Ocean Charters

I booked a trip on the Ranger for July 22 2010. I had heard great things about that boat. Unfortunately, my trip was canceled due to weather and my schedule didn’t allow me to reschedule. It is now November and I still have not received my refund. Talked to them several times and they always assure me that will refund my money, but still have not. Be careful about giving these people a deposit.

Definately worth taking by foot between Westport /​Ocean Shores. Not a long trip at all, maybe 15 – 20 minutes.

Erik and I did a charter on board one of the boats operated by Ocean Charters. Prior to going down to Westport, we called ahead to reserve our spot on board one of the boats, since they tend to max out. We went Bottom fishing (bass & ling cod) and it was $ 105 per person. You can also purchase a temporary fishing license for $ 9 in their office the morning before you go out. You’ll need to head to the office first before boarding, the Coast Guard requires everyone on board to list their name on the manifest. You know, in case you drown or something.
You meet at the boat before 7am, or they will leave without you. They are located at Float 6 there on the main drag in Westport. Once on board, they take you about 2 hours out into the ocean. Take some Dramamine before boarding or barf over the side of the boat like I did. You’re limited to 10 sea bass and 2 ling cod. And, for some reason we were told if we caught any salmon we could keep them too. Our boat maxed out on sea bass (I was reeling those suckers in for most of the morning, sometimes 2 at a time!) when we hit 150 and then we headed out some more to catch some ling cod. I didn’t catch a one, but some others on the boat did, but the fish were not big enough at less than 21 inches.
On board our boat were two deck hands. I think they must have been 15, they were pretty immature. But, they knew what they were doing and were a great help with everything. For a measly $ 6, the deck hands will fillet ALL your bass. I think ling cod was $ 2 to fillet per fish. They put all your fillets in a bag and you’re good to go when the boat docks at the pier at about 4pm.
Prices vary depending on what you’re fishing for and when you go out. Weekends are obviously more since that’s when most people get a chance to go. This was a really fun experience, totally different than any fishing I’d done in the past and I look forward to going again once my freezer has been emptied of the 20lbs of fish now hanging out in it. And I’ll be sure to take some Dramamine before I go!