For nearly two decades, Everingham Bros. Bait Co. has been a cornerstone of Dana Point’s sportfishing community, operating the harbor’s bait barge with round-the-clock service and a legacy that stretches back more than 75 years.
Operations in Dana Point began on January 1, 2005, after Dana Wharf Sportfishing invited the company to set up shop based on its reputation for dependability. “Dana Wharf requested our service based on our reputation for reliable service,” said Lori Hale of Everingham Bros. Bait Co. “There was an existing healthy demand for live bait in Dana Point when we started which consists of the Dana Wharf sportfishing fleet and private boaters. Dana Wharf felt that they could grow the fishing industry with our consistency with supplying live bait.”
The bait barge has been a game changer for anglers in Dana Point. “Since our first day operating in Dana Point, we’ve been open 24/7,” Hale said. “The Dana Point Barge had never been open 24/7 prior to 2005, so the customers were excited about being able to leave for the fishing grounds early and get live bait. We have even attracted some business from ports nearby Dana Point due to our reliable bait supply.”
That reliability comes with both experience and investment. The company offers live sardines and anchovies year-round, thanks to regular fishing trips that ensure abundance. “With our 75 years of experience of catching and delivering live bait to the bait barges, we have a special delivery system on the boats and receivers built to keep the bait lively,” Hale explained.
Maintenance, too, has been central to their success. “When we initially took over the Dana Point barge, only 5 of the 20 receivers were holding bait, so we replaced all of the cages,” said Hale. “We completely rebuilt all the receivers at the Dana Point barge in 2010. In 2011, we replaced the house at Dana Point bait barge.” That barge house has its own storied past, having once served as the first house at San Diego’s bait barge in 1950 before being moved to Mission Bay in 1956 and finally relocated to Dana Point in 2011.
Twice-yearly maintenance and regular cage replacements keep the barge running smoothly, even through challenges. When the recent tsunami caused unusually strong currents in the harbor, Everingham’s crew was quick to respond. “We served the sportfishing fleet in the morning before the tsunami currents started and we reset an anchor and reconnected the receiver boxes together and were recovered in time to serve them bait the following morning,” Hale recalled.
That steady hand is what Dana Wharf Sportfishing and countless private boaters rely on. “We support the Dana Wharf sportfishing fleet and private boaters,” Hale said. “Sportfishing attracts many visitors and tourists to generate revenue for the local economy.”
Even as Dana Point Harbor undergoes major revitalization, Everingham Bros. Bait Co. remains committed to its place on the water. “Even with the change in the layout at Dana Harbor we can stay in our current location and continue to support the sportfishing fleet and private boaters year-round,” said Hale. “We aim to offer consistency and reliability in an evolving climate. The revitalization process has been a burden on private boater access, but we hope that improves as development is completed.”
For anglers launching from Dana Point, the bait barge is more than just a stop before heading offshore — it’s a trusted partner in making sure every trip begins with the promise of live bait and the chance of a memorable catch.
