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California Guide Service operates sea duck and diver duck hunts from a custom-built Bankes boat—the largest of its kind for open water hunting. Captain Melynda Dodds runs the operation, and she knows San Francisco Bay's waterfowl like few others do.

Sea Duck Season: - Surf scoters (primary target) - Lesser and greater bluebills (occasional) - Buffleheads - $300 per hunter | 2–4 hunters per trip

Diver Duck Season (starting December): - Common goldeneyes - Greater and lesser scaup - Buffleheads - $300 per hunter | 2–6 hunters per trip

"The whistling wings of the goldeneyes as the sun rises on the delta." Bring three to four boxes of shells for diver hunts.

You meet at a launch ramp where the boat is loaded. Once on the water, decoys are set and the boat anchored. The shooting can range from outstanding to challenging—great for both experienced wing shooters and first-timers. Downed birds are retrieved by a dog or by pulling anchor and collecting with the boat.

Captain Mel's boat is purpose-built for the conditions. She's active year-round in the field, hunts with serious dogs (her black lab Nova trains at Pepperjack Kennels), and runs youth hunts—juniors aged 9–12 with .410s and bismuth rounds. The blog covers real details: rust prevention for saltwater hunting, Cerakote work on blued shotguns for corrosion resistance, and what actually works on San Francisco Bay.

Booking is by phone or contact form—not online. Expect a response within 24 hours. The crew is often on the water, so direct communication is standard.

San Francisco Bay has rich waterfowl hunting history. Old duck blinds still dot the marine charts, marking generations of tradition. Today, floating blinds offer a controlled hunt environment—though a bumpy platform adds its own adventure to shooting ducks.