Sea Adventure 80 Sportfishing Co - San Diego, California

Joseph O'Neill

Definitely the worst experience of any boat out of H&M. Let me start by saying that the crew is actually great, and this review shouldn’t reflect anything towards them.

Our party came down during prime time bluefin season, with lots of very high reports coming in. When we arrived, we were informed that we were going to be fishing for yellowtail inshore at San Clemente islands. We woke up anchored and a few people caught some small yellows, and we made a move. The whole trip was driving for 45 minutes, dropping anchor and fishing for 5 minutes and leaving. We spent 2 hours going out to the weather buoy. A few people got on fish, and instead of fishing it, the captain decided up wind up and leave. That was it, we coasted back to the island and didn’t fish again. We rigged up for a night bite, and to our surprise woke up at the docks at 4 am getting booted off the boat.

Our lines were in the water for a total of MAYBE 1-2 hours for the 1.5 day trip.

Get on a boat that hunts fish, not dollars. I won’t be stepping back on this boat again. Hopefully the crew ends up on a good boat, because they were good people.

If you’re only going for yellow tail, mention it on your trip notes.

Trip totals

28 anglers - 15 fish caught

Mendocino Grove

I am the head of Mendocino Grove where we are big on adventure. Sport fishing is new to me but my son, an avid fisherman encouraged me to sign up for one of the 2 night excursions on my latest visit.
I had no idea what I was in for. The crew is quirky, rough and hell bent on helping you catch fish. They are also super conscientious and made sure that everyone was taken care of. Captain Mike is on the same page and literally kept the boat moving all night in search of kelp paddies. He was also right there with us when we were pulling in the fish. And catching fish we did which is where the crew really shined. At one point 8 of us had Tuna's on line and they were taking us under the boat. The crew split up to help bring them in with a final gaff and continued this way for 2 full hours (at which time we hit our limit). It is unbelievable how hard these guys work: helping with your line (which for me meant untangling knots and retying hooks), making sure the fish stay on and finally hanging off the boat to gaff the fish. It was exciting...you're laughing, giving high fives, exhausted and disgusting with fish blood but it is so fun. I slept like a rock both nights. The bunks are comfortable, food is good...I'd say its the perfect combination of comfy and raw. I loved my experience and can't wait to come back.

Matt B

Ran into Scott a few times years back when working on the constitution. Not pleasant experiences. Ran into the guy again while searching patties. The guy got on his PA to tell his passengers I was at fault for them not catching fish. (I was more than 200m off them.) We bait up, and one of my crew hooks a nice bft, 20-50 range.
Good old Scott. He has everyone pull lines and he takes a pass on my 17ft boat at 10kt and maybe 15ft off my port.
Scott, I shouldn't have just flipped you the bird. I should have reported you. I'd bet there's dope all over that boat.

Lynn prehm

2 Day Fishing aboard the Legend out of San Diego with Captain Steve. AWESOME boat, Awesome Crew, Awesome trip!! Professional, always trying to put ypu on the fish ? its not their fault if they don't bite. They were helpful in every way. 2 Days,25 people, 60 Tuna! Food was great, they went above and beyond to make sure us Women had a clean bathroom and a good trip. Even so far as hooking a fish for me. Would recommend this boat to anyone. Also, the deck is nice and wide and low which matters when you are trying not to loose a fish. Some tips from a newbie, learn how to bleed out a gill or make sure when it's crazy that it gets done. Keep your line in front of you and PAY ATTENTION if someone has a fish.

R

Trip 10/1 1.5 day

All I can say is that I was really disappointed in this trip. I had it scheduled since July with the intentions of targeting yellow tail and Dorado towards Mexico waters. To start with the fishing we got on the boat and the captain told us we were going 100 miles out for bluefin which is a big change from expectations but it sounded promising when he said the fishing was great (later to find out the last trip did bad). It took 12 hours to get to the first spot and we did not start fishing until 9:30-10:00 AM. The first spot 2 anglers hooked up on the bottom but we were told to fish top instead of dropping were the fish were. After about an hour we moved spots which took another hour. We were then put on small rockfish over 150 feet down for the rest of the day. It was cool catching a few but if I wanted to target them I'd of scheduled a half day trip and caught more of them. We moved over 4 times throughout the day and stopped fishing by 530 pm to head home. Once we got back we saw that the charters who targeted yellowtail and Dorado got limits. The day prior there was a post of a cook needed urgently for our boat and it was apparent that the cook had never cooked on a boat before. Meals were supposed to be covered by the boat but the cook said that we needed to be on the list like it was paid separately maybe it was miscommunication with the cook but it should have been discussed. I will not be going on the sea adventure 80 again from this point on.

Bob Thompson

Sea Adventure 80 is a great sportfishing boat! Captain & crew on this vessel were top notch. They knew how to put us on the fish. I did this fishing trip in 2015. We were in Mexican waters, drift fishing flylined sardines alongside tuna pens. We pulled up next to a large circular tuna pen, where they raise tuna in the open ocean. The boat then drifts with the current until the bite dies off, then the captain re-positions the boat right back to the tuna pen, over & over. Some of the food fed to the caged tuna slides through the enclosure, attracting wild tuna.

The day I went, the ocean was pretty rough, with 9-12 foot rolling swells. Tough footing, but great fishing. I caught this 75lb. Bluefin Tuna using 20lb.test monofilament, a really light line for the size of this fish Took 2 hours, 30 minutes to bring to gaff. I also caught a 30lb. Bluefin, 1 twenty lb. Yellowfin, & one 15 lb. Yellowtail.

I'd recommend Sea Adventure 80 out of H&M Landing in San Diego, if you're considering a tuna fishing trip.

Chih Sheh

I went on SA80 for 2 days trip caught 6 dorado and 1 YT. They charge $80+ just to filet the fish which is more than any other fishing processing companies. On top of that $30 Mexico permit they did not tell you about. I know my galley tap is about $30 (soda, beer, snack) but at the end i was told $166 for everything. This is my first time and last time on that boat

John Daly

I had several issues with my 3 day on the Sea Adventure 80.
1. After paying in full for the trip I then had to pay another $78.00 for fees. Im not sure what they were for, but I do know the boat was not allowed to fish Mexican waters, and we were not required to have passports.
2. My state room, located starboard side, back room: Wherever the fresh air source for the vent, Im guessing the wheelhouse takes in nicotine smoke and whatever else is smoked and dumps in to the room.
3. The food is perfect if you like heavy, greasy food. They do not serve any juice or fruit.
4. They hacked the fillets of my durado, and they left the entire skin on... the 3/4 day boat I go on cuts most of the fillet off with a small patch attaching it to the meat. Sportsmans Seafood charges 85 cents a pound vaccum packed ready to cook, no matter the weight of the fish. Dont let the crew convince you that thier $6.00 is a deal.