On behalf of my entire crew, I would like to welcome you aboard the Prowler. We offer the finest in boat, crew, and equipment to ensure that every trip aboard the prowler is a memorable experience.
The Prowler has earned a prime spot in the rich history of California Sportfishing. Built by Ditmar Donaldson in Newport Beach, the Prowler was revolutionary – low to the water and super wide. To this day, the Prowler is still one of the widest sportfishing boats on the west coast.
Our business has always been customer-centric. With ever-increasing competition in the southland fleet, we’ve always known that our ability to show all passengers a great fishing experience differentiates us from our competition. We’re proud to set a higher standard and grateful to see our lead followed.
We look forward to seeing you aboard! We want all passengers to have a safe and fun trip and we look forward to seeing you on the Prowler this season.
Forecast
The season is shaping up to be what could be a more typical year. Once again, we continue to see the trend of good fishing. An abundance of baitfish in the local area has resulted in catches of Bluefin Tuna to start our fishing season.
Three areas within our 1.5-day trip range have had bluefin caught, and substantial areas of bluefin were fished this week on a long-range boat returning from a trip to Alijos Rocks with great catches. Bluefin and yellowtail are up and down the Baja coast. While most catches are in the 50 – 80# range, we continue to see good schools of larger Bluefin boiling around the boat, and reports of fish up to 200# have been caught!
We are seeing signs of yellowtail along the coast and at the islands and good catches of barracuda being caught. As the water warms, we expect to see the arrival of Yellowfin, Dorado, Bluefin, Yellowtail, and other exotics. We expect the Albacore to arrive at a more traditional starting time.
Some great developments happening this week. Sportfishing Association of California (SAC) has a new program this season – Spotter Plane trips will be flown multiple times each week looking for schools of fish. We are really excited to have this resource and we are scheduled to depart Fridays, which will coincide with Spotter Plane flights on Saturdays!
Today, the Spotter Plane was up and saw great conditions and tuna, all within our 1.5-day range trips!
The great news is that we appear to be in a changing water temperature trend, with cooler water appearing. This is really good in that it means better cycles for anchovies and albacore. Also, it is very encouraging that the offshore winds that have made for difficult conditions in the last few years have not been present.
We’re hoping to see a much-improved season and albacore levels appear to be very healthy according to recently released stock assessments by Southwest Fisheries Science Center.
We hope to see you out on the Prowler in the upcoming months.
Tackle Tips
Whether a pro or novice, we can’t stress enough the importance of quality fishing tackle. First and foremost, a fresh line on well-maintained reels is a must.
The Prowler recommends you use a 2-piece saltwater rod with Penn reel and Berkeley Trilene monofilament. We suggest that you have your reels serviced at least annually, and a fresh line put on before your trip.
Suggested tackle for Inshore Fishing and the Coronado islands for Yellowtail, White Seabass, Barracuda, and Calico Bass.
- 20 – 25 lb. outfit – 7 ft. medium/ light action rod with Penn 535 reel (or equivalent) for fishing with anchovies or sardines.
- 25 – 30 lb. outfit – 7 ft. medium/ heavy action rod with Penn 535 reel (or equivalent) for fishing with sardines or jigs.
- Hooks – #1 or #2 hooks can be used for anchovies #1/0 to #3/0 hooks can be used for sardines.
- Jigs – Blue and white Salas 6X juniors are a popular jig for Yellowtail.
Suggested tackle for Offshore Fishing aboard the Prowler for Albacore, Bluefin Tuna, and Yellowfin Tuna.
- 20 – 25 lb. outfit – 7 ft. medium/ light action rod with Penn 535 reel (or equivalent) for fishing with anchovies or sardines.
- 25 – 30 lb. outfit – 7 ft. medium/ heavy action rod with Penn 535 reel (or equivalent) for fishing with sardines or jigs.
- Optional 30 – 50 lb. outfit to be used for fishing bluefin or other larger tuna species. We highly recommend the Penn Fathom Series 25, 30, and 40 reels for these BIG Bluefin Tuna with 40, 60, or 80# test.
- Hooks – #1 or #2 hooks can be used for anchovies #1/0 to #4/0 hooks can be used for sardines. ½ to 1-ounce rubber core sinkers for use with anchovies.
- Jigs – Blue and white or blue and chrome 6X juniors are popular for fishing offshore.
If you’re in the San Diego area, drop by Fisherman’s Landing Tackle Shop. They’ll make sure you’re properly outfitted with the correct tackle.
Safety Aboard the Prowler
Our goal is to provide the ultimate sportfishing experience in a fun and safe environment. Shortly after departure, we’ll address key safety issues and ask that you familiarize yourself with the locations of safety equipment.
The Prowler is inspected annually by the US Coast Guard and our commitment to preventive maintenance and upgrades continues to make the Prowler the favorite choice in San Diego sportfishing.
Courtesy goes a long way when fishing aboard the Prowler. We cater to anglers of every experience level and hope that you too will offer assistance to your fellow anglers.
The Prowler has a complete galley on board, and we ask that no ice chests be brought aboard. We’re also licensed for the onboard sale of beer and state law prohibits any passenger from bringing any alcoholic beverage on the boat. Responsible consumption guarantees a safe and fun atmosphere for all.
If you have any questions regarding safety issues, please talk to any crew member as we’re here to assist you in any way we can.