We did the 5-hour nearshore trip on the SD Slot Machine Charter with Captain Daniel Boney, and it was an absolutely fantastic experience! It was the four of us — my husband and I and our two boys (12 and 14) — and we truly couldn’t have asked for a better day on the water.

We ended up catching around 25 fish, including bonito, sculpin, white sea bass, calico bass, rockfish, treefish, and more. A few weren’t in season so we had to release them, but they were still a blast to catch! The action was steady and exciting, especially for our boys.

Captain Dan was outstanding. We had never ocean fished before, and he took the time to explain everything clearly and help us whenever we needed it. When the first spot didn’t produce many bites, he quickly repositioned us — and that made all the difference. He kept us on fish and kept the energy fun the entire time. He also had a great playlist going, which just added to the overall vibe of the trip.

There were a few times we got snagged on the bottom (rookie mistakes!), and he was quick to fix things and get us back to fishing without missing a beat.

If you’re considering a charter, I would absolutely recommend going out with Captain Dan. He’s knowledgeable, patient, great with kids, and truly wants everyone to have a successful, memorable day. We had such a great time and would definitely book with him again!

Highly recommend booking with Dan. From the first message to the getting ofd the boat, communication was clear and easy. He’s professional but laid back, super knowledgeable about the ocean, and just a genuinely fun captain to spend the day with. He really prioritized what we wanted while offering smart suggestions and adjusting when bites slowed. We caught some calico sea bass, white sea bass, bonito, and whitefish and had an awesome time. Next time we’re in San Diego, we’ll absolutely book with Dan again.

Took my kids (7 & 14) on their first inshore trip.  Captain Dan is a good, easy-going dude and great with kids.  We fished on good equipment and had a selection of live and cut bait to choose from.  Captain Dan’s style is to give you the tools and tips and offer any assistance needed, while also giving you the space to make your own bait/fishing decisions and find your own rhythm.  We found the fish, got a variety of species, made good memories

, grabbed some nice pics, and had delicious fish tacos for dinner.  Great experience - would do again and recommend.

Not only did we have the best Captain but we also had the best fishing trip ever!! Caught over 50 some fish and most were species that we wanted to catch since we never been here in California. He took us right to the perfect spot and we got the skunk outta the boat in no time. If we ever decide to come back here this guy here is the one we would choose!!

Beautiful day on the water with a knowledgeable, helpful, and fun guide. Dan was a great teacher who had lots of fun facts about the marine life and area.  He will give you all the help you need, but also lets you fish on your own which is very comfortable and fun. 10/10 would do recommend!!
Thanks for an epic day