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Riptide Charters
Your premier fishing and whale watching adventure in Half Moon Bay!
4.4(5 reviews)
Business
$$
Your premier fishing and whale watching adventure in Half Moon Bay!
Riptide Charters, owned by Captain William 'Smitty' Smith with over 30 years of experience, offers unforgettable fishing and whale watching trips from Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay, California. Operating the US Coast Guard-inspected F/V Riptide, a 40' fiberglass vessel, we provide safe, professional excursions for anglers and nature enthusiasts. Whether you're targeting seasonal salmon, rockfish, or hoping to spot majestic whales, our knowledgeable crew ensures a memorable ocean adventure with a focus on safety and fun.
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Seasonal fishing trips for salmon, rockfish, and more with expert guidance and gear assistance.
Guided tours to spot whales and marine wildlife, led by a passionate and knowledgeable captain.
Custom charters for special occasions like celebrations, with personalized service and flexible scheduling.
US Coast Guard-inspected vessel with experienced crew prioritizing guest safety and comfort on the water.
Regular updates on fish availability and conditions via website and phone consultations for optimal trips.
We had the best time with Riptide Charters. The F/V Riptide is a 40' fiberglass hull, equipped with a turbo diesel, and is licensed and inspected by the United States Coast Guard. It was so clean, well until we all made a mess. It is a lovely boat. We felt so safe with the crew. The Riptide is owned by Capt. William Smith. He has been a licensed captain for over 30 years. You will find it located on "H" dock at Pillar Pt. Harbor in El Granada (near Half Moon Bay), California. The Captain was with us and he was able to help the weak ones, like me, without making me feel like I did not belong. The boat leaves super early in the morning so get some sleep the night before. I had to nap after. Go to their website to see what type of fish is in season or you will not be happy. We went for Rockfish and caught a few and were so happy. We grilled it all up and it was great and we were able to serve a lot of people. I was hoping to see a whale, but sadly, did not. I think they are pretty rare to see in that area. They have clean bathrooms. We will be back, this time for salmon.
Very much a budget charter. Crew was nice and helpful. Boat is a little rough around the edges. Bathroom situation on this vessel is bad, like construction site porta potty in the summer bad. The smell makes the cabin and area near the back deck reek. They overbooked our charter and jammed the boat with people, making moving around the deck very annoying, which also means there's nowhere to sit for everybody while underway to/from your fishing spot. I'm also not sure why the captain was fishing the whole time, there was a lot of shuffling of fish around between catch bags, even between different groups. Got scoffed at for throwing back small fish so I could keep bigger ones. They are clearly going for limits as fast as they can. The sea conditions were kinda crap and got worse on our way back, nothing the crew could do about that, but the boat didn't have enough sheltered space to keep even half the guests out of the weather unless you wanted to cozy up to the toxic waste closet that was the toilet.
We had an unforgettable whale watching trip with Captain Smitty! From start to finish, the experience was incredible. Captain Smitty was knowledgeable, professional, and truly passionate about the ocean and its wildlife. My new wife and I were celebrating a special time in our lives, and this adventure made it even more memorable. We were lucky enough to capture some amazing photos of the whales and were happy to share them with the captain it was the least we could do after receiving such wonderful service. Thank you, Captain Smithy, for your hospitality, your expertise, and for making the day one we’ll never forget. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a magical experience on the water!
Had a great time aboard riptide during the short salmon season this past weekend. He was positive and fun and the deckhands aboard worked their butts off. We crushed it and I had a feeling Capt Schmitty is a frequent highliner. I will fish with him again.
Captain Smitty and his deckhand Captain Lee are hands down the best and most professional guys that I’ve had the pleasure fishing with. They are patient and attentive to their guest, they made our trip a total success. One key fact about Smitty is that his guest safety is paramount!!!! Before the trip I gave Smitty a call several times, to check on what gear to bring and other questions that I had, and not once did I get an inkling that I may be annoying or Bothering him. Smitty took the time and went over all the details of the trip every time. I recommend following his directions by giving him a call the night before you go out, on or about after 5pm, as to give him a chance to get the weather forecast from NOAA. As I mentioned earlier safety is his top priority. Great Salmon fishing, Captain Smitty did his best to put us on fish. The seas were rough but we sill managed well!!! Five stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ And plus one more ⭐️
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