Charter Chatter

The Best Part: Fishing With Friends

By Capt. Chris Randel
MV Indian

Chartering a sportfishing boat is a great way to get out on the water and have a whole lot of fun with your family, friends or co-workers. You can do a ½ -day, ¾-ay, full day and multi-day trips up to 18 days on long-range boats, as San Diego is home to the largest and most modern sportfishing fleet in the world.

Charter boats vary in size, passenger loads, creature comforts, and price ranges. The following information can assist you in choosing the right boat for a given group size and if it is a group of six or fewer, look at the 6-pack fleet for the best deal and for groups of  seven to 16, there are a number of 40- to 50-foot vessels, and the 50- to 65-foot boats can accommodate up 30 persons.

For the really large groups of 30 to 50 persons, look at the 75- to 105-foot vessels. You can get this information from several sources: H&M Landing at (619) 222-1144 or Point Loma Sportfishing at (619) 224-FISH, and Fisherman’s Landing at (619) 221-8500. Or, try Internet fishing pages: www.allcoastsportfishing.com and www.bloodydecks.com . I suggest making a post on the message boards and state that you are thinking of chartering a particular vessel and would like some feedback from anglers who have fished on that boat; this can be helpful in making your decision. You will also need to decide what time of year to go.

In San Diego, prime time is June through October as albacore and yellowtail migrate north in late May. They are followed by yellowfin and dorado from August through October and rock cod, November through March.

Charter prices will be a little lower early and late season, but you should call the boat captain or owner and discuss the charter price and what it includes and does not include. Mention things such as licenses, food, beverages, tackle, fish filleting, etc., and then you can divide the total cost by the number of anglers on your trip and get a per-person cost.

It is a good idea to let everyone know that you need 50 percent up front because all of the boats will require a 50 percent trip deposit with the balance due on the departure date. Also inquire as to what type of fishing tackle would be best that particular time of the year.

Make sure you bring a change of clothes, sunglasses, sun block, hat or beanie, and a warm jacket to wear at night, plus any medication you need. Bait, bunks, blankets and pillows, restrooms with hot showers are provided — along with a full-service galley. Beer, soda, bottled water, snacks are available also. You can request meals included for around $30 to $35  per person per day.

The best part of chartering a boat is that you can fish with people you know — bring as few or as many as you want — and really have a memorable time. Capt Chris Randel, MV Indian,  www.indiansportfishing.com, (619) 583-TUNA (8862).