Marina del Rey Sportfishing has been part of the Los Angeles waterfront for nearly six decades, offering locals, families, and visitors an approachable way to experience saltwater angling. Based at Dock 52 on Fiji Way, the landing runs half-day and three-quarter-day trips, along with private charters, aboard its fleet of vessels that includes the Spitfire, Betty-O, New Del Mar, and Tourist.
From seasoned anglers to first-timers, the landing is designed to make fishing accessible. All tickets include live bait, and additional needs such as tackle, rod rentals, and even fishing licenses are available right on site. Fish cleaning services, friendly crews, and galley service aboard the boats round out the experience, giving customers little to worry about other than catching their fish.
Owner Rick Oefinger has seen the landing grow alongside the harbor. “Marina del Rey Sportfishing was one of the first viable businesses in Marina del Rey. They pretty much opened the harbor, and Marina del Rey Sportfishing was here,” Oefinger said. “We’ve been through a couple of different ownerships over the last 60-almost-years. But I came to Marina del Rey in 1990 and bought a boat that was ready out of here. It was an opportunity to start a business and take the landing over — in ’96 or something like that. I just jumped in and took over the lease, and we’ve been going since then under my stewardship and doing really well.”
The landing’s appeal lies in its relaxed approach to fishing. Many trips are short enough for a morning or afternoon outing, usually staying within 15 miles of the harbor in Santa Monica Bay. “The bulk of our trips are half-days, which are 4-1/2 to 5-hours,” Oefinger explained. “Most of the time we’re fishing within about 15 miles of Marina del Rey in the Santa Monica Bay, and we won’t venture too far from home. Beginners can feel perfectly comfortable going on any one of our trips.”
This fall, fishing reports show healthy action, with recent catches including sculpin, rockfish, calico bass, and the occasional lingcod. Trips aboard the Betty-O and Spitfire have seen steady numbers, while the New Del Mar recently brought back more than 400 sculpin in a single outing.
Part of the draw, Oefinger emphasized, is the approachable atmosphere. “Beginners, first timers, families, singles and couples, gals and guys come on our boats all the time, and our boats are staffed with professional crews. Our company is really rock solid. We’ve got a core group that’s been together for years on all the boats, and we’re just really good at taking care of people and giving the basic instructions,” he said.
Being located in Marina del Rey also means welcoming a wide array of passengers. “You can imagine being in Marina del Rey, we get people from all over the world who come out and just want to spend some time on the water in the Pacific Ocean, and maybe catch a fish in the process. So we do a really good job of instructing, so people should never be shy or nervous about coming out. We also have everything you need here, too.”
That level of convenience sets Marina del Rey Sportfishing apart. “Unlimited live bait is included, they carry fishing licenses, and they have tackle available to rent. All of our boats have wonderful licensed, inspected A-grade galley aboard serving fresh wholesome food and ice cold or hot drinks,” Oefinger added.
Even after decades of running the operation, Oefinger remains connected to the water, occasionally taking the helm himself. “Sometimes they let me out [to captain the boat] but I have to have permission to run my own boats anymore,” he joked. “The young guys do a really good job, they’re all great.”
For Marina del Rey Sportfishing, the mission hasn’t changed since the harbor’s earliest days: make saltwater fishing approachable, enjoyable, and memorable for anyone who wants to cast a line in the Pacific. With professional crews, a diverse fleet, and steady catches, the landing remains a cornerstone of Southern California’s recreational fishing scene.
For more information, visit mdrsf.com/.
