What would you recommend to anglers fishing in San Diego, California for the first time?

We went out on the trip hoping for yellowtail, but knew that it was still early in the season and they might not be around yet. We wound up bottom fishing the day of, caught some beautiful Rockfish, good sized, and came home with plenty to split between two households, and at least enough for 3 or 4 dinners for our family of 5 and a dinner friend or two.

We are used to catching bigger fish in the Gulf like snapper and grouper. The water was a little more choppy this trip so we feel like the weather had some bearing on not catching the bigger fish. We still had a great time.

Know what to expect during the time of the year that you are going out and you will not be disappointed. This was my second trip off the shores of San Diego. Both times we had a great day and caught what we expected.

Although we didn’t fish with children, it would be fun for the older ones. The trip is not long and you can catch a lot of fish. This is a catch and release trip so perfect for people who are not looking to keep their catch. Would be a very fun trip for kids as well as adults.

Rather than booking a full day trip to Coronado, I would recommend a 4-6 hour trip closer to San Diego. My understanding is that you will catch bass and lingcod both places, but may actually catch more in 4 hours in the bay than you do after fishing a full day at Coronado.

This was our first time fishing in the bay so we weren’t sure what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised by the number of fish we all caught. I think my youngest son caught more than 10+ fish. We didn’t keep any as they were not really the eating kind and they were mostly under 14”.

We volume fished for Rockfish. Not a lot of fight but a lot of catch. We were pulling fish out after most of the casts. This gave those in our group that didn’t fish a chance to partake in the experience by preparing/ eating catch. Other fish may give more fight but fewer catches. Angler’s choice.

You can expect lots of fun, our guide was great in terms of teaching us fishing tips and fish life/ behavior. I wouldn’t expect monster catches in a costal foshing in January, but instead good catches that will let you bring a few punds of fish for consumption and a truckload of fun.

Be patient, be adaptable, follow TC's lead, ask questions, above all relax and have fun. Development of angling skills takes time. It's not an overnight success. If you are serious, jot down notes if you need to.

It is a good idea to communicate with your captain ahead of your charter to ensure you have the same expectations of the targeted fish. It seems from other reviews that most captains are personable and enjoy sharing their love of fishing. It's just important to make your expectations clear ahead of time.

Chris will put you on the fish. Wow what a Great trip. The ErinAnne II is tip-top, the gear is all first rate. The crew was awesome, doing everything they could to make sure we had everything we needed for a fantastic day. We’re already planning our next trip!

If you’re coming to San Diego in November through February make sure you have warm clothes. At least three layers to take off during your day. It’s normal on the water in the high 40s to low fi

Bottom fishing was on fire all day and have a couple of light layers as it’s chilly in the morning and then warms up a bit durning the day.

Bring a jacket... even if it's warm on shore, once you are out in open water, and the boat is going, it gets cold.

Great place to fish. You never know what’s biting. You’ll catch a lot of smaller fish in the bay, but if you want to go for the big ones, you’ll have to go out for a longer tour.

A four trip on the bay's calm waters is a great way to get started. Perfect amount of time to catch plenty of fish.

Be selective about who you choose to be your fishing guide. Look at the reviews and ask for referrals. The Pelican and Captain Bobby were excellent

Have fished August in San Diego before and caught fish. This trip was an exception for sure, but that is fishing.

The fish catch was over the top. Our three days had us limiting out on 2 out of 3 days. Make sure your freezer is empty before you come.

This is a great first time experience. If you don't know how to fish, TC and crew will take great care of you!

Watch some videos on how to use a conventional bait-caster reel. Bring plenty of bags of ice and coolers for what you catch. Be prepared to clean your own fish or book a slot at the processing plant.

Check your ego at the door. Let the Charter Captain be the expert he/she is and guide you. It will make for a much more pleasurable fishing experience!

Make sure to wear layers, bring a cooler for fish to bring home and be patient. Catching fish is not guaranteed but you can always have a fun experience.

July is a hit and miss. June is great at the Coronado islands. Need to fish in July, consider a multi day trip on a larger vessel.

Be prepared for a day without landing any fish. Use sunscreen even if the marine layer makes it a cloudy day.

Every day is different in San Diego, the variety of fish available just out of the bay is what makes fishing here so fun.

Expect to catch good amounts of smaller fish. Big fish a few this time of year. Still a good time!

This boat was fantastic for first time fisherman Gavin was on top of everything and took care of us. We can’t wait to come back.

I don’t know much about it but we had a ton of fun and saw some tuna but they just weren’t biting

It was perfect for catching a variety of 10 to 20 inch fish, my first time fishing off shore in 20 years