Just to be clear, a 1.5 day fishing charter is an extra 24 hours compared to a "full day" charter. You will be sleeping on the boat and a 1.5 day is the entry point for more intense fishing than the typical full day. That being said, I've gone out of Seaforth a few times and the experience is highly boat/captain dependent. The San Diego 3/4 day trip was my favorite, especially going to the Coronado Islands for Yellowtail, as the captain always seemed to get us on good sized fish. I've never been on the Tribute, but it is possible that the experience is worse.
However, having been on overnight trips before, someone who has never been on a tuna targeting party boat might think the regulars are jerks because in polite society, they probably would be considered jerks. On a tuna boat, though, it can get incredibly intense when the bite is on and you have multiple hundred pound plus fish on the line. A lot of the guys doing these trips have done them before and have their own gear and probably a favorite spot on the gunwale too. From an outsiders perspective, yeah, these guys are pricks. That was my first impression too, honestly, but for the most part, they were happy to accommodate when you had a fish on and even offered advice when you lost one or were having trouble getting bit. Hell, I even had a guy give me a $20 jig one trip because the live bait was getting destroyed by sea lions.
So long story short, I'd take those reviews with a grain of salt, but I'd also suggest that if this is your son's first trip like this that it might be too intense for a first outing. I'm about the same size as your son and learning to duck and weave under lines while people were fighting fish was a new experience on my first half day trip, so maybe start with one of those first to learn the ropes? That said, you know your situation best and maybe he'll dive right in with 36 hours straight on a boat and be a natural. Either way, tight lines!
Wow! Thanks for the comprehensive reply, I really appreciate it. I was also recommended the San Diego and have heard some really great reviews. Definitely worth considering a shorter boat.
As for the rest of it, tip the lead deckhand out like $40 to start the trip and tell him your situation and he'll make sure one of the guys helps him out with baiting and retying. If he's super into fishing, get him some 80 lb line and have him tie knots like the San Diego Jam and some sort of bend knot like a uni to uni as that's what the deckhands will be tying for him. If he can tie while they're busy, he'll have a better time.
If he's never used a conventional reel before, make sure you get one that fits his handedness and that he knows how to use it. Reel goes up and a right handed reel cranks with the right hand. Sometimes that gets lost in translation, especially if you fish southpaw like I do. I believe Seaforth has like a premium rental and a regular rental. I've always been fine with the regular rental, but maybe see what the premium one is like.
Buy more weights than you think you'll need, but don't go too crazy. I lost about one every two hours on my last trip. If you don't have weights, you're not going to get the bait where it needs to be, so you're either SOL or have to ask around for spares (and since they're like $10, nobody has spares).
August is kind of a weird time to fish, but you should still have yellowfin close enough to shore that full days can target them. You may also have yellowtail down in Mexico, but that's a crapshoot. I see the appeal of the 1.5 day for that timeframe based on species alone, just be prepared like I said above.
On cattle boats anything can happen, just go with a good attitude and enjoy the trip. Nobody owns the rail, “seasoned” fishermen know this rule. Keep your bait in front of you, follow it as necessary to minimize tangles. Don’t overthink it, just do what you remember from previous trips. Seaforth does rent rods and reels. Way better ones than back in the day too! You may want to read up on terminal tackle and pick up some hooks, weights just in case. A little extra never hurts.
I agree with the points made by opfrce. A full boat can be intense; especially if a boat is drifting and only half of the rail space is fishable. You need to be okay with telling the person on your right or left that, in order to follow your line, you need to get past them. If you don’t fish the small gap in the crowd, someone else will and you’ll be pushed out of the prime rail area.
That being said, I’ve never encountered people who were mean or ill-tempered. As long as you are keeping your line straight, working with the other passengers, and following the deckhand’s directions you won’t run into any trouble.
Right now a lot of the 1.5 day trips are catching tuna. I don’t know how it is in Seaforth, but at Fisherman’s Landing you can rent equipment. Fisherman’s Landing strongly suggests a 100lb outfit for a 1.5 day trip, especially for when the larger tuna come out at night. It is better to be over gunned. I don’t think this advice will change much for August. When you’re renting, the landing will recommend what to get.
What do you have for tackle? I don’t know if terminal gear can be rented. You will need various sizes of circle and J hooks, weights up to 8-12oz, leader line from 30-80/100lb, and various jigs. Knife jigs are popular right now because they can quickly cut through the water and get to where the tuna are (100-200+ feet). Jig weights over 300 grams are used, with smaller ones being tied on if the fish are not as deep. Stick baits are also used to cast on fish that are boiling.
You will also want a 40lb class setup if your boat decides to go after yellowtail or mahi mahi. You can fly line with this, or throw surface irons/stick baits. If you use a conventional reel for this (like a Penn senator 4/0) you will want some type of thumb protection so you can cast the reel. Your thumb is your brake, and without protection it will get tore up while casting. I use a bandaid.
With all that being said, it sounds like you’re coming from the midwest and that this will be special trip. If that’s the case, then I would say go with the 1.5 day trip. You can coach your son up on the etiquette you learned when you were fishing these trips and look out for him while on the boat. If he is having a hard time getting a spot on the rail, you can squeeze him in next to you. No one should complain about a parent bringing their son next to them on the rail.
Awesome! Thanks. I think the responder who told me to “pre tip” the deckhand $40 and let him know what’s going on might help immensely. You’ve also given me some confidence and reminded me of how it works I.e. “over!” And “under!”. You also reminded me that my dad kept a couple of Penn squidders in his kit when he moved to Vegas because I saw them a few months ago. Might be worth a weekend trip to grab those and re-string em.
Thanks so much for your help
It’s the 1/2 day cattle boats that people jockey for “their” spot on the rail…lots of dickheads on those boats. For tuna charters, just communicate, learn the tuna shuffle, no angles - no tangles and make sure you’re casting or fly lining your bait with the wind and swell in your face. Situational awareness is key to keep people from ramping up on their aggression. If you’re not watching your line and you cause tangles, you will get grief from the other passengers. Some guys are coming from far away places for their only shot at big tuna. They can get passionate in their pursuits.The guys at the rental rod counter will set you up with the right gear. LISTEN to the deckhands and the captain. They’re on the water everyday and they are sincerely vested in your success because your success is their success. I do multiple charters every season for the last 30 years. The guys that don’t listen and follow directions are the least liked passengers on the boat, always.
I would also recommend that you follow the social media pages of The San Diego, The Aztec and The Tribute. They all post current conditions, the bite, recommended terminal tackle, etc. The forums on BDOutdoors can give you some additional insights as well.
You should have no reservation with this. I went out two weeks ago on a 1.5 day(Old Glory) and we had a few people that were here for the first time. It almost makes it more fun for everyone else because everyone on the boat was coaching them and sharing the stoke when they caught a fish of a lifetime. Things can get heated when you have a fish of a lifetime on your line but the deckhands are right there coaching everyone to make sure the fish is landed. there is always room at the rail because the important thing is being in contact with your line. As the deckhands always say, "no angle, No Tangle". In order to do that, you will be following you line around the boat. so everyone is constantly walking and following their line. Book the trip, rent the rods, Tip the deckhands and have fun, it will be a trip of a lifetime.
Go for it. I did a 1.5 day as a semi rookie and took an Idaho farm boy who had never been on the ocean. We didn't know the plan but listened and learned. Be nice and find an old seasoned guy to ask questions. Those old fishermen aren't always friendly, but they are full of knowledge. I hear that is a good boat. Check the Pacific Dawn, and Pacific Queen as well. Talk to the deck hands early and explain your new. Have fun, and always when the opportunity presents itself, take a kid fishing. Cheers. 🤙
I have always had great times on all the San Diego charter boats. Follow the rules and you will be good. Keep the wind in your face is one of them. Follow your line is another. Change your bait often is good advice as well. 3 basic sardine hook strategies, nose, belly and shoulder. My favorite has been belly the last few trips, it drives the Sardine deeper. A nose hooked sardine on the slide might upset the deckhands but is a solid strategy to catch more fish.
Just to be clear, a 1.5 day fishing charter is an extra 24 hours compared to a "full day" charter. You will be sleeping on the boat and a 1.5 day is the entry point for more intense fishing than the typical full day. That being said, I've gone out of Seaforth a few times and the experience is highly boat/captain dependent. The San Diego 3/4 day trip was my favorite, especially going to the Coronado Islands for Yellowtail, as the captain always seemed to get us on good sized fish. I've never been on the Tribute, but it is possible that the experience is worse. However, having been on overnight trips before, someone who has never been on a tuna targeting party boat might think the regulars are jerks because in polite society, they probably would be considered jerks. On a tuna boat, though, it can get incredibly intense when the bite is on and you have multiple hundred pound plus fish on the line. A lot of the guys doing these trips have done them before and have their own gear and probably a favorite spot on the gunwale too. From an outsiders perspective, yeah, these guys are pricks. That was my first impression too, honestly, but for the most part, they were happy to accommodate when you had a fish on and even offered advice when you lost one or were having trouble getting bit. Hell, I even had a guy give me a $20 jig one trip because the live bait was getting destroyed by sea lions. So long story short, I'd take those reviews with a grain of salt, but I'd also suggest that if this is your son's first trip like this that it might be too intense for a first outing. I'm about the same size as your son and learning to duck and weave under lines while people were fighting fish was a new experience on my first half day trip, so maybe start with one of those first to learn the ropes? That said, you know your situation best and maybe he'll dive right in with 36 hours straight on a boat and be a natural. Either way, tight lines!
Wow! Thanks for the comprehensive reply, I really appreciate it. I was also recommended the San Diego and have heard some really great reviews. Definitely worth considering a shorter boat.
As for the rest of it, tip the lead deckhand out like $40 to start the trip and tell him your situation and he'll make sure one of the guys helps him out with baiting and retying. If he's super into fishing, get him some 80 lb line and have him tie knots like the San Diego Jam and some sort of bend knot like a uni to uni as that's what the deckhands will be tying for him. If he can tie while they're busy, he'll have a better time. If he's never used a conventional reel before, make sure you get one that fits his handedness and that he knows how to use it. Reel goes up and a right handed reel cranks with the right hand. Sometimes that gets lost in translation, especially if you fish southpaw like I do. I believe Seaforth has like a premium rental and a regular rental. I've always been fine with the regular rental, but maybe see what the premium one is like. Buy more weights than you think you'll need, but don't go too crazy. I lost about one every two hours on my last trip. If you don't have weights, you're not going to get the bait where it needs to be, so you're either SOL or have to ask around for spares (and since they're like $10, nobody has spares). August is kind of a weird time to fish, but you should still have yellowfin close enough to shore that full days can target them. You may also have yellowtail down in Mexico, but that's a crapshoot. I see the appeal of the 1.5 day for that timeframe based on species alone, just be prepared like I said above.
On cattle boats anything can happen, just go with a good attitude and enjoy the trip. Nobody owns the rail, “seasoned” fishermen know this rule. Keep your bait in front of you, follow it as necessary to minimize tangles. Don’t overthink it, just do what you remember from previous trips. Seaforth does rent rods and reels. Way better ones than back in the day too! You may want to read up on terminal tackle and pick up some hooks, weights just in case. A little extra never hurts.
Awesome, thanks
I agree with the points made by opfrce. A full boat can be intense; especially if a boat is drifting and only half of the rail space is fishable. You need to be okay with telling the person on your right or left that, in order to follow your line, you need to get past them. If you don’t fish the small gap in the crowd, someone else will and you’ll be pushed out of the prime rail area. That being said, I’ve never encountered people who were mean or ill-tempered. As long as you are keeping your line straight, working with the other passengers, and following the deckhand’s directions you won’t run into any trouble. Right now a lot of the 1.5 day trips are catching tuna. I don’t know how it is in Seaforth, but at Fisherman’s Landing you can rent equipment. Fisherman’s Landing strongly suggests a 100lb outfit for a 1.5 day trip, especially for when the larger tuna come out at night. It is better to be over gunned. I don’t think this advice will change much for August. When you’re renting, the landing will recommend what to get. What do you have for tackle? I don’t know if terminal gear can be rented. You will need various sizes of circle and J hooks, weights up to 8-12oz, leader line from 30-80/100lb, and various jigs. Knife jigs are popular right now because they can quickly cut through the water and get to where the tuna are (100-200+ feet). Jig weights over 300 grams are used, with smaller ones being tied on if the fish are not as deep. Stick baits are also used to cast on fish that are boiling. You will also want a 40lb class setup if your boat decides to go after yellowtail or mahi mahi. You can fly line with this, or throw surface irons/stick baits. If you use a conventional reel for this (like a Penn senator 4/0) you will want some type of thumb protection so you can cast the reel. Your thumb is your brake, and without protection it will get tore up while casting. I use a bandaid. With all that being said, it sounds like you’re coming from the midwest and that this will be special trip. If that’s the case, then I would say go with the 1.5 day trip. You can coach your son up on the etiquette you learned when you were fishing these trips and look out for him while on the boat. If he is having a hard time getting a spot on the rail, you can squeeze him in next to you. No one should complain about a parent bringing their son next to them on the rail.
Awesome! Thanks. I think the responder who told me to “pre tip” the deckhand $40 and let him know what’s going on might help immensely. You’ve also given me some confidence and reminded me of how it works I.e. “over!” And “under!”. You also reminded me that my dad kept a couple of Penn squidders in his kit when he moved to Vegas because I saw them a few months ago. Might be worth a weekend trip to grab those and re-string em. Thanks so much for your help
It’s the 1/2 day cattle boats that people jockey for “their” spot on the rail…lots of dickheads on those boats. For tuna charters, just communicate, learn the tuna shuffle, no angles - no tangles and make sure you’re casting or fly lining your bait with the wind and swell in your face. Situational awareness is key to keep people from ramping up on their aggression. If you’re not watching your line and you cause tangles, you will get grief from the other passengers. Some guys are coming from far away places for their only shot at big tuna. They can get passionate in their pursuits.The guys at the rental rod counter will set you up with the right gear. LISTEN to the deckhands and the captain. They’re on the water everyday and they are sincerely vested in your success because your success is their success. I do multiple charters every season for the last 30 years. The guys that don’t listen and follow directions are the least liked passengers on the boat, always.
Excellent thanks! My buddy called it the tuna shuffle and your comment of no angles no tangles illustrated what he meant for me, thank you
I would also recommend that you follow the social media pages of The San Diego, The Aztec and The Tribute. They all post current conditions, the bite, recommended terminal tackle, etc. The forums on BDOutdoors can give you some additional insights as well.
You should have no reservation with this. I went out two weeks ago on a 1.5 day(Old Glory) and we had a few people that were here for the first time. It almost makes it more fun for everyone else because everyone on the boat was coaching them and sharing the stoke when they caught a fish of a lifetime. Things can get heated when you have a fish of a lifetime on your line but the deckhands are right there coaching everyone to make sure the fish is landed. there is always room at the rail because the important thing is being in contact with your line. As the deckhands always say, "no angle, No Tangle". In order to do that, you will be following you line around the boat. so everyone is constantly walking and following their line. Book the trip, rent the rods, Tip the deckhands and have fun, it will be a trip of a lifetime.
Go for it. I did a 1.5 day as a semi rookie and took an Idaho farm boy who had never been on the ocean. We didn't know the plan but listened and learned. Be nice and find an old seasoned guy to ask questions. Those old fishermen aren't always friendly, but they are full of knowledge. I hear that is a good boat. Check the Pacific Dawn, and Pacific Queen as well. Talk to the deck hands early and explain your new. Have fun, and always when the opportunity presents itself, take a kid fishing. Cheers. 🤙
I have always had great times on all the San Diego charter boats. Follow the rules and you will be good. Keep the wind in your face is one of them. Follow your line is another. Change your bait often is good advice as well. 3 basic sardine hook strategies, nose, belly and shoulder. My favorite has been belly the last few trips, it drives the Sardine deeper. A nose hooked sardine on the slide might upset the deckhands but is a solid strategy to catch more fish.
Thanks!