Gatherer Outfitters runs out of J Dock at Berkeley Marina, 201 University Avenue, with Captain Adam Sewall at the wheel. Adam describes himself as a 15-plus-year commercial highliner fishing rod-and-reel for halibut, salmon, and lingcod in the Bay; the charter side runs full-day open-load tickets and private 6-, 7-, and 8-pack bookings on the Gatherer II. Departures are around 6 a.m. with returns "around 2pm."
Fleet
The Gatherer II is a 30 by 12.5-foot Island Hopper powered by a 425 hp 6.7L Cummins diesel, cruising at 20-plus knots. The operator describes it as "one of the few Coast Guard Inspected 8+ Packs in the Bay." Onboard equipment includes Raymarine and Simrad electronics with sonar imaging, a 110-gallon live-bait tank, an enclosed head, and a JB Audio sound system.
Trip types
Bay halibut and striped bass are the bread-and-butter trips out of Berkeley, with seasonal Chinook salmon and ocean rockfish/lingcod runs added to the mix. Open-load individual tickets are $250 for a full day and cap at 8 anglers on the boat. Private full-boat charters are $1,450 (up to 6), $1,700 (up to 7), and $1,950 (up to 8). All trips include "all gear, tackle, weights, bait and professional filleting of your fish to take home." The operator also lists women's trips, kids' trips, wine tasting tours, and team-building days.
Recent reports
The most recent NorCal Fish Reports filing — April 19, 2026 — landed 8 California halibut and 8 striped bass for 4 anglers on a full-day Bay trip. April 17 produced 4 stripers and 12 halibut for 6, and March 22 finished with 7 halibut and 2 stripers for 6. Salmon runs from June and September 2025 limited at 12 Chinook for 6 anglers on each posted trip.
Reviews
Kimberly C (August 3, 2025) on TripAdvisor wrote that Captain Adam was "personalized, professional, kind, and an expert" and that the boat "got tons of halibut right away, when other boats full of people were just waiting." That single review is the only one on the operator's TripAdvisor page as of April 2026.
