We booked a half-day afternoon fishing charter on the Swell Chaser. Booking was easy and communication was great. We were in town for a family reunion over the Christmas holiday and didn’t have high expectations for that time of year, but we wanted to get out on the water anyway. Capt. Hale texted me and let me know that they had better success in the morning the day before, so we showed up a couple hours earlier and were rewarded for our efforts. We landed yellowtail and rockfish and were able to leave the dock with fish taco and ceviche ingredients for the rest of our vacation. We had three adults and three teenagers on the boat and we all had a blast! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Coletta Sportfishing to anyone planning to be in the San Diego area that wants to have a great time on the water. We’ll definitely be back!
Journey., Arizona
What a great experience! I booked this trip as an anniversary surprise for my husband and it did not disappoint! I relied 100% on the feedback and reviews from other clients since I am no expert when it comes to fishing. Our captain, Nick and deck hand, Matt were awesome! They had us on fish quickly and made decisions to move when the timing seemed right. We only did a half day trip so they made sure we only spent time where the fishing was hot! This was my first deep sea fishing experience and they were both so patient with me. My husband was able to enjoy some great fishing and I learned a lot in a short time. These guys truly care about giving you a memorable experience and all attention was on us. The whole process was really seamless – from pre-booking questions to after the trip pictures, this group definitely pays close attention to detail and ensure their clients are well taken care of. Worth every penny spent and look forward to another trip with them in the future. Thanks Coletta! You guys rock!
Sharon P., USA
What a fantastic day we had with Coletta Sport Fishing. Capt. Jon and First Mate Hale clearly wanted to give us a satisfying fishing adventure, but with Military personnel onboard, we were reluctant to hit Mexican waters. Undaunted, the Crew worked their tails off to find fish! They were constantly scanning with binoculars, seeking intel from their well-developed stash of seafaring cronies, and reading the fish finder gizmos on this well-equipped vessel. Again and again we stopped at the kelp beds that litter the coastline and hit fish! It only got better on the way in when we found a school of hungry Yellow Tail. The crew truly enjoys what they do! We stayed out an additional hour and a half as we doubled our morning take and filled the bag. True fishermen, Brian and Hale couldn’t find it in themselves to quit when the catching was so good! Should you be interested in a kid-friendly boat, it was noteworthy that no F-Bombs we heard the whole day; the crew was not opposed to helping bait hooks and untangle little mess ups; and, fist-bumps and photos abounded. What a memorable time we had! Thank you Chris, Jon, and Hale! Oh, did I mention, 35 Pound Yellow Tail!!!
John J., Las Vegas
Looking for a top rated charter for my son-in law’s birthday and his first fish. Didn’t want to chance another party boat which we have already tried with no luck and lots of tangled lines. After fishing all over the mainland US and Hawaii for 50+ years I recently moved to San Diego so I wanted to find someone interested in repeat business as well. Coletta ratings were very good, reviews were as well. I called and left a message for Chris before booking, he called me back within 10 minutes and asked me all kinds of questions about my fishing experience and expectations, not just about my credit card numbers. He set us up for a 3/4 day local on the Wanu with Capt. Hale and mate Nick. Hale and Nick both grew up locally, were impressive in their fishing knowledge and fun to fish with. As soon as we would reach a spot they both worked to setup our lines and kept us engaged with tips, tricks and local info. We were on fish on the first drift! Over the course of the day we caught 21 rockfish + Mako and had a heck of a time! We are already planning for an off-shore trip. Chris & his team lived up to the “top rated” reviews, book early!
John A., Arizona
We chartered a 1/2 day trip Saturday the 30th, and it was amazing. Captain Chris made easy arrangements and John and Hale ran the boat. We worked pretty hard for rockfish, but my son made everyone’s day by hauling in a 30 pound yellowtail! The kids had a blast on the way in by throwing the remaining live bait to the swarms of pelicans and gulls! Couldn’t have been better.
Nora D., New Mexico
Had an awesome afternoon fishing with Hale and Chuck. It was nonstop action particularly with calico bass with an added challenge of competing with a harbor seal :). We learned a lot about using live bait, casting and reeling techniques and the different kinds of fish we caught and had a really great time. True professionals and down to earth so I highly recommend these guys to anyone looking for a charter. We’ll be booking again for sure.
Michael W., Ohio
ooked a half-day charter for May 25 for myself, son and his friend. Cap’n Chris and first mate Chuck were great. We hooked up some small/medium-sized rock fish despite windy conditions. Then anchored nearer shore for some sea bass angling. I was happy they were so helpful with us novices, explaining gear and technique. We made a nice little haul-enough for a few fish fry’s. Thanks, Coletta Sport Fishing!
Tom., Tucson
I reached out to Chris at Coletta Sport Fishing to see what trips he might have available on short notice and what fish may be running. Chris was very personable, offered me some times of open and recently rescheduled trips and described the conditions. He said we could fish for rock fish and other bottom dwellers, or Tuna was running, a little further out, no guarantee to catch one (nor did I expect a guarantee), but the better target for real fishing was the Tuna. My son and I showed up for the morning for a 1/2 day trip, The Captain Brian, told us the same thing, and off we went for Tuna off San Diego. About 1 hour out with Brian’s watchful eye and binoculars he spotted a school/swarm of Tuna, and with their help we got hooks in the water quickly and nailed a small yellow fin. Then they moved away, we kept on their trail, by the end of the 1/2 day we had caught 8 Tuna, 7, blue fin, one yellow fin, over 200 pounds of fish. It was a great time. Excellent service, and I highly recommend Coleta and Chris
Jason C., New York
We had a blast with Coletta Sportfishing! We caught 35 Rockfish during our 1/2 day trip! Captain Hale & Nick were awesome and extremely helpful with our young kids. They were unbelievably fast at getting poles back in the water after each catch. We plan on coming back next year for sure!
Vinne A., New Mexico
My husband, in his early 30s, had never caught a fish before so for his birthday I set up a trip with Coletta fishing. We are local to San Diego and, although we’ve been on the water plenty of times, we’ve never been fishing! We had such a blast with Captain Jon and Hale. It felt more like hanging out with friends and fishing, which we really liked. They were both super helpful and patient with us newbies and even offered to take us back for some bay fishing after we both started feeling a bit seasick. Captain Chris was super communicative and very helpful during the scheduling and up to the trip. I look forward to setting up another trip with them in the future (this time with dramamine)! Thanks again!
Melissa M., Iowa
Me and my family had an incredible day of fishing with Coletta. Chris was so helpful and informative the whole time. Captain Brian was great with all of us, he never stopped looking for fish, we caught a ton of yellowtail. He also made sure to point out dolphin, hammerheads, whales and sea turtles. Oh yeah, and we caught a ton of fish. It was the first time for my daughter (13) and wife, Brian and Mat we really helpful and patient. My son (16) and I got to reel in a lot of fish. Can’t wait to do it again. If you are looking for some great fishing on a clean, comfortable boat with knowledgeable people then you should call Chris at Coletta.
Ron R., Arizona
We had two boats (Chris made special arrangements) go out with 4 people on each boat competing for most fish and biggest catch. The crew was great and chipped in a few fish each, and our boat won with a few nice Bonito. Overall I think it was a pretty slow fishing day, we cleaned up mostly with bottom fish like Rockfish and whatnot, but even they were fun. Great weather, exceptional service, cold beer, great day. Wished the fish were biting more but hey, who can complain?
Correy S., Northern California
We had an amazing time with Coletta Sportfishing! We did a half day trip in the afternoon in early October with a group of 5. The crew was amazing. They were very friendly and fun to hang out with! We caught a bunch of fish and went home with a big bag of fresh fillets which we cooked up that night! All in all it was a great experience. I highly recommend Coletta Sportfishing if you are in the San Diego area and looking for a great deep sea fishing experience! Thanks to the crew for providing such a great experience!
Andy W., Utah
Went on a 3/4 day fishing trip and came back with tons of fish!!! Highlights were a 30lbs yellowtail and 2 unexpected halibut! We also caught plenty of bonito. The crew and service were just as awesome as the fishing. I called Chris the owner and he answered all my questions and was really great about explaining everything. The crew were great too. Capt. Brian and Hale were fun to hangout with all day. The were very helpful with tips while fishing, cleaning the fish and fun conversation. I would highly recommend Coletta fishing!!! Will do it again!
Jonathan B., Ohio
Took a 1/2 Day Trip on the Swell Chaser with Cap. Hal and Deckhand Matt. These guys were great, along with Captain Chris!.. Nice Boat, very professional service!! When I come back to San Diego I am definitely looking these guys up!
Jon J., Las Vegas
We booked the boat for the day. It was in great condition and the crew was very fun and professional. Put us on fish almost immediately and kept it going all day. We will definitely book with them again.
Adam G., Iowa
Wow – flawless planning and set up with this trip. Parking was a breeze the morning of and our Captain met us at the dock and walked us to the boat. Easy day on the water, caught plenty of fish for our fish fry that night and can’r say enough about the Captain and crew we had helping us out. We will definitely be back again.
Brian D., Utah
Great experience with Chris and his team at Coletta Sport Fishing. Chris answered all my questions about booking the trip and his crew on the Wanu were friendly, knowledgeable, professional and patient with our group of relatively inexperienced anglers – which included 4 teenage boys. Unfortunately, the yellowtail were not biting but Capt. Jon kept us on fish most of the day which we enjoyed as fish tacos for dinner. I’ll be calling Chris again and highly recommend Coletta Sport Fishing if you are looking for a fun and safe day on the water.
Sharon S., Colorado
We booked a half-day afternoon fishing charter on the Swell Chaser. Booking was easy and communication was great. We were in town for a family reunion over the Christmas holiday and didn’t have high expectations for that time of year, but we wanted to get out on the water anyway. Capt. Hale texted me and let me know that they had better success in the morning the day before, so we showed up a couple hours earlier and were rewarded for our efforts. We landed yellowtail and rockfish and were able to leave the dock with fish taco and ceviche ingredients for the rest of our vacation. We had three adults and three teenagers on the boat and we all had a blast! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Coletta Sportfishing to anyone planning to be in the San Diego area that wants to have a great time on the water. We’ll definitely be back!
Tom S., Minnosota
Booking the excursion with Chris was fantastic – he was quick, responsive and made the best recommendation for our excursion. We had the most wonderful day out on the water — Captain Jon and Trevor were fantastic, laid back, patient and knowledgeable. We came back with a great haul of a variety of fish — and enjoyed the freshest ceviche and fish tacos for dinner! It was without a doubt the best day-date. Thank you, Coletta Sport Fishing for making it such a memorable and fun experience!
Sharon A., Arizona
We booked a half-day afternoon fishing charter on the Swell Chaser. Booking was easy and communication was great. We were in town for a family reunion over the Christmas holiday and didn’t have high expectations for that time of year, but we wanted to get out on the water anyway. Capt. Hale texted me and let me know that they had better success in the morning the day before, so we showed up a couple hours earlier and were rewarded for our efforts. We landed yellowtail and rockfish and were able to leave the dock with fish taco and ceviche ingredients for the rest of our vacation. We had three adults and three teenagers on the boat and we all had a blast! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Coletta Sportfishing to anyone planning to be in the San Diego area that wants to have a great time on the water. We’ll definitely be back!
Tom O., San Francisco
Wanted to take the family out on a half day fishing trip and we had the best time every! We live in San Diego and have been out a few times, but Coletta Sport Fishing trips are always the best! Our guides, Trevor and John were very professional, and helped us with everything! It was the perfect fishing trip with a great boat! They were full of energy, happy to be out on the water, and very knowledgable. After a slow start, they became strategic and eventually landed us an awesome haul of rockfish. On the way back, as Trevor was cleaning our fish, they spotted about a hundred dolphins flying by. The half day trips are perfect for our family – I would highly recommend Coletta Sport Fishing as the best charter boat in San Diego!
Austin M., Las Vegas
We got there and the crew and boat were ready to go. We went out with captin Brian and Trevor on the Wanu. After a quick safety talk and what to expect we started out. As soon as we hit the fishing grounds and line hit the water we started catching fish. The crew did a great job with my whole family. The kids (6&12) they made sure they had fun and stayed safe. As an added bonus we got to see a whale, several pods of dolphins, and some sea lions. This was a great experience all around. Would highly recommend and im already starting to plan my next trip around doing it again.
Matt N., Arizona