5.0(5 Reviews)Private San Francisco Fishing Charter - 10 Hours
5.0(5 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Top Rated
Private 10hour charter targeting five premium fish speciesMultiple fishing techniques from inshore to reef watersSmall group experience with maximum three guests aboard
Captain Matt Juanes and the Pamela J crew offer one of the top-rated private fishing experiences in San Francisco Bay. This 10-hour charter starts at 6 AM and gives your group of up to three anglers exclusive access to the rich waters surrounding the Bay Area. You'll target prized species like striped bass, Pacific halibut, lingcod, and leopard sharks while enjoying a spacious, modern vessel with an experienced commercial fishing captain who knows these waters like the back of his hand. The boat's wide deck and comfortable cabin make it perfect for families, experienced anglers, or anyone looking to spend a full day chasing fish in one of California's most productive fishing destinations.
The Pamela J is built for serious fishing, with an unusually wide beam that gives everyone plenty of room to work. Captain Matt handles all the prep work, including securing live bait before you arrive, so you can head straight to the fishing grounds and start putting lines in the water. The boat features a modern enclosed cabin with sectional seating and a table where you can take breaks between fishing sessions. Matt's commercial fishing background means he's not just guessing where the fish are - he's reading the water, checking conditions, and positioning you over productive structure. The crew provides sodas and chips, but you'll want to bring your own lunch for this full-day adventure. At the end of the trip, they'll clean and fillet your catch, pack it in ice, and send you home with dinner-ready fish.
This charter covers multiple fishing styles depending on what's biting and where the fish are holding. You'll use bottom fishing techniques when targeting halibut and rockfish over sandy flats and rocky structure. Light tackle keeps the fight exciting, especially when leopard sharks make their powerful runs. Trolling comes into play when searching for striped bass in open water, and drift fishing lets you cover ground while presenting bait naturally in the current. Captain Matt provides all the gear and tackle, but he's also happy to work with your personal rods if you prefer. The crew uses both live and frozen bait, switching presentations based on what the fish want that day. Whether you're dropping jigs on the bottom or slow-trolling anchovies, Matt will walk you through the techniques and help you understand why certain methods work in San Francisco's unique waters.
"I am an experienced fisherman, having fished on several Hawaii islands (marlin), Mexico (sailfish, mahi mahi, etc.), Baja, Cancun, Puerto Villarta, Alaska, San Diego, Florida, Carribean, just to name a few. I am also an attorney that is very detail oriented and hard to please. I brought four sons fishing, ages ranging from 26 to 10 years old. A hard group to satisfy. We all loved it! We caught leopard shark and rays for practice with my 10 year old son, and then rock fish and halibut for eating. The boat is very wide, spacious and exceptionally clean [I think the boat may be new]. The captain (Matt) is meticulous. The boat easily fits 6 plus the captain and deck hand without feeling crowded. The captain is a commercial fisherman with extensive experience, was pleasant, and knew all the best places. The deckhand was skilled and fun to talk to. We had a lot of action. When we had three on the lines on at once they skillfully navigated my 10 year old son weaving in and out of my other son's without snapping any of the lines, and all three were caught (including a very large leopard shark). He used live and frozen bait. They filleted the fish, placed the meat in plastic bags and in ice. They had sodas and chips, but we brought our own lunches. The price was very reasonable. The captain said he is new to sports fishing and doesn't advertise a lot. Book him while he is still a lot less than the other charters you see online. I am from the Sacramento area and have chartered a lot of boats out of SF over the past two decades and never heard of him before, but I'll use him exclusively now. Whether you just want to simply have fun fishing with your family or are a serious and experienced fisherman, he is the best deal in San Francisco. I cannot recommend him highly enough." - Erik
"My friends and I had an awesome day of fishing on the PamelaJ with Captain Matt Juanes and deckhand Vince. Matt's a well-known commercial fisherman here in the SF Bay Area and is often interviewed by the media due to his knowledge and personality. Matt had already gotten the live bait before we arrived so we were able to head straight out to the fishing grounds and started hooking up fish almost immediately. On this particular day we headed south down the coast and the fish got larger as we went. He seemed to know exactly where the fish would be that day. Matt's got a ton of knowledge about fishing and not only gave me great advice but also was able to explain the behavior of the fish and why his methods work. I was the least experienced angler in our group, but ended up catching the most fish, probably because I asked the most questions. It was unbelievable. Vince kept an eye on everyone and was there to lend a hand when needed without being intrusive. Both of them area really nice guys. The boat is modern and comfortable. It's unusually wide with a ton of deck space for fishing, and has a great enclosed cabin with sectional seating and a table to chill in. I can't wait to go back out with these guys." - Joel
"Fantastic day on the water! Caught several halibut, rock fish, and bat rays haha. Matt and his crew were patient, informative, and willing to help. My father and I will definitely be going out with him again!" - Nic
Striped bass are the crown jewel of San Francisco Bay fishing, and these powerful fish put up fights that
The Island Hopper is your ticket to prime fishing grounds around San Francisco Bay. This 30-foot sportfisher, built in 2003, cuts through the water with confidence thanks to her powerful 315HP Yanmar engine, cruising comfortably at 16 knots to get you where the fish are biting. With room for up to 6 anglers, she's loaded with everything you need for a successful day on the water. The onboard fish finder takes the guesswork out of locating your targets, while GPS and radar keep you on course and safe in changing conditions. Keep your catch fresh in the icebox and grab cold drinks from the refrigerator between strikes. Whether you're working the bottom for rockfish and lingcod, trolling for striped bass, or drifting over halibut grounds, this boat handles it all. The spacious deck gives everyone room to fight their fish, and the onboard facilities mean you can stay comfortable during those long 10-hour adventures chasing San Francisco's best fishing opportunities.
Triakis SemifasciataDon't let the shark name scare you - leopards are totally harmless and actually pretty fun to target. These spotted beauties typically run 3-5 feet and cruise the shallow bays and kelp beds looking for crabs and small fish. They're most active during daylight hours, making them perfect for family trips since kids can see them in the clear water. The fight isn't about raw power - it's more of a steady, bulldogging pull that gets everyone involved. They're also great eating if you decide to keep one within regulations. My go-to setup is squid or mackerel chunks on a 5/0 circle hook with enough weight to hold bottom. Fish the sandy flats adjacent to kelp beds where they hunt for ghost shrimp and crabs.
Ophiodon ElongatusLingcod are the ugliest fish you'll ever be happy to catch. These gnarly-looking greenlings (not actually cod) have massive heads, wicked teeth, and an attitude to match. They typically run 5-15 pounds, with females getting much larger than males. You'll find them lurking in rocky structure from 30-300 feet, usually just sitting on bottom waiting to ambush anything that swims by. They're year-round residents and actually pretty easy to hook once you find them - they'll grab almost anything. The fun part is the aggressive strike and bulldogging fight as they try to get back to their rocky hideout. Great eating too. Best technique is dropping heavy jigs or big baits right into the rocks. Don't be gentle - these fish respond to aggressive presentations.
Hippoglossus StenolepisPacific halibut are the barn doors of the flatfish world and absolute bucket-list fish for most anglers. We're talking fish that can weigh 100+ pounds, though most we catch run 20-50. They live on sandy bottoms from 150-500 feet, where they ambush salmon, rockfish, and anything else that swims by. Summer is prime time when they move into shallower feeding areas. The fight is pure power - imagine hooking into a manhole cover that suddenly comes alive. Plus, there's no better eating fish in the ocean. My trick is using whole salmon heads or large herring on heavy tackle, bouncing the bait to create movement. When you feel that telltale tap-tap, count to three before setting the hook hard.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the bread and butter of San Francisco Bay fishing. These silver-sided beauties with their signature dark stripes typically run 20-40 pounds, though we've seen some push 50+. They're strong fighters that love structure - think bridge pilings, rocky points, and drop-offs. You'll find them year-round here, but spring through fall offers the most consistent action when they're actively feeding. What makes them special? They put up a serious fight on light tackle and taste amazing on the dinner table - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. Pro tip: fish the moving water during tide changes around dawn or dusk. That's when they really turn on and you'll get multiple hookups.
5.0 out of 5.0I am an experienced fisherman, having fished on several Hawaii islands (marlin), Mexico (sailfish, mahi mahi, etc.), Baja, Cancun,...
My friends and I had an awesome day of fishing on the PamelaJ with Captain Matt Juanes and deckhand Vince. Matt’s a well-known co...
Matt and Vince are an awesome team. Capt Matt is exceptional; his commercial fishing background really helps with putting the fis...
Fantastic day on the water! Caught several halibut, rock fish, and bat rays haha. Matt and his crew were patient, informative, and...
Had a great day out on the Pamela J with Captain Matt! Lots of great memories made and a day of Halibut limits for everyone on the...
San Francisco