The Lovely Martha

Test your deep-sea mettle on a salmon safari aboard the good ship Lovely Martha. Captained for 35 years by San Franciscan Frank Rescino, Lovely Martha is considered by the Coast Guard to be one of the finest wooden boats on the West Coast. The ship was built in 1959 and has enjoyed some serious upgrades without shedding its true sea ways. Crafted in oak and mahogany, it travels anywhere the salmon do: under the Golden Gate Bridge, near the Farallon Islands, all around Point Reyes. The old-new Martha is equipped with some of the finest salmon-tracking technology around, so all you have to do is bring the brews, the food, and a seaworthy attitude. Oh yeah, and show up by 5 a.m. This lovely lady freshens up and departs the wharf by 5:30 a.m. sharp--keeping your bait on the hook for a few solid hours of trolling and mooching, and increasing your odds of catching a fat Chinook or King salmon for your barbecue feast later. As the captain says, all you’ll need is to get lucky.

Cost: $85 per person for the open-load Party Boat, or charter Martha for $1,745 for you and up to 29 of your closest friends: 650-871-1691. www.lovelymartha.com