Half Day Fishing

The half day trip is the most popular trip offered. It is about five and a half hours long. The boats leaving out of Mission Bay are usually going to fish either the LaJolla kelp bed area in the summer or farther out in the deeper water for Rockfish in the winter months. In the LaJolla kelp bed area there is a variety of fish including Calico Bass, Barracuda, and Yellowtail. The boats leaving are not limited to fishing the LaJolla kelp bed area but this area is the closest to the bay and offers some of the best near shore fishing in California.

A good tip for this or any trip is to listen to the Deck Hands. Remember these people do for a living what you are doing for fun. Change your bait frequently. Make sure your hooks are sharp and your line is in good condition. Remember the only thing between you and the fish is the hook and the line.

The first thing you do after boarding is take a short run out to the bait barge. There you will pick up live sardines or anchovies. After that it's on to the fishing grounds. It will take you about forty-five minutes to get to the first spot. Wait until the boat comes to a stop before you put your bait in the water.

Twilight

This is a seasonal trip offered during the summer. Much like the half day but it leaves at 6:00 PM and returns at about 10:30. You get a good look at the San Diego coast line and the lights at night. For those in Mission Bay, Sea World has a fireworks display visible on your way back in.

Three Quarter Day

The next trip is the three quarter day. This trip is nine or ten hours long. It will either be a local trip meaning they stay in US waters; or run to the Coronado Islands in Mexican Waters. There is no passport needed for these trips in to Mexico. At the Coronado Islands you get a close up look at the rugged and beautiful island. Fishing there can be similar to that in LaJolla. Yellowtail, Calico Bass, and a variety of Rockfish are plentiful. In some seasons there are Bluefin or Yellowfin tuna near the Island that may also be caught.

Overnight Tuna

Tuna fishing can be very exciting. The trips usually leave at 10:00 or 11:00 PM and return somewhere around 6:00 to 9:00 PM the next day. If you are on a day and a half you will get back early on the following day. You sleep on the boat. All the boats have comfortable bunks or state rooms with clean blankets and pillow cases. No need to bring a sleeping bag.

On a typical Tuna trip you will start trolling a feather at dawn. Heavy gear is used to troll with, with at least eighty pound test. You don't want to lose any fish caught trolling because the rest of the school is going to follow that troll fish to the boat.

When the boat slows down you want to get bait in the water right away. It will be a mad house from the moment the person trolling yells HOOK UP. So be ready stand near the bait tank. Watch what other fishermen do, there is always something to be learned. Follow the directions given by the Deck Hands and Captain remember these people do for a living what you are doing for fun. There are many tricks tricks to tuna fishing. But a basic tip to be followed is a little dance called the Tuna shuffle. When you are bait fishing the bait will move either to the right or left. Follow your bait and encourage the person next to you to do the same. That means everyone will be rotating around the boat which is what you want. NO ANGLES NO TANGLES. A spirit of cooperation is needed on all fishing trips, but on a Tuna trip it is a necessity.

I don't usually recommend a Tuna trip for kids. But even a beginner, if he or she, follows a few simple rules a Tuna trip can be a trip of a lifetime.

Six Packs and Other Charters

These trips are for groups of six or less to groups of sixty or more. Most boats especially overnight trips will have a specific number of people they will accommodate. And on an overnight trip anything over that number will be taken, if the space is available, at an extra charge. On anything other than a six pack there will be a galley minimum which will have to be met. In my experience this has almost never a problem. On the bigger boats there will be an extra charge for license and tackle. This is usually included in the price on six packs. Remember that on a six pack you are never allowed to carry more than six passengers plus crew.

On a charter it is assumed that it is a private charter. That is you and your group only.