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12 landings and boats, every trip type, real prices, and the local's guide to catching tuna, yellowtail, and bass off the Point Loma coast.
Last updated
How much is a sportfishing charter in San Diego? Half-day trips out of Point Loma landings run roughly $70-$130 per person, full-day trips $180-$300, and multi-day tuna trips $600 and up. Everyone 16 and older needs a California fishing license, or a one-day license sold at the landing.
Source: Sandi Spots — Last updated
First-timer? Book a Seaforth or Islandia half-day out of Mission Bay ($85). Want the best fishing? Book a 3/4-day Coronado Islands trip from Point Loma ($160–$200). Serious about tuna? Overnight from H&M or Fisherman's Landing ($260–$330) July–October. Bucket list? The Royal Star long-range trip (book 12+ months out).
Landing: Point Loma
Trips: Half-day, 3/4-day, overnight, multi-day tuna
$95 half-day · $260 overnight · $2,200 5-day
Best for: The classic all-around fleet
The oldest and biggest sportfishing landing on the West Coast. 20+ boats, from newbie-friendly half-day bass trips to legendary multi-day tuna runs on Royal Star and Excel. Book Royal Star 10+ months out.
Landing: Point Loma
Trips: Half-day, overnight, 1.5-day to 8-day tuna
$95 half-day · $310 1.5-day · $3,500+ 8-day
Best for: Long-range bluefin & yellowfin
Home of Red Rooster III, Independence, American Angler — the most famous long-range boats in the world. Books 12–18 months out for peak-season trips.
Landing: Point Loma
Trips: Half-day, 3/4-day, overnight, 1.5-day
$95 half-day · $180 3/4-day · $260 overnight
Best for: Local coastal fishing
The Coronado Islands (Mexico) and La Jolla kelp beds are the sweet spot. Malihini and Grande are the crowd favorites — reliable calico bass, yellowtail, and rockfish.
Landing: Mission Bay
Trips: Half-day, 3/4-day, twilight, overnight
$85 half-day · $60 twilight · $260 overnight
Best for: Beginners & Mission Bay convenience
The most tourist-friendly option — closest to hotels and easiest parking. Aztec and San Diego are great starter boats. Twilight trips (5–11pm summer) are the best value first-timer experience.
Landing: Mission Bay
Trips: Half-day, twilight, overnight
$85 half-day · $65 twilight
Best for: Family half-days
Right at the Islandia Hyatt. Fun, low-stakes bay + near-shore trips. The best 'never fished before, kid on board' operation in the county.
Landing: Oceanside Harbor
Trips: Half-day, 3/4-day, whale watching
$79 half-day · $155 3/4-day
Best for: North County anglers
The only real sportfishing option in North County. Half-day bass and rockfish trips are $79 and consistently produce. Skip the drive south to Point Loma if you're staying in Carlsbad or Oceanside.
Landing: Point Loma
Trips: 8–17 day long-range only
$4,000–$8,500 all-in
Best for: Trophy 200+ lb yellowfin & wahoo
The most famous long-range boat in the world. Trips run October–February. Every seat is booked 10–12 months in advance. Bucket-list, budget-line-item level.
Landing: Point Loma
Trips: 6–15 day long-range
$3,200–$7,800
Best for: Wahoo, cow tuna, yellowfin
The Silva family boat, universally rated in the top 3 long-range boats. Fall/winter trips down to Alijos Rocks and the Ridge. Reservation deposits usually 12 months out.
Landing: Point Loma
Trips: 6-pack private charters (up to 6 anglers)
$1,200 half-day · $2,400 full-day
Best for: Private groups who don't want strangers
6-pack charters — no crowd, personal captain, target what you want. Best for corporate, bachelor, or serious anglers who want a full boat without the cattle-boat feel.
Landing: Mission Bay
Trips: Bay bass, halibut, spotted bay bass
$450–$900 half-day private
Best for: In-bay light-tackle
Local guides who fish Mission Bay for halibut, spotted bay bass, and corbina. Perfect for a mellow morning without going offshore. Book through California Bay Boys or Bay Bass Guides.
Landing: Mission Bay, Point Loma, Oceanside
Trips: Private 4–8 hr charters
$650–$1,800 for 4 anglers
Best for: Custom trips with reviews
The Airbnb of fishing. Filter by target species, boat size, and captain rating. Best for private groups wanting to target a specific fish (bluefin, yellowtail, mako shark).
Landing: Point Loma
Trips: 3/4-day Mexican-water trips
$160–$200
Best for: Best-value big fish
The Coronado Islands (Mexico, 15 mi south) are the sweet spot: yellowtail, calico, bonito, occasional yellowfin. Need a Mexican fishing license ($25, buy at landing). April–October is peak.
Target: Rockfish, sculpin, sanddabs
Rockfish season opens April 1; winter is bottomfish + a few schoolie yellowtail. Whale watching trips fill the fleet.
Target: Calico bass, halibut, early yellowtail, bonito
Coronado Islands wake up. Prime spring yellowtail on the flat-fall jig.
Target: Yellowfin tuna, dorado, bluefin, yellowtail
The best three months. Overnight and 1.5-day trips are the move — book 4–8 weeks out for weekends.
Target: Bluefin tuna (giants), wahoo (long-range), rockfish reopens
Long-range season peaks. Local overnight trips still producing bluefin through November.
Best for: First-timers, kids, quick fix
Bay + near-shore. Sanddabs, mackerel, bass, rockfish. Bait and tackle rental usually included.
Best for: Coronado Islands trips
The best value trip. Yellowtail, calico bass, bonito. Mexican fishing license required ($25 at landing).
Best for: Serious anglers going after tuna
Leave 10pm, fish sunrise offshore, back by 3pm. Bunks provided. Yellowfin and bluefin in season.
Best for: Extended offshore tuna trips
Ranges 50–200 miles offshore. Best for hardcore tuna fishing. All meals + bunk included.
Best for: Bucket-list trophy anglers
Cabo, Alijos Rocks, Hurricane Bank. Wahoo, 200+ lb yellowfin. Book 10–12+ months in advance.
Half-day trips: $79–$95. 3/4-day Coronado Islands trips: $160–$200. Overnight tuna trips: $260–$330. Multi-day long-range trips: $1,100–$8,500. Private 6-pack charters: $1,200–$2,400 for a full day.
Yes — everyone 16 and older needs a California fishing license. Buy a 1-day pass for $20.36 at any landing or online at wildlife.ca.gov. For Mexican-water trips (Coronado Islands), you also need a Mexican FMM permit (~$25/day, buy at the landing).
July through October is peak — yellowfin tuna, bluefin, dorado, and yellowtail are all biting. April–June is best for spring yellowtail. October–December is when giant bluefin and long-range trips shine. January–March is bottomfish (rockfish) and whale watching season.
Depending on season: yellowfin and bluefin tuna, yellowtail, dorado (mahi), calico bass, rockfish, sanddabs, halibut, bonito, wahoo (long-range only), and occasional marlin. Coronado Islands specialize in yellowtail and calico bass.
Point Loma landings (H&M, Fisherman's, Point Loma Sportfishing) have the biggest fleets and best offshore access. Mission Bay landings (Seaforth, Islandia) are more tourist-friendly and closer to hotels. Oceanside's Helgren's is the North County option.
Absolutely — half-day and twilight trips at Seaforth or Islandia are designed for first-timers. Bait, tackle, license help, and instruction are included. Kids as young as 5 are welcome on most half-days.
Half-days: same week is usually fine. Overnight summer trips: 4–8 weeks. Peak-season long-range trips (Royal Star, Red Rooster III): 10–18 months. Private charters for holiday weekends: 6+ weeks.
Yes. Deckhands fillet and bag your catch at the dock. Standard tip is 15–20% of the trip cost. Some marinas have on-site smoke shops (Point Loma Seafoods) that will smoke or cook your fish while you wait.
Yes on overnight trips (leave 10pm, back 3pm) during July–November. Day-only trips rarely reach the tuna grounds. For a true day-of tuna trip, book a private 6-pack out of Point Loma.
Warm layers (even summer mornings are 55°F offshore), non-slip shoes, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses with strap, snacks, water, cash for tip and rod rental, sea sickness medication (Bonine), and a small cooler if you want to take fish home.
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Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .