Southern California has some incredible fishing and it's no secret. This is the trip that will get you far offshore, beyond the range of all day boats and onto some serious fishing grounds. All that travel time happens while you are asleep in an oversized bunk on a heavy and stable boat, so all the daylight hours can be used for hunting. This excursion is a completely different feel from running and gunning on a center console, and is designed to maximize your diving time and comfort.
Our group (up to 4 divers) will travel up to 120 miles offshore in search of large pelagic fish, including the sought after Blue Fin Tuna. The Escapade is an absolute menace and has everything we could possibly need to reach, find, land, and store fish, all while staying comfortable when it's time to recover. The boat features include:
Through hull extending side scan sonar
Refrigerated fish hold
Oversized bait tanks
Outdoor shower with hot freshwater
4 oversized bunks (has comfortably slept 6'5 tall guests)
Full refrigerator/freezer
Electric griddle, instapot, toaster oven, coffee maker, microwave, sink
Full bathroom/head
Radar, sonar, updated navionics
Twin John Deere 275hp Diesel engines (2022)
Northern lights generator
Bunks for captain and deck hand in wheel house
The licensed captain as well as the deck hand/safety diver are both freediving instructors and spearfishing guides with years of hunting these waters, and teaching people how to safely freedive and spearfish. Whether you want pointers on your technique, someone to safety you for deeper drops, a second shot to back you up, or just someone to help you pull your fish in the boat, we've got you covered.
What's included
3 meals/day (utensils, plates etc included)
Snacks
Drinking water, assorted sodas, case of light beer
Coffee
Pillow
Wetsuit lube and defog
Fuel*
*if fuel prices exceed $6/gallon there will be an additional surcharge added to the cost of the trip
What's not included
CA fishing license (required)
MXN fishing license (may be required)
Pillowcase and blanket/sleeping bag
Additional alcoholic beverages or sodas
Reusable water bottle as well as a thermos for coffee/tea
Spearfishing and diving gear
Towel or changing parka
Sunscreen or other sun protection
Ear drops, vaseline, etc if needed
2 sets of clothes - bring extra layers
1 for daytime that can get wet, dirty, and will keep you dry and warm
1 for night, typically sweats
Tip for captain and deck hand is customary, and much appreciated
While the Escapade is nice and roomy, having 4 sets of dive gear, spear guns, and clothes can take up space quickly. Don't leave any essentials behind, but try to minimize your gear footprint (leave your cooler in your car)
Itinerary
We meet at the boat on the evening of the departure date, load the boat, and drive through the night while you sleep.
Dawn and dusk are often the most productive times so we like to get diving early. Once you're ready for a break come back to the boat, warm up with the outdoor hot water shower, and breakfast will be waiting for you. The rest of the day will be exploring new spots at the islands or searching open water for kelp paddies and schools of tuna, depending on what the weather and the fish are doing. This will go until you're too tired to dive or the sun goes down, whichever comes first. Relax on deck, throw a line over the side for some rod&reel action, it's totally up to you.
Same thing for the next day, the only difference being when you are done diving we will start heading back to San Diego. You sleep, we drive, and when you wake up we'll be back where we started
