You've decided to book a sportfishing trip. Maybe a buddy invited you, maybe you've watched the fish counts and want in, maybe you just moved to Southern California and figured it was time. Whatever brought you here, you've probably got the same questions every first-timer has and nobody quite explains:
What do I bring? Do I need my own gear? What do I wear? What happens when I show up at the landing? What do I actually do when a fish bites? And the big one nobody admits to — am I going to embarrass myself in front of a boat full of people who clearly know what they're doing?
Here's the truth: every angler on that boat was a first-timer once. The deckhands have seen it all. And SoCal sportfishing is one of the most beginner-friendly outdoor activities there is, because the crew's whole job is to put you on fish and help you land them. You don't need to know much to have a great day.
But knowing a few things ahead of time makes the difference between feeling lost and feeling like you belong. This is the guide I wish someone had handed me before my first trip.
Booking the Right Trip
Don't overthink your first trip. The goal isn't the biggest fish or the longest day — it's getting comfortable on the water and catching something.
For most first-timers, a half day or three-quarter day trip is the sweet spot. You'll fish closer to shore for accessible species like rockfish, sand bass, calico bass, and whatever's biting locally. The seas are usually calmer close in, the day isn't exhausting, and you'll get plenty of action without committing to a 20-hour offshore grind.
Save the overnight and multi-day tuna trips for after you've got a few trips under your belt. There's a whole science to picking the right trip length for what you want to catch — we break it down in detail in our Half Day vs. Full Day vs. Overnight guide.
When you book, you'll typically reserve a spot on an open party trip — that means you're sharing the boat with other individual anglers, as opposed to a private charter where you book the entire boat.
What to Bring (and What Not To)
Here's where a lot of beginners overpack or forget the things that actually matter.
The essentials:
- Your fishing license. California requires a fishing license for anyone 16 and older. Most landings can sell you a license when you check in, but buying ahead saves time at the counter. I also recommend downloading the CDFW License app, so you can have it digitally available.
- Cash for tips. The deckhands work hard and tips are a real part of their income. More on that below. Don't forget to bring cash!
- A valid ID for the license and check-in.
- Motion sickness medication — take it the night before AND the morning of. More on this below because it matters more than anything else on this list.
What to wear:
Layers. Always layers. It can be cold and damp leaving the harbor in the dark, warm and sunny by midday, and breezy on the way back. A common setup:
- A base layer, a hoodie or fleece, and a light waterproof or windproof outer layer
- Pants, not shorts (the rail and deck get wet and messy)
- Closed-toe shoes with good grip — no flip-flops, no sandals. Decks get slick with water, bait, and fish slime. Boat shoes, sneakers, or deck boots.
- A hat and polarized sunglasses (the sun off the water is brutal even on overcast days)
- Sunscreen — reapply through the day
What NOT to bring: Don't haul a giant tackle box and five rods on your first trip. You won't need them, and there's limited space at the rail.
Do I Need My Own Gear?
No. This is the single biggest relief for most beginners.
Almost every SoCal landing rents rods and reels. For a half-day or full-day trip you're typically looking at around $20-30 for the day; the heavier setups for longer-range trips cost more. The rental gear is matched to the kind of fishing you'll be doing, and the deckhands will help you use it.
Tackle — the hooks, sinkers, and rigs — are usually available for purchase at the landing tackle shop or onboard. The tackle shop will tell you what to buy and the crew can help rig it for you.
Bait is provided by the boat — that's what the bait tank at the stern is for. You don't bring your own.
So for your first trip, you can genuinely show up with a license, cash, layers, and the right shoes, rent a rod at the counter, and you're ready to fish. As you get into it, you'll start accumulating your own gear. But there's zero need to invest upfront.
What Happens When You Show Up
The pre-dawn scene at a landing can feel chaotic if you don't know the rhythm. Here's how it goes:
Arrive early — at least 60 minutes before departure, sometimes more. The boat leaves on time and will not wait for you. If load time is 5:30 AM, then you need to be checked in and ready to go, not pulling into the parking lot.
Check in at the landing office. You'll confirm your reservation, buy your license (and any permits) if you didn't get one ahead, get your bag number, and select your bunk, if applicable. This is also where you rent your rod.
Find your boat and board. Boats are marked by name. A deckhand will usually be at the gangway. When you board, set your tackle bag down in the cubbies or shelves, and set your rods into rod holders.
Stow your stuff. There are bunk areas on bigger boats, cubbies, and deck space. Keep the rail and walkways clear.
Listen to the captain's briefing. Before or shortly after departure, the captain will go over the plan, the rules, safety info, and what you're targeting. Actually listen to this — it answers a lot of questions and tells you what to expect and set up for.
Beating Seasickness (Read This One Twice)
Nothing ruins a first trip faster than getting sick. And nothing makes a beginner swear off fishing forever like spending the day hanging over the rail. Take this seriously.
Medicate the night before and the morning of. Most over-the-counter motion sickness medications work best when they're already in your system before you hit the water — not after you start feeling green.
Stay on deck in the fresh air. Below deck, in the galley or bunks, is where seasickness gets worse. Keep your eyes on the horizon.
Eat something light. An empty stomach is as bad as an overfull one. Dry, plain food helps.
Stay hydrated, skip the booze the night before. A hangover and a rolling boat is a miserable combination.
If you do start feeling it, get to the rail, keep your eyes on the horizon, and let the crew know. They've helped a hundred seasick anglers and they're not judging you.
The good news: most people are fine, especially on calmer near-shore half-day trips. And many anglers who get queasy their first time never have a problem again once they know how to manage it.
What to Actually Do When a Fish Bites
This is the moment beginners freeze. Don't worry — it's simpler than it looks, and the deckhands are right there.
When you feel the bite — a tug, a thump, weight that wasn't there a second ago — don't yank the rod wildly. A smooth, firm upward sweep to set the hook, then start reeling. You can call for a deckhand to help guide you through how to land it. Don't hesitate to ask, that's what they're there for!
Keep your rod tip up and maintain steady pressure. Let the fish tire itself out. Don't try to horse it in too fast — that's how lines break.
If the fish is running, let it run against the reel's drag. The drag is set to tire the fish without snapping the line. Don't clamp down on the spool.
Call for a gaff or net if it's a big one — yell "color!" when you see the fish near the surface. A deckhand will come gaff it and on a hot bite they're running from angler to angler doing exactly this.
If you get tangled with the angler next to you — and you will, everyone does — stay calm, stop reeling, and let the deckhand sort it out.
You're going to make mistakes. You'll miss bites, lose fish, get tangled, maybe drop a fish on the deck. So does everyone. The crew has seen all of it. The only real mistake is being so afraid of looking dumb that you don't ask for help.
Boat Etiquette: How Not to Be "That Guy"
Most boat etiquette is common sense, but a few unwritten rules will make you look like you belong:
Respect the rail. Don't crowd your neighbor. Listen to the captain or crew on where to cast/drop. Don't ever cast over your neighbor's lines.
When the boat's on a hot bite, keep your line in your zone to avoid tangles. When someone hooks up, give them room to fight the fish, and be ready to reel up if a deckhand asks (to clear lines for a big fish).
Clean up after yourself. Don't leave bait, trash, or tangled line on the deck.
Boat Is Done Fishing — What to Do on the Way Back to the Dock
Get your catch handled. After the boat is done fishing and on the way home, deckhands offer to fillet and bag your catch. It's one of the best perks of a charter trip — for a small fee, you walk away with the freshest fillets ready for the grill or into the freezer. You can also get them gutted and gilled or keep them whole too.
Take photos — you earned it.
Pay your galley tab. The chef will tally everyone's tabs up and let you know when to pay. They won't let you off the boat until your tab is settled.
Tip the deckhands. This isn't optional in the culture of SoCal sportfishing. The standard is 20% of the trip cost. The crew provide a service — they help you rig up, they untangle your lines, gaff your fish, and clean your catch. They earn it.
After the Trip
When you get back to the dock:
- Collect your cleaned catch. Listen to the crew on where to pick up your catch. Sometimes you take it off the boat with you, other times the crew will bring it off the dock and in front of the landing, so pay attention. Then get it on ice for the drive home. You can purchase ice from most landings.
And then? You'll probably already be thinking about the next trip. That's how it gets you.
The Bottom Line
Your first SoCal charter trip is going to be more fun and less intimidating than you're imagining. You don't need your own gear, you don't need to be an expert, and you don't need to worry about looking like a beginner — because everyone on that boat started exactly where you are.
Show up early, dress in layers, take your seasickness meds, bring cash for tips, listen to the crew, and don't be afraid to ask questions. The fish will take care of themselves.
Ready to find your first trip? Find Your Next Catch lists every half day, full day, and overnight across Southern California — with live fish counts so you can see what's biting before you book. Filter by trip length, departure location, and species to find the perfect first trip.
Tight lines. We'll see you on the water.
Keith Leonard is the founder of Find Your Next Catch and an avid SoCal angler. FYNC tracks fish counts, hot boats, and trip availability across all of Southern California's sportfishing landings.