Private Fishing Charters in Los Angeles & Redondo Beach

A private fishing charter means the whole boat is yours — no strangers on the rail, no competing for the good spots, and a captain and deckhand working for your group alone. Out of Redondo Beach and across the Los Angeles coast, private charters are the way serious anglers, families, and first-timers all get the most out of a day on the water.

Spirit Sportfishing works as your booking concierge: instead of guessing which boat to call, you tell us what you want — group size, the species you're after, how far you want to run — and we match you with the right private boat and captain for the job. One point of contact, zero guesswork.

Private Charter vs. Party Boat: What's the Difference?

The open-party (party boat) trip sells tickets to the public — you share the rail with 20 to 60 other anglers. It's affordable and social, and it's a fine way to fish. A private fishing charter in Los Angeles is a different animal entirely:

• You pick the crew. Friends, family, clients — everyone on board is someone you invited.
• You pick the plan. Want to chase yellowtail at Catalina instead of rockfish on the local banks? On a private boat, the captain works your program.
• You get the crew's full attention. Bait rigged, tangles cleared, gaff ready — the deckhand is there for your group only.
• You fish your pace. Beginners get coaching without holding anyone up; experienced anglers get to fish hard without waiting on the rail.
• You keep the flexibility. Move spots, switch species, stay late on the bite — decisions happen on your boat, for your group.

If you're comparing options, our guide to the best party boats in Southern California covers the shared-rail side. But when the day matters — a milestone birthday, a bucket-list species, a group that deserves the full treatment — private is the way.

What to Expect on a Private Charter

Most private trips out of the LA area run a half day (around 5 hours), three-quarter day (around 9 hours), or full day (around 12 hours). Here's how a typical day unfolds:

• Dockside check-in. You arrive, meet the captain, and load your gear, food, and drinks. Coolers for your catch are a smart move.
• The run out. Depending on the plan, you'll fish the local banks of Santa Monica Bay — Rocky Point, the reefs off Palos Verdes — or make the run to Catalina Island for calico bass, yellowtail, and bonito.
• Fishing. The captain puts you on the fish; the deckhand keeps you fishing. Target species shift with the season — check our fishing calendar and daily fish counts to see what's biting now.
• The ride home. Fish cleaned and bagged, photos taken, stories already getting taller.

Common targets on LA-area private charters include calico bass, sand bass, California halibut, white seabass, yellowtail, bonito, barracuda, and rockfish. Browse our California fish species guide to pick your dream catch.

How the Spirit Concierge Matching Works

Who Books Private Charters?

• Families. Kids learn at their own pace, grandparents fish in comfort, and nobody's trip is ruined by a stranger's bad mood.
• Beginners. The crew teaches you everything — on a private boat you get real coaching, not a two-minute rail lecture.
• Experienced anglers. You know what you want: the right boat, the right captain, no compromises on the program.
• Special occasions. Birthdays, anniversaries, bachelor parties — see our Celebrations on the Water page for milestone trips.

What Should You Bring?

The boat provides rods, reels, tackle, and bait. You bring: a valid California fishing license (required for everyone 16 and up), sun protection, layered clothing (it's cooler on the water), food and drinks, and a cooler for your fillets on the way home. Everything else — including the fish stories — takes care of itself.