Bird Watching From Fort Bragg, California
Fort Bragg Bird Watching
Explore the incredible seabird and marine wildlife of the Mendocino Coast aboard the Kraken. An unforgettable experience for natures lovers of all ages.
Trip Length
Half Day
Full Day
Season
Year-
round
Target
Birds
Mammals
Skill Level
All Ages
Welcome
Recent Bird Watching Reports
September 27th, 2026 – Half-day trip for Pelagic Birds And Mammals
Blue Whales sounding right next to the boat, Fin Whales, Humpback Whales, dolphins, porpoise; 385 Black Storm-Petrels, Cocos Booby.
August 3rd, 16th, 30th – Pelagic Birds And Mammals
TOWNSEND'S STORM-PETRELS, plus Cook's Petrels, incredible temperature break loaded with phalaropes, shearwaters, Arctic Terns, and a Manx Shearwater
First-cycle(!) Hawaiian Petrel, South Polar Skua, banded Black-footed Albatross from Midway all on a half-day trip.
Vocalizing Nazca Booby circles boat for 10 minutes; another Hawaiian Petrel; record numbers of Black Storm-Petrels plus Wilson's and Least.
July 20, 2026 – Deepwater Pelagic Birds And Mammals
Booby that got away, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Scripps’s Murrelets, Arctic Tern, Buller’s Shearwaters, early Red and Red-necked Phalaropes and many Sabine’s Gulls headed south, jaegers galore including a Long-tailed chasing a South Polar Skua!
Why Bird Watch With Us?

The Mendocino Coast is home to an amazing variety of seabirds and marine life. Our experienced crew will take you to the best local spots for incredible views and photo opportunities.
Seabirds and Shorebirds
Marine Mammals
Experienced Crew
Stable and Comfortable
Scenic Coastal Views
Fun and Educational
Fast Cruising Speed
USCG Certified
Experienced
Crew
Our crew know the local wildlife, habitats and best spots for viewing.
Comfortable Cruise
Spacious cabin, indoor seating and smooth ride for a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
Great Photo
Ops
Plenty of opportunities to capture photos of birds, marinelife and scenery.
Family
Friendly
Whether you are new or an experienced birder, our trips have it all.
Bird Watching Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Not at all. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned birder, our knowledgeable crew is happy to help you spot and identify species along the way.
Trip cancellation is at the Captain’s discretion. If we cancel due to weather, you’ll receive a full refund or credit toward a future trip. Conditions off Fort Bragg are often calmer than people expect, since Cape Mendocino blocks much of the wind and swell.
We offer both half-day and full-day trips. Half-day trips run about 5 hours around Noyo Canyon; full-day trips spend 7-8 hours further offshore in deeper pelagic waters for a shot at rarer species.
Dress in warm layers, it’s often colder on the water than on shore. Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and rain gear if needed. If you’re prone to motion sickness, a good night’s sleep, a full breakfast, and medication like Dramamine or Bonine can help, and it’s best to stay outside rather than in the cabin.
Yes, people of all ages are welcome aboard the Kraken. Our half-day trips are great for families and are usually the calmest option for younger guests.
We run trips year-round. Albatrosses, shearwaters, and other pelagic birds are most common spring through fall, while gray whales pass through from December to April.
What Our Guests are Saying
Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
ChlorinecopJuly 21, 2020.Verified
Sea Service Excellent experience. We chartered the Kraken for my late wife's sea service and dispersed the ashes off the coast. The Captain, Richard, was experienced and took us to the place we requested. He positioned the boat with the engines off so that we had a peaceful service.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
bregarlNovember 20, 2018.Verified
ALREADY PLANNING ANOTHER TRIP My friend and I had a wonderful time. It was our first time deep sea fishing, and they were more than patient with us, as well as very helpful. I would highly recommend Anchor Charter Boats.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
triplover9876June 27, 2018.Verified
Awesome trip. I would highly recommend this if you want to do some deep sea fishing while in Fort Bragg. We arrived early didnt have to wait long and the captain was showing us what to do. The captain (can not remember his name) and the deck hand Ryan were awesome. We had some rough seas with huge waves and they got us home safe and sound. They were very professional and helped my son and I who had never been deep sea fishing before today. We caught a couple fish but couldn't keep them. Even with that it was so much fun. I would highly recommend doing this with this company.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
SteveMinoDecember 29, 2017.Verified
Exceeded our expectations My son and I booked a bottom fishing and crab combo trip. We didn’t spend a long time headed to some special place but started fishing within 40 minutes of leaving the dock. We picked up some lingcod and other rockfish very quickly. We spent an appropriate amount of time at each stop which was great that Capt. Danny kept moving. The deck hands (two) were on top of it and helped not only get the fish landed but also helped with rigging and snags. The big bonus was the grab. Wonderful. They had planned to have us back by 3 p.m. but we hadn’t picked up enough crab the crew worked harder until we reached our limit! Instead of 3 pm, we headed for our car around 5:30 pm. A full and enjoyable day.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
otterinsacApril 19, 2017.Verified
Excellent choice for a burial at sea We chose Anchor Charter Service for our daughter's burial at sea after talking to several different services. They were very friendly and helpful. Captain and boat hand made the difficult experience memorable for the 20 people on the trip. Several people became ill with the choppy sea and they were right there to help out. The boat is well equipped too. I am deeply grateful.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
camerahorseMay 18, 2016.Verified
Successful whale watching We were concerned about being at the end of whale watching but our observant crew located the whales and drifted along within view for a good while. We had a wonderful and exciting time, met other interesting people and thought it was well worth the money for a great two hour ocean boat ride in the open air.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Jim MApril 1, 2016.Verified
Saw Several Whales We are in Ft Bragg on vacation. My wife enjoys whale watching and I like to be on the ocean. This is a comfortable boat and they made every effort to show us whales including staying out an extra 30 minutes. Be sure to make reservations.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Lytes2cMarch 20, 2016.Verified
Whale Watching in season is outstanding I called two hours before the trip and was accommodated. Weather was good, water was fairly smooth. We found a pod of whales right out of the harbor entrance and were on them for the entire trip. Captain circled to give the best view of the whales. Deck hand made sure everyone was seeing the whales. We saw breechings, spouts, and tails along with porpoises. Captain pointed out "footprints" so we knew approximately which way the whales were headed. They explained about mating and answered all questions. There were approximately 30 people so we were on the larger boat the Trek II. As a note, my husband has also gone out on the Trek II for fishing and always returns with a limit of bottom fish. We will definitely be back for both whale watching and fishing with Anchor Charter.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
brandonvdDecember 20, 2015.Verified
Great Fishing, Great Crew and Great Boats I've been fishing with Anchor Charter Boats for years and the guys there are great to go out with. The Ambush was recently re-powered and they are now doing trips to Point Arena and up to the Lost Coast. Richard and Echo always do their best to make sure that we come back with full sacks of quality fish and have a lot of fun while catching them. When it is salmon season, the crews do their best to get us on the fish. Sometimes the fish aren't biting, but the guys make sure that we still have fun. Fishing is fishing, but it makes the day go by better if you are having a good time. I've been out whale watching with them too. It is amazing that you can start seeing the whales within 5 minutes of leaving the dock. And we have managed to get very close to the whales without disturbing them. We've even seen dolphins and porpoises while we were out there. If you want a great day fishing or whale watching, the guys on the Trek II and Ambush with Anchor Charter Boats will definitely make it happen.Tripadvisor rating score: 4.5 of 5, based on 10 reviews
Posted on Google![]()
Nick GonzalesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Went out for the first time in the ocean fishing, had a blast and caught limits of rock fish and crabs! Great solid crew and captain. Will be going out with these guys again in the near future!Posted on Google![]()
Tori GirlTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Last minute decision to see if we could go fishing turned into a great trip. Friend had an amazing time. I was a little hesitant since I’ve not done a lot of ocean fishing and was afraid the crew would be weird. They were all amazing and super friendly. Wish we could remember their names. I kept tangling my line and looking down made me sick. Both the guys helped me happily multiple times. I ended up sick and chumming with lunch but in between puking caught limit. Boat was clean and everything was super easy. Everyone caught their limit. The owner was super nice and answered his phone every time we called unlike all the other charter places. Still waiting on a call back from other two places. Would highly recommend and we’ll be backPosted on Google![]()
jim filippiTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Captain and crew were very good.. very professional ..Posted on Google![]()
Timothy PilgerTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Posted on Google![]()
John TonnaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Fantastic crew/ boat trip was awsome 5/27/21 caught limits easily! Captain and crew made sure we caught fish! So helpfull even when all rods were landing fish. The crew did it all..made ours and others a wonderfull trip. Highly appreciated the captain and crew taking us to the fish right away .Posted on Google![]()
Harrison RummingerTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Posted on Google![]()
Nick JohnsonTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Richard is one of the best captains around. Called and made arrangements for 11 people to go out fishing and crabbing mid November. When we arrive the ocean was a mess and we were unable to crab but Richard took the extra time and put the group on the fish. Other than 8 of the 11 getting sick it was a blast of a trip. The deckhands were amazing and the experience all around was perfect for my flatland friends.Posted on Google![]()
Redwood BeerPongTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Another good day on the waterPosted on Google![]()
Cazandra AguilarTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
So much fun. Definitely worth the drive and money. Took my Husband and oldest Son, both had a blast!























