Santa Cruz Coastal Charters 

5.0
(10 reviews)
 333 Lake Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, United States

Santa Cruz Coastal Charters 

Santa Cruz, CA, United States
35 ft
6
5.0
(10 reviews)

Excited to catch some fish in Santa Cruz? Santa Cruz Coastal Charters is here to make it happen! With Captain Rodney at the helm, you're in knowledgeable and experienced hands.

Species like Crab, Halibut, Lingcod, Rockfish, Chinook Salmon, Squid, Albacore Tuna, Bluefin Tuna, and more can be found in these waters if you cast your line at the right time of year.

You can expect to do some spinning, trolling, drifting, jigging, bottom fishing, or maybe something more specialized in this area.

Looking to get the whole family outdoors? Kids are absolutely welcome! If you don't have a child-sized life vest of your own, be sure to ask if there's one on board. You're welcome to bring snacks for a boost of energy when needed!

You'll be casting lines from a 35' sportfishing vessel with capacity for 6 passengers. It has outriggers, downriggers, all the essentials no fishing machine can run without. There's a toilet on board for your convenience. You'll find rods, reels, and tackle waiting for you. Live bait is available, but you should ask the captain whether you'll be catching it yourself.

There will be a First Mate on board to help your trip run smoothly. Mates work hard to make your trip count, so a 10–20% tip is customary.

You will need to purchase a local fishing license before the trip. This information is usually available online, or you can ask the captain. Some species might be protected or require a tag to keep them, so make sure you know what to expect.

It's recommended to bring sunglasses, sunscreen (non-spray), bottled water, and a hat. If you'd like to bring other drinks, just ask. Alcohol is allowed in moderation, just avoid hard liquor as well as glass bottles.

Now's the time to experience fishing in Santa Cruz for yourself, with Santa Cruz Coastal Charters!

Excited to catch some fish in Santa Cruz? Santa Cruz Coastal Charters is here to make it happen! With Captain Rodney at the helm, you're in knowledgeable and experienced hands.

Species like Crab, Halibut, Lingcod, Rockfish, Chinook Salmon, Squid, Albacore Tuna, Bluefin Tuna, and more can be found in these waters if you cast your line at the right time of year.

You can expect to do some spinning, trolling, drifting, jigging, bottom fishing, or maybe something more specialized in this area.

Looking to get the whole family outdoors? Kids are absolutely welcome! If you don't have a child-sized life vest of your own, be sure to ask if there's one on board. You're welcome to bring snacks for a boost of energy when needed!

You'll be casting lines from a 35' sportfishing vessel with capacity for 6 passengers. It has outriggers, downriggers, all the essentials no fishing machine can run without. There's a toilet on board for your convenience. You'll find rods, reels, and tackle waiting for you. Live bait is available, but you should ask the captain whether you'll be catching it yourself.

There will be a First Mate on board to help your trip run smoothly. Mates work hard to make your trip count, so a 10–20% tip is customary.

You will need to purchase a local fishing license before the trip. This information is usually available online, or you can ask the captain. Some species might be protected or require a tag to keep them, so make sure you know what to expect.

It's recommended to bring sunglasses, sunscreen (non-spray), bottled water, and a hat. If you'd like to bring other drinks, just ask. Alcohol is allowed in moderation, just avoid hard liquor as well as glass bottles.

Now's the time to experience fishing in Santa Cruz for yourself, with Santa Cruz Coastal Charters!

Rodney Armstrong
Captain
Rodney Armstrong
19 years of experience
ID & credentials verified

Select date to see availability

Trip availability and prices

Trip date:
Group Size:
September 2026
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
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Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
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Almost there...
Near shore rock fish lingcod
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
6 hour trip starts at 7:00 AM
Seasonal trip
Apr 1 - Dec 31
Cod
Lingcod
Rockfish
US $550
Shared tour: 2 people
Deep water Rock fish Lingcod
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
6 hour trip starts at 7:00 AM
Seasonal trip
Apr 1 - Dec 31
Rockfish
US $580
Shared tour: 2 people
Afternoon
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
3 hour trip starts at 3:00 PM
Tuna (Bluefin)
Tuna (Albacore)
Halibut
Crab
+2
US $1,250
Entire boat: up to 6 people
California Halibut
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
6 hour trip starts at 7:00 AM
Seasonal trip
Jun 1 - Sep 30
Halibut
US $1,700
Entire boat: up to 6 people
King salmon
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
6 hour trip starts at 6:00 AM
Seasonal trip
Apr 1 - Jun 30
Salmon (Chinook)
US $1,800
Entire boat: up to 6 people
There are 3 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

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Rating

5.0
10 reviews
5.0
Boat & equipment
5.0
Captain & crew
5.0
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (14)

All reviews (10)

Showing 15 of 10 reviews
Kenji Field
Kenji Field
us
California, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
BookThis Charter!
King salmon on August 4, 20264 adults

From the moment the first line hit the water, the fish were biting. We reached our limits with ease, and the entire experience was incredible. Rodney and Kallen(sp?) were friendly, knowledgeable, and kept us engaged throughout the trip. They made the day both fun and memorable, and thanks to their expertise, we limited out with ease. I highly recommend this charter to anyone looking for a fantastic day on the water!

Rodney Armstrong
Response from Captain

Thank you. You guys were awesome.

Pingo Wu
Pingo Wu
us
California, US
Member since 2025
5.0
Verified
A very good-tempered captain.
Deep water Rock fish Lingcod on July 27, 20264 adults

I’ve been on many Rockfish tours, and this captain is by far the one with the best temperament. The first mate is also incredibly nice. If you’re a beginner, you don't have to worry about doing anything wrong because they will help you and teach you very patiently. That makes a big difference.

Rodney Armstrong
Response from Captain

Thanks for the kind review! We really appreciate it.

Alex Chinchiolo
Alex Chinchiolo
Repeat angler
us
California, US
Member since 2021
2 trips
5.0
Verified
New
Fun day on the water!
Deep water Rock fish Lingcod on September 5, 20262 adults2 children

Captain Rodney and crew were great with the kids and got us on the fish quick.

Rodney Armstrong
Response from Captain

Thank you. Always nice getting kids hooked up!

Austin Iobst
Austin Iobst
us
Arizona, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Captain Rodney is the best
California Halibut on July 3, 20266 adults

We did a birthday trip 6 of us went out for salmon and we all caught fish! 10/10 would recommend. Could not say better things about this crew. I’ll be back on this boat as soon as i can

Rodney Armstrong
Response from Captain

Thanks man! Good times!

Shibu Ninan
Shibu Ninan
Repeat angler
us
California, US
Member since 2019
3 trips
5.0
Verified
New
August fishing trip
Near shore rock fish lingcod on August 29, 20262 adults

Reported catch:
Lingcod
Cod
Rodney Armstrong
Response from Captain

Thank you sir.

FAQs about Santa Cruz Coastal Charters

Santa Cruz Coastal Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $275 per person - Near shore rock fish lingcod (6 hours)
  • US $290 per person - Deep water Rock fish Lingcod (6 hours)
  • US $1,250 per group - Afternoon (3 hours)
  • US $1,700 per group - California Halibut (6 hours)
  • US $1,800 per group - King salmon (6 hours)
When you book a trip with Santa Cruz Coastal Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet Full head
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live bait well
  • Outriggers
  • Ice box
  • Radar
Trips booked with Santa Cruz Coastal Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live bait (Live bait not always available. But bait is always provided.)
  • First mate (Have a couple different deck hands. They are all seasoned fisherman with great hands on skills. We are all professionals at cutting fish.)
Santa Cruz Coastal Charters offers the following types of fishing:
  • Inshore fishing
  • Nearshore fishing
  • Offshore fishing (Up to 12 miles)
  • Reef fishing
Santa Cruz Coastal Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light tackle
  • Heavy tackle
  • Bottom fishing
  • Trolling
  • Spinning
  • Jigging
  • Drift fishing
  • Deep sea fishing
Top targeted fish species with Santa Cruz Coastal Charters include:
  • Crab
  • Halibut
  • Lingcod
  • Rockfish
  • Salmon (Chinook)
  • Squid
  • Tuna (Albacore)
  • Tuna (Bluefin)

Your captain

Rodney Armstrong
Rodney Armstrong

Santa Cruz, California, United States

ID & license verified
10 Customer reviews
Typical response within 8 hours
Member since April 2025

Capt. Rodney runs trips out of Santa Cruz aboard 35' Main coaster Sportfishing. Explore these waters teeming with Chinook Salmon, Lingcod and Bluefin Tuna under Rodney's expert guidance. The only way to learn is to join them on the water.

Rodney Armstrong
Rodney Armstrong
Fully verified
10
reviews
2025
member since
~9h
response
Capt. Rodney runs trips out of Santa Cruz aboard 35' Main coaster Sportfishing. Explore these waters teeming with Chinook Salmon, Lingcod and Bluefin Tuna under Rodney's expert guidance. The only way to learn is to join them on the water.

The fish you can target

Crab
Crab
Halibut
Halibut
Lingcod
Lingcod
Rockfish
Rockfish
Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Squid
Squid
Albacore Tuna
Albacore Tuna
Bluefin Tuna
Bluefin Tuna
Crab
Crab
Halibut
Halibut
Lingcod
Lingcod
Rockfish
Rockfish
Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon

Real catches by this captain

  • Fun day on the water!
    Alexander C.
    Alexander C.
  • we had a great time! they made sure we caught our limts! helpful and easy going guys to go with.
    Jessie H.
    Jessie H.
  • BookThis Charter!
    Kenji F.
    Kenji F.
  • A very good-tempered captain.
    Pingo W.
    Pingo W.
  • Captain Armstrong is the real deal!
    Andy T.
    Andy T.
  • very pleasant and very rewarding day of fishing trip
    Jingtai H.
    Jingtai H.

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Sportfishing boats
Capacity
6 persons
Boat length
35 ft
Year built
1983
Restored in
2025
Boat manufacturer
Coaster Boats
Boat type
Sportfishing
Engine model
Volvo
Powered by
1 x 315HP

What kind of fishing will you do?

Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Offshore Fishing
Up to 12 miles
Reef Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Spinning
Jigging
Drift Fishing
Deep Sea Fishing

Which amenities are available onboard

Toilet
Full head
GPS
Fishfinder
Live bait well
Outriggers
Ice box
Radar
What's included in the trip price
Rods, reels & tackle
Live bait
Live bait not always available. But bait is always provided.
First mate
Have a couple different deck hands. They are all seasoned fisherman with great hands on skills. We are all professionals at cutting fish.

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 7 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 7 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

More details

What the listing policies are

Pickup agreed upon reservation

Transfer to/from departure site may be available and included in price depending on your location and distance from the dock.

Child friendly
Kids ages 5 and up welcome. Younger kids should do the near shore trips.
You keep catch

How you can pay

Pay online in full

Pay online in full through FishingBooker and save on credit card fees at the dock.

No additional fees.

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Current
Santa Cruz Coastal Charters
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5.0
(10)
35 ft
Group size 4 - 6
4 - 6
Fish 1
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+6
6 hour trip • 6 persons
US $275