off Garibaldi's coast.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are actually more of an East Coast species, so you won't find these guys in our Oregon waters. They're grouper family fish that prefer rocky structure and wrecks along the Atlantic seaboard from Maine down to Florida. These fish are interesting because they start life as females and change to males as they grow - usually around 9-13 inches. Most caught are under 4 pounds, though they can reach 8+ pounds. They're great table fare and put up a decent scrap until they break the surface. If you're looking for similar bottom fishing action here in Oregon, lingcod and rockfish will give you that same structure-oriented fishing experience with equally good eating. Our local species are better suited to our Pacific waters and provide the rocky bottom action you're after.
Ophiodon ElongatusDespite their name, lingcod aren't actually cod - they're greenlings with a nasty set of teeth and an attitude to match. These aggressive bottom dwellers love rocky structure in 30-300 feet, using their mottled coloring to ambush anything that fits in their massive mouth. Most run 2-4 feet, but the big females can hit 20+ pounds. They're available year-round off our coast, though spring and summer offer the best action when they're in shallower water. Guests love the hard initial fight and excellent table fare - firm, white meat that's tough to beat. Here's a local tip: once you hook one, keep steady pressure and get them up quick. They'll try to wrap you around the rocks, but if you can pull them out of their hole, they give up pretty easy.
Hippoglossus StenolepisPacific halibut are the barn doors of the Pacific - these massive flatfish can reach 100+ pounds, though most we catch run 20-40 pounds. They're bottom huggers that love depths from 150-500 feet over sandy or muddy bottoms where they ambush prey like a living dinner plate. Summer months are prime time when they move into shallower feeding areas. What draws people to halibut fishing is the chance at a true trophy fish plus some of the best eating you'll find - dense, white meat that's restaurant quality. The fight isn't flashy, but when you hook a big one, it's like trying to winch up a truck tire. Here's what works: use 1-2 pound weights to get your bait down, then work it slow with occasional lifts. They hunt by scent in deep water, so fresh salmon belly or herring does the trick.
Sebastes FlavidusYellowtail rockfish are one of the more cooperative rockfish species we target. These schooling fish typically run 12-15 inches and hang around rocky reefs, boulder piles, and sometimes even muddy bottoms from shallow water down to several hundred feet. What makes them special is they don't get the bends like other rockfish - they can actually release gas from their swim bladders when brought up. Spring through fall gives you the best shot at them when they're most active during daylight hours. People enjoy targeting them because they're willing biters, great eating with mild, flaky meat, and you can often load the boat when you find a school. My tip: use a long leader setup with at least 30 feet of line and keep a float above your top hook to keep the bait just off bottom where they feed.
Garibaldi, OR, United States