Fishing Trips From San Diego

The San Diego sportfishing fleet operating out of San Diego Bay offers the widest range of trips found anywhere in the world. And the season is year around! During the year, of course, the fishing grounds and targeted species will vary according to season. Below is sampling of the types of trips that are offered and the accommodations you can expect aboard the boats.

  • “Open Party” trips are regularly scheduled trips for which individual tickets are available for purchase. “Limited Load” refers to open party trips which carry 25% to 50% fewer passengers than their Open Party equivalents. Advance reservations are recommended on all trips. Departure times may very.
  • Private Charters can be arranged for any size group. Choose from any trip listed here or customize an itinerary from a bay cruise to a multi day trip of island hopping.

Half Day Fishing

These popular five to six hour trips fish the coastline from Imperial Beach to the Point Loma Kelp Beds according to the “best bite”. There are daily departures from Fisherman’s LandingPoint Loma Sportfishing and H&M Landing. In the summer months an additional departure is offered for a “twilight run”. Summer & Fall Fishing seasons target Yellowtail, Bass, Barracuda, Bonito and flurries of Tuna. Winter & Spring Fishing Seasons target Yellowtail, Sandbass, Rockfish, Sheephead, Sculpin, White Seabass & Barracuda. Boats offering these trips do not have sleeping accommodations but do have full food service. A California fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.

Half Day Fishing
1/2 Day Fishing Fares*
$60-$75

Full Day Fishing

Available all year. This intermediate length trip of nine to ten hours departs from Fisherman’s LandingPoint Loma Sportfishing and H&M Landing.  Departure times vary – Early Morning Departures – Return Afternoon or Early Evening. Targeted fishing grounds include the Coronado Islands – which lie 14 miles south of San Diego in Mexican waters, the Baja Coast and offshore banks. When fishing in Mexican waters, a Mexican fishing license, Mexican Visa and US Passport are required. Spring, summer and fall trips target Yellowtail, White Sea Bass, Calico Bass, Barracuda and Bonito. Winter trips target Sand Bass, Rock Cod and over 50 fifty species of bottom fish.  Like the boats running half day trips, a full galley is available.

Full Day Fishing Fares*
$240-$275

Overnight Coronado Islands

Available in Spring and Fall. These one-day overnight trips run from 18 to 21 hours in length. Departing all three landings between 10 PM & 11 PM, they return between 5 PM and 8 PM. Fishing begins at daybreak around the rugged shores of the Coronado Islands and continues until the early afternoon. Usually preferred by the more experienced angler, these trips provide more time at the fishing grounds and action in waters less heavily fished than the local coastline. In the spring and summer you can expect to catch a variety of game fish including Yellowtail, White Sea Bass, Calico Bass Barracuda and Bonito. A Mexican fishing license, Mexican Visa and US Passport is required. Boats operating on these runs are equipped with bunks for sleeping while enroute to the fishing grounds and have full service galleys. Trips are available from these member Landings: Fisherman’s Landing, Point Loma Sportfishing  and H&M Landing.

Coronado Islands Yellowtail
Full Day Coronado Islands Fares*
$325-$350

Overnight and Day and a Half Outer Banks Trips

Summer and fall are the seasons for these one day – 21 to 23 hour overnight trips and longer, day and a half trips. Targeting the migrating schools of albacore, yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, big eye tuna and dorado the season can begin as early as June and run as long as November. These are the “headline” game fish that make San Diego’s summer. The one day trips depart between 10 and 11 PM and return between 7 to 10 PM the following night, depending on the location and distance of the prior day’s fishing. The fishing grounds can be anywhere from 30 to 100 miles offshore and can change on a daily basis. A wide open tuna bite at the outer banks provides for some very exciting fishing! Day & a half trips leave about the same time, but return early in the morning, a day later. The day and a half trips offer the possibility of staying longer in the fishing grounds which can be very important, especially if the bulk of available fish is 100 miles or more offshore. As on the Full Day Coronado Island trips, boats operating on these runs are equipped with bunks for sleeping while enroute to the fishing grounds and have full service galleys. When fishing in Mexican waters, a Mexican fishing permit is required. When fishing in US waters, a California fishing license is required. At the height of the season, when demand is very high, several boats in the fleet will offer what is referred to as “limited load”. For a higher ticket price, the boat will reduce the number of anglers that it carries in order to provide an even more comfortable fishing environment for it passengers. Trips are available from these member Landings: Fisherman’s Landing, Point Loma Sportfishing and H&M Landing.

Offshore Tuna
Full Day Outer Banks Fares*
 $325-$525

Multi-Day Trips

Available Summer and Fall. Trips of two to five days fish the outer banks and the offshore islands of the northern Baja Peninsula for Tuna, Yellowtail and Dorado. Because you spend more time in the fishing grounds and less time travelling to and from, multiday trips are an exceptional bargain. Enjoy comfortable accommodations aboard boats specifically designed for long range cruising. See indivdual sportfishing companies for current schedules and pricing. Trips are available from these member Landings: Fisherman’s Landing, Point Loma Sportfishing and H&M Landing, and Lee Palm’s Sportfishers.

Ranger Tuna

Mexican Long Range Fishing

Multiday trips of 2 to 21 days are scheduled throughout the year, depending on the season. Shorter trips of 2 to 6 days are offered in the spring and summer months, while longer trip of 8 to 21 days are offered through the fall and winter. Trips of 2 to 6 days will usually fish 100 to 300 miles south of San Diego in the coastal waters of Baja California and the offshore islands of San Martin, Guadalupe, San Benitos and Cedros. Target species include Albacore, Yellowfin Tuna, Bluefin Tuna, Big Eye Tuna, Yellowtail and Calico Bass. The longer trips of 8 to 12 days usually fish 300 to 1000 miles south of San Diego at such places as Uncle Sam Bank, Alijos Rocks, the 23 Fathom Bank and Thetis Bank, where the targeted species include Yellowfin Tuna, Bluefin Tuna, Big Eye Tuna, Yellowtail, Wahoo and Dorado. The longest trips of 13 to 21 days will fish along the Baja coast and ultimately fish the distant islands of the Revilla Gigedos – Clarian, Socorro and San Benedicto, where Yellowfin Tuna from 200 to over 300 pounds and Wahoo up to 100 pounds are caught on a regular basis. Long range fishing provides a special brand of excitement. Fishing is usually tuned for more and bigger fish. During the trip fish are stored below deck in refrigerated fish holds to keep the catch in frozen pristine condition. Vessels operating extended “long range trips” are fully self sufficient, provide comfortable accommodations, excellent food service and carry the latest in electronics and fish finding equipment. Multiday trips are generally inclusive of all meals. Policy with regard to including the cost of Mexican fishing permits in the fare varies from boat to boat. All of the long range operations offer special tackle rental packages suited to the length of trip and the species that will be targeted. More detailed information can be found at individual company websites. They are: Point Loma Sportfishing, (619) 223-1627 H&M Landing, (619) 222-1144Fisherman’s Landing, (619)221-8500 and Lee Palm’s Sportfishers, (619) 224-3857.

* All quoted prices are subject to change. Major increases in fuel prices may result in an additional fuel surcharge.  For Current Trip Offerings and Availability Please Visit Our Member Sportfishing Landings Below:

Fisherman's Landing
H&M Landing
Point Loma Sportfishing
Lee Palm's Sportfishers