San Diego charter boats: a guide to the four main fleets
Start a San Diego charter search with the trip you want, then compare boats at Fisherman's Landing, Point Loma Sportfishing, H&M Landing and Seaforth. Local day boats, offshore overnight boats, small-group charters and long-range boats serve different plans. My free Hao2Fish charter finder helps compare available listings and weekend dates before booking with the operator.
Last updated: September 27, 2026
I first went to San Diego for tuna and yellowtail in 2024. Deep jigging for bluefin got me hooked on that fishery. I am a paying angler, and the question I care about when buying another ticket is whether the departure fits the fishing I want and the time I have. The boat details below come from the landings, rather than a claim that I have ridden every boat.
This directory covers the named fishing boats and charter operations on the four main landing rosters and booking pages checked above. Independent operators and seasonal visiting boats also work in San Diego, so this is not a claim to list every licensed charter in the county. A fleet listing does not guarantee an available departure. Use the linked source pages to confirm the current plan.
Hero photo: a Hao2Fish San Diego trip photo. It is not a rating or endorsement of every vessel listed below.
Which kind of San Diego fishing boat should you choose?
Choose the fishing time, passenger count and target before choosing a boat name. Here is how I would narrow the list:
| Your plan | Trip format to compare | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| A first trip or a shorter outing | Half-day or local day trip | What are you targeting locally right now? |
| Yellowtail or an island trip | Full-day coastal/island departure | Is this the island itinerary, or an offshore switch? |
| Offshore tuna | Overnight, 1.5-day or multiday | Does this specific departure plan to target bluefin, yellowfin or a mix? |
| A small group that wants the boat | Private charter or six-passenger operation | What is the total charter price and actual passenger limit? |
| Several days devoted to fishing | Long-range or extended multiday | How much time is travel, and what species fit this itinerary? |
Open party means buying an individual ticket and sharing the trip with other anglers. Private charter means reserving the boat for your group. The same boat can offer both on different dates. Limited load refers to fewer passengers on that departure; ask for the number rather than assuming a standard percentage. The San Diego Sportfishing Council's trip guide explains the local formats.
For bluefin, I would compare actual night-fishing opportunities and recent attempts. For yellowtail, I would ask whether the crew expects surface fishing, bait fishing or a deeper presentation. A longer trip provides more time, but the itinerary still has to fit your target.
Which boats fish from Fisherman's Landing?
Fisherman's Landing offers local trips, offshore boats, small-group charters and a separate long-range fleet. Its published address is 2838 Garrison Street, San Diego. The private-charter roster, long-range roster and current departures support this breakdown. Formats are listed options, not a promise for every date.
| Boat or operation | Published options to compare |
|---|---|
| Bight Sportfishing | Small-group 12-hour trips; different boat options |
| Constitution | Overnight through multiday |
| Dolphin | Half-day, local, offshore and island day trips |
| Fortune | Overnight through 3.5-day |
| Islander | Day trips through 3.5-day |
| Liberty | Full-day, overnight and multiday |
| Lucky B | Small-group full-day freelance listings |
| Pacific Dawn | Overnight through 3-day |
| Pacific Queen | Overnight through 3.5-day |
| Pegasus | Local/island/offshore day trips through multiday |
| Poseidon | Overnight through 5-day |
| Tomahawk | Full-day through 3-day |
| Excel | Long-range roster |
| Royal Polaris | Long-range roster |
| Royal Star | Long-range roster |
| Searcher | Long-range roster; also compare shorter multiday departures |
| Shogun | Long-range roster |
Royal Polaris belongs here. Polaris Supreme belongs at Seaforth. The similar names can make it easy to look at the wrong schedule.
September 27, 2026 screenshot of the free finder. Listings, prices and spaces change; confirm the final details with the operator.
Which boats fish from Point Loma Sportfishing?
Point Loma Sportfishing combines local day boats, offshore trips, smaller charters and long-range boats at 1403 Scott Street. Start with its charter roster and current schedule.
| Boat or listing | Useful distinction |
|---|---|
| Daily Double | Half-day local trips |
| Mission Belle | Full-day offshore or Coronado Islands, depending on the departure |
| Point Loma | Full-day offshore/island listings |
| Got Bait / Seko Sportfishing listing | Got Bait appears on Seko's page; full-day small-group listings |
| Game Changer | Six-passenger charter boat; multiday options |
| New Lo-An | Offshore 1.5-day and longer options |
| Sauerfish | Six-passenger boat with overnight and multiday options |
| Success | Smaller-load overnight and multiday options; listed boat capacity 12 |
| Wildcard 95 | Listed in the fleet; contact the landing for current details |
| American Angler | Long-range roster; shorter trips can also appear |
| Independence | Long-range roster |
| Intrepid | Long-range roster |
| Vagabond | Long-range roster |
The individual pages for Game Changer, New Lo-An, Sauerfish and Success give the more useful group-size and trip details. Success illustrates why boat capacity and trip load are different: its page lists a 12-person capacity alongside a departure limited to 10.
The Seko page displays Got Bait departures. I have kept that together rather than inventing a second vessel. Wildcard 95's page did not provide boat details or upcoming trips when checked. Its listing alone cannot tell us whether a particular date can be booked.
Which boats are in the H&M Landing fleet?
H&M lists a broad charter fleet at 2803 Emerson Street, including small-group and larger overnight boats. The table transcribes its fleet page. Length is in feet; sleeping capacity is not the number of tickets sold on your departure. “Ask” means the roster did not publish that figure.
| Boat | Length, ft | Sleeps |
|---|---|---|
| Daiwa Pacific | 60 | 20 |
| Excalibur | 85 | 27 |
| Grande | 85 | Ask |
| Horizon | 80 | 29 |
| Legend | 75 | 30 |
| Little G | 70 | Ask |
| Malihini | 80 | Ask |
| Nautilus | 50 | 6 |
| Ocean Odyssey | 85 | 35 |
| Old Glory | 85 | 36 |
| Patriot | 65 | 12 |
| Peregrine | 82 | Ask |
| Premier | 81 | Ask |
| Producer | 65 | 30 |
| Ranger 85 | 85 | 30 |
| Red Rooster III | 105 | 30 |
| Relentless | 60 | 21 |
| Sea Adventure 80 | 80 | 28 |
| Spirit Of Adventure | 88 | 28 |
| Top Gun 80 | 80 | 25 |
| Tradition | 65 | 30 |
| Vendetta 2 | 60 | 16 |
| Vision | 90 | 32 |
H&M's six-passenger page names Little G and Nautilus, with other boats available by inquiry. Little G is listed for six passengers with three staterooms; that is a passenger figure, which I have not substituted for an explicitly stated sleeping count.
For any of these boats, compare the actual departure's target, passenger load and included costs. A big boat can run different trip lengths, and a bunk count does not tell you how crowded a particular trip will be.
Illustrative stock photo, not a vessel in the H&M table.
Which boats fish from Seaforth in Mission Bay?
Seaforth's fishing fleet departs from 1717 Quivira Road in Mission Bay. That is a different check-in location from the Point Loma landings. Its fleet roster and charter trip listings give these options:
| Boat | Published options to compare |
|---|---|
| Apollo | Overnight, 1.5-day and 2-day |
| Aztec | Overnight and 2-day |
| Cortez | One-day, 1.5-day and 2-day |
| El Gato Dos | Six-person local and Mexico day charters |
| Highliner | Overnight through 2.5-day |
| New Seaforth | Half-day, twilight, local and offshore day trips |
| Outer Limits | Overnight/offshore; sleeping accommodations for 24 |
| Pacific Voyager | Overnight and 2-day |
| Pacifica | One-day, 1.5-day and 2-day |
| Polaris Supreme | 90-foot boat with 12 two-person staterooms; check its schedule |
| San Diego | Full-day coastal or offshore |
| Sea Watch | Half-day, local and full-day options |
| Tribute | Overnight through 3-day |
| Voyager | Overnight, 1.5-day and 2-day |
The individual pages for Outer Limits and Polaris Supreme support those accommodation details. Actual trip load can be lower. Seaforth also lists Legacy, identified as whale watching; it is not included in the fishing comparison above.
For Polaris Supreme in particular, plan early if you need a fixed weekend. The same goes for Vagabond and Royal Polaris at their respective landings. I would compare the actual itinerary before treating those three boats as interchangeable choices.
How do you compare dates without checking every schedule separately?
Use the free Hao2Fish charter finder to narrow the available listings, then complete the booking with the operator. Pick your date range first, then narrow by trip type, boat or landing. The finder is a search tool, and it does not take the reservation itself.
For fewer days off work, try Fri→Mon, Sat→Mon or Sun→Mon and select Available only. Read the times on the result. A Monday-evening return still uses Monday, and someone flying back to the Bay Area needs to allow for that travel too.
Filter demonstration captured September 27, 2026. This result returned Monday evening. Displayed price and available spaces are a dated example.
My booking check would be:
- Target and time: bluefin, yellowfin, yellowtail or a mixed trip; departure and return times; likely fishing time.
- Actual load: the number of anglers for this departure, plus bunk or stateroom arrangements.
- Total cost: ticket or whole-boat price, meals, tackle rental, licenses, permits, possible surcharges, gratuity and processing.
- Trip changes: cancellation terms, minimum passenger requirements and what happens if weather or target species change.
- Documents and gear: the requirements for the actual fishing jurisdiction and the crew's current tackle list.
Book well ahead when the boat and weekend matter. Then recheck the plan near departure. The bluefin season guide helps with timing, while the yellowtail jigging guide helps frame the tackle questions. A heavy tuna jig is one option for the right trip, not a substitute for every yellowtail presentation.
FAQ
What is the difference between open party and private charter?
Open party means buying individual tickets and fishing with other passengers. A private charter reserves the boat for your group. Some boats offer both. Check whether the displayed price is per person or for the entire boat before comparing costs.
Which San Diego charter boat is best for bluefin tuna?
Choose a departure that is actually targeting bluefin, with enough time to reach the current fishing area and the passenger load you want. Compare recent similar trips and ask the crew about its plan. A boat name alone cannot establish the best choice.
Are Royal Polaris and Polaris Supreme the same boat?
No. Royal Polaris is listed with Fisherman's Landing. Polaris Supreme is listed with Seaforth in Mission Bay. They have separate schedules and different check-in locations.
Can I find weekend fishing trips that need fewer days off work?
Yes. The free Hao2Fish finder has Fri→Mon, Sat→Mon and Sun→Mon filters. Check the departure and return times on each result and include your travel time. A weekend filter does not automatically mean zero weekdays away from work.
Hao2Fish tip: Once the crew recommends your jig weights, pack to that list. If it calls for 300g and 400g options, the 
Torpedo Duo 300g + 400g covers those two weights. The boat's current plan comes first.