I’ve been considering a trip like this for a long time, but don’t know much about it. What are the costs, do you have to bring your own gear, food, etc? Can you use the local cleaning tables to process your catch at the docks, or are you forced to pay someone?
I’m thinking cost and logistics of getting these fish back to whatever part of the country I’m in at the time.
It depends on the trip and what you are looking to catch. Odds are you will probably go on a second trip. It is addicting especially with Tuna, because nothing fights like that.
If you are looking for a cow (200lb plus) tuna, then a 6 pack boat is the best option. Less people on the rail and more opportunities trolling or on the kite. Often you do not have to rent gear
The open party sport boats are like a cruise ship that you fish on. Some have the meal package included and others meals have to be purchased. Rods will have to be rented depending on what you have and what you will need. A 3.5 day trip can only be a day or a day in a half of fishing. The captains will go where the fish are biting. Sometimes they are right outside of San Diego other times they are on far away islands. If you get to an island that is not biting, they may get a radio call that the fish are biting at another island and you'll head there. All the captains in the mid range fleet talk.
The long range trips are a luxury with a motor. Meals and Rods (Often have to request are included). Expect a few days of hanging out on the boat as you travel. You can often come back with more fish that you can eat in a year, so be mindful of that. Long Range boats normally fill up fast for the next year, so it is important to book early.
Here are some options out of SD [Using H&M Landing - You could use Point Loma, Seaforth, or Fisherman's Landing as well] (Trips are cheaper out of the Oxnard and LA, but not a lot outside of Overnight and 1.5 day)
6 Pack Boat (12 hours) - $600+ [Normally Charters]
Day Boats (12 Hours) - $240
Overnight Boats (22 hours - 1 days limits) - $325
1.5 Day (35 hours - 1 days limits) - $450
2 Day (44 hours - 2 days limits) - $650
2.5 Day (59 hours - 2 days limits) - $950
3 Day (68 hours - 3 days limits) - $1,000
3.5 Day (83 hours - 3 days limits) - $1,300
Rod Rentals from H&M
30lb - $25-$42 (Hooks w/ live bait, and smaller jigs) [Smaller Yellowtail, Schooly sized yellowfin or bluefin, Dorado, Kelp Paddies]
40lb - $38-$65 (Hooks w/ live bait and smaller jigs) [Kelp paddies, or when Bluefin are assholes]
50lb - $47 - $97 (All jigs, but knife jigs) [Casting jigs or yoyoing jigs (rapid retrieve and fall to the bottom or depth)]
60/80lb - $62 - $127 (Sinker rig) [Sinker rubber banded above a hook to a live sardine]
100/130lb - $82 - $152 (Knife jig rig) [Not something you want to fish all trip unless you are a masochist]
Just to note.
The most common rigged fished on a lot of summer and fall trips are the flyline (live sardine with a hook), but they will also fish bluefin at night with the monster 100/130lb tuna rods (rail rods). In the spring and the fall, you may have to look at a sinker rig as well. A 40lb, 80lb, and 100lb is necessary for Tuna trips. Schooly sized Yellowfin or Bluefin can be caught on the 40lb. Just to be warned Bluefin are assholes with great eye sight. Fishing a 75lb+ bluefin on a 25lb fluro leader, because they won't bite anything over 25lb is a dick move. They can also be wide open on the boat next to you and not like anything you are selling on your boat. They also like to throw hooks, run you around the boat, cut you off in the prop, etc. Just asshole stuff. The other thing is the amount of people on the boat. It will be a learning process to fish next too 25 other people on an 85' boat. It is a fun atmosphere until the bite goes wide open and everyone is tangled. Always follow your lines.
Items needed
Hooks - Circle hooks (Tuna) or J Hooks (Dorado, Yellowtail) sizes 4 - 4/0 depending on the size of bait. Tuna have great eyesight and you want your sardine to swim fast, so you have to match the hook to the bait.
Small jigs [Double as mack lures] - A couple Diawa Zakanas or Shimano current snipers (Colt Snipers) in around 100 grams, if fishing yellowtail Surface and Yoyo irons (Tady or Salas)
Knife jigs [Could be used as canoe anchors or expensive duck decoy anchors] - At least 1 at 300, 400, and 500 grams. Mustad Rip Rollers, Diawa Sk Jigs, etc. You will have to upgrade the hardware on them as well since they are designed for groupers and not tuna. Tuna bend bad hooks. Also a 200lb bite leader for the jigs. This can be done at the landing and hardware is not cheap at the landing. Many videos will also you to rig them yourself with split ring plyers. $20 a jig and $20 in hooks and hardware. The landing will do it at $30 a jig and $40 in hardware.
Flurocarbon for leaders - You want the heaviest you can get away with. 20lb to 80lb. Sometimes they do not care and other times you will be fishing 20lb to catch 80lb fish.
Sinkers - A couple 4,6, and 8 ounce. Depends on the current and you want options. Cheaper away from the landing as well.
Other odds and ends (Sunscreen, clothes, towel, bedding, deodorant, Tooth Brush, Motion Sickness Meds)
Tips - 10-20%+ based on service
Beers, Water, Soda - Are not included and you can run up a bill fast at $3 a pop. You can bring water and soda with you and they frown upon liquor or beer being brought on board. Ice is free on the boat though.
Fish Processing - The Fish Processors in San Diego prices keep going up. It is $1.75 a pound whole weight. Always make a reservation. Cleaning on the boat will be $5-$80 a fish and some of the larger models they won't clean on the boat. As you can imagine many people are shocked by the cost. You can fly southwest and take your vaccuum sealer with you are process them yourself if you want to save on a huge cost. You can also if you drive down put them in coolers and ice them until you get back to your residence. You can also have the fish processors ship it back to your airport if you have a flight to catch and can't wait.
Long Range
Trips are 3 days to 16 days
$1,500 to $10,500. Some trips allow you to fly down to Cabo and fly back from Cabo. Luxury ride and you'll go back if you have the funds. The meals are better too. If you can it is the better option, but the mid range options are still good. Most are sponsored and have give away items. They will go a long ways and often it is multiple days of travel. You get 30 fish depending on the species for the trip, but the average person does not need 600lbs of fish in the freezer. The tackle will be more extensive, but all the boats have tackle recommendations on their website. Like the midrange boats you can watch Netflix as you travel.
Last thing to note. Sometimes depending on the price of fuel there is a fuel surcharge before the trip. It is somewhere in the range of $30 bucks a day when prices get above $5.00 for diesel.
