5 Hour Private Rockfish & Dungeness Crab Adventure
Shared Trip
Offshore Fishing
Private 5hour charter targets rockfish and Dungeness crabAccommodates up to six guests with experienced guides providedCombines offshore fishing with crabbing in Winchester Bay waters
Winchester Bay offers some of the Oregon coast's most productive fishing grounds, and this 5-hour private charter puts you right in the thick of it. You'll have the boat to yourself and up to five friends, giving you complete control over your day on the water. SOA Charters knows these waters like the back of their hand, and they'll position you over the rocky structure where lingcod lurk and rockfish stack up thick. Between fishing sessions, you'll pull crab pots loaded with fresh Dungeness that'll have you planning dinner before you're back at the dock.
Your morning starts at the Winchester Bay marina, where you'll meet your captain and get the rundown on the day's game plan. The boat heads out through the jetties into the Pacific, where underwater rock piles and reefs create perfect habitat for bottom fish. Winchester Bay sits at the mouth of the Umpqua River, creating a unique mix of structure and current that draws fish year-round. Your captain will have already dropped crab pots earlier, so while you're working the rockfish grounds, those Dungeness are doing their thing down below. The beauty of a private charter is flexibility – if the rockfish are biting hot on one spot, you can stay put. If the action slows, your captain can move to fresh structure without worrying about other anglers' preferences.
Rock fishing here is all about heavy tackle and precise positioning. You'll be dropping baited hooks down 40 to 120 feet, depending on the tide and where the fish are holding. The standard rig is a sliding sinker setup with circle hooks – usually 6/0 to 8/0 – baited with cut squid, herring, or rockfish belly. The captain will position the boat directly over structure using GPS and fish finder, then you drop straight down and wait for that telltale thump. Crabbing runs parallel to the fishing – pots baited with fish carcasses and chicken sit on sandy bottom near rocky areas where crabs hunt for food. Most captains use pyramid-style pots with escape rings to ensure only keeper-sized males make it home. You'll check pots periodically throughout the trip, measuring each crab and releasing females and undersized males back to the depths.
Lingcod rule these rocky reefs and they're the prize catch for most anglers. These aggressive predators can stretch over three feet and pack serious fight, especially in the shallow water near Winchester Bay. They're most active during spring and early summer when they move shallow to spawn, but you can find them year-round along the deep rock edges. What makes lingcod so exciting is their willingness to take big baits and their habit of following hooked fish up from the bottom – you might land a rockfish and see a lingcod trailing right behind it. Black rockfish and blue rockfish make up the numbers on most trips, schooling thick over the reefs from late spring through fall. These scrappy fish typically run 12 to 16 inches and provide steady action when the bite is on. They're perfect for newer anglers since they're aggressive biters and excellent table fare. Dungeness crab season runs from December through August, peaking in winter and spring when the males are at their heaviest. A keeper male Dungeness measures at least 5¾ inches across the back and can weigh over two pounds. They're prized for their sweet, delicate meat and are worth the trip on their own – many anglers consider a successful crab pull just as exciting as landing a big lingcod.
Winchester Bay's proximity to prime fishing grounds makes it one of the coast's top charter destinations, and SOA Charters has built a solid reputation working these waters. A private 5-hour trip gives you the time to really work the grounds without feeling rushed, and the combination of rockfish and crab means you're coming home with a cooler full of fresh Pacific seafood. Whether you're planning a family fishing trip or a group of friends looking to get away from the crowds, this charter delivers the authentic Oregon coast fishing experience. The boat's yours for the day, the captain knows where the fish live, and Winchester Bay's protected waters ensure a comfortable ride even when the ocean gets lumpy outside the jetties.
This 2020 Hewescraft 28-footer is built for serious offshore fishing and crabbing adventures in Winchester Bay waters. Powered by twin 150hp Yamaha engines that'll push you to 37 knots, she cuts through swells with ease to get you to the prime rockfish spots. The boat comes rigged with outriggers for trolling, a live bait tank to keep your offerings fresh, and a fish finder to locate where the lingcod and rockfish are holding. When it's time to check those crab pots, you'll have plenty of deck space for hauling in your Dungeness catch. Essential gear includes GPS and radar for navigation, VHF radio for safety, plus an icebox to keep your haul fresh and a head for comfort during those long fishing days. With room for up to 6 anglers, this setup gives everyone space to work their lines without getting tangled up.
Oregon