The best fish around! Lots of options to choose from. A busy local find that you won't want to miss!read more

JT and JP are the real deal. We took my 5 and 7 year old sons out for their first off shore…read morefishing trip and JP and JT made it a special day. They are laid back guys but very professional and enthusiastic. I have taken other 6-pack charters out of the harbor (my father, uncle and brothers are locals) but these guys are the best. They are very cool guys and, by the end of the day, you just want to keep hanging out with them. The boat was fine and they were well equipped but their attitude (or lack thereof) is what sets JT and JP apart. It also helps the bite was incredible and we caught 62 fish in 2 hours, but they put us directly on the fish. Very highly recommend this outfitter and we will be back. Zac

Very fun My daughter landed the largest fish ever on the…read moreboat probably a 350 to 409 lb sunfish. (We released it unharmed) Caught tons of fish. Captain and crew excellent. Would go again.

Wow, what a trip!…read more My son and I came to Santa Cruz for a beach weekend and a little fishing off of the wharf. When we arrived on a Friday night, I got a wild hair and started looking around to see if we could hop on a chartered boat to up our chances of catching anything. I am SO GLAD I found Monterey Bay Charters!!! I was lucky to find spots on Sunday morning for the two of us, and Tom called to confirm the trip on Saturday afternoon. Tom answered all my questions via text the night before, was prompt at the meeting spot the next morning, and was an amazing captain. He was affable, fun, and awesome with my kid. We caught over 15 fish and had a blast. The boat is very comfortable, with a proper bathroom and hot water for the sink. The indoor seating was great and plentiful, and on the deck we had plenty of room to move around and fish. My son and I enjoyed the views of the different seabirds as well as sea lions who rolled around behind the boat as we left the docks. We will definitely be back, and often. Tom and Tyler were superb in their patience, courtesy and support. Thank you both for making our vacation absolutely fantastic.

Epic trip salmon fishing in June 2026. Didn't even think we would have a season. Captain Justin is…read morean absolute pro. This guy has been hunting fishing, birds - other animals since he was a kid. My uncle who is beyond a pro level hunter couldn't stop talking shop with the Cap. Deck mate Jeremy was perfect on getting on the rods and helping people tighten the lines etc etc. Can't say the same for the all fisherman on board but the fish were there to be had. We got ours and thanks to Justin and Jer for that. He fished it hard for way past the other six packs until we caught. Boat was great. Needs hot coffee and right handed reel! Lol. Wish I could go again soon. Truly sad that I'm not going for a while. If you are looking to go, book it and go. If there's fish to be caught he will get you to them. Five stars all around. Perfect fishing Charter.

I've been fishing with Captain Justin for 4 years now! We've gone out for salmon, rockfish,…read morehalibut, dungeness crab, blue fin tuna, sturgeon, lobster, and more! We've gotten lucky enough to see Orcas, Gray Whales, and Dolphins too! He's the best captain and angler I know. He's a great teacher, and I always feel safe on the ocean with him. Book with him for a one-of-a-kind charter experience and don't forget to bring the Big Fish Energy!!!

JM Stagnaro and staff are the best…read more I was worried about safety being on the sea and sea sickness from the boat but my fishing trip on Stagnaro boat was EPIC, from start to finish. The captain took us to the perfect spots to catch rock cods. We caught the maximum of fish that was allowed per fishing license. This is my first fishing trip and I totally love it. I highly recommend this Stagnaro team if you are up for a fishing adventure. The staff are friendly and super helpful. Thanks for making my fishing adventure super fun, delightful, and enjoyable. And I caught the fish to make fish tacos and shared with my family and friends.

The service was good, and the guys helping the people were very nice and helpful. It was in my…read moreopinion to long the time to get to the fishing sports and that took time from fishing, I preferred bigger boats that have benches for the customers to sit until you get to the fishing spots. The price was good $101 per adults + license+ reel rental and tackle

Nice little spot at the end of the warf. Recently reopened after reconstruction from earlier…read morestorms. Limited bait and tackle. Nice boats and kayaks for rent. Decent selection of beers and snacks to enjoy at a nearby picnic table.

One of the best experiences of a lifetime go out in the boat. The staff is top of the line couldn't…read moreask for better people. I will be back.

Had a great time deep sea fishing on the 7 hour adventure leaving from Santa Cruz on Stagnaro's…read more Came with the scout troop and the staff helped for any snags, and the captain kept putting us on the fish. We all caught our limit, and really enjoyed the day. The staff also were able to clean and fillet our fish on the way back to shore to make it easier on us. Will definitely do it again.

We went whale watching from Santa Cruz earlier this week and Stagnaro's did not disappoint. Booking…read moreonline was straightforward and the directions to the harbor and the slip were easy to follow. The boat was clean and in good repair. The crew (Sydney, Megan and Abby) was professional, personable and knowledgeable. Sydney was an excellent naturalist and Megan was an able captain, ensuring a smooth journey. We saw humpbacks. Lots of humpbacks. We saw other marine life, including a lone sea otter on the way back into the harbor, but the whales outweighed (no pun intended) everything else we saw. It was an awesome experience and I'd definitely go out with Stagnaro's again.

This trip was so much fun. I'm so proud of the fish I caught. I went home right away and cooked the…read morevermillion rockfish on my grill. The fish had so much meat it was delicious. Thank you Santa Cruz Coastal Fishing for such a fun and memorable experience. I told my friend about it and now she wants to go!

Capt. Rodney and his deckhand was amazing! He put us on the fish and did his best to keep us on the…read morefish. We all limited out and had a blast.

visiting the Santa Cruz area I decided to swing by the harbor. My son and daughter-in-law live in…read moreSanta Cruz, but I don't know if I've ever visited the harbor before. The parking was interesting. I could get in, I just couldn't figure out how to get out. If you're here under an hour there is no charge, however, good luck getting out. It took me forever to get out which of course cost me. Sigh. Would I come back? Probably not to this parking lot!

I love this place! The staff are friendly and the harbor itself is top notch and my new favorite…read morepiece of Heaven on earth for my sweet little boat. I feel safe, happy & free by the sea!

Todd and staff have what you need. Love having a local…read morebusiness to grab our gear. Thx Bayside Marine!

The owner was very helpful with all our questions and needs. The prices were fair. They had…read moreeverything we needed. There's also a store cat.

My family and I just went on a whale watching trip today…read more It's always part luck. Thankfully, we got lucky. Spotted a couple Gray Whales from a distance, and after a tip from another boat were able to get closer to two others swimming together and ride along with them for a while. Captain Smitty and Lee were great! Knowledgeable, friendly, informative, and great stewards of the sea, and marine life. We definitely recommend these guys. Go with an open heart, patience, and have fun!

We had the best time with Riptide Charters. The F/V Riptide is a 40' fiberglass hull, equipped with…read morea turbo diesel, and is licensed and inspected by the United States Coast Guard. It was so clean, well until we all made a mess. It is a lovely boat. We felt so safe with the crew. The Riptide is owned by Capt. William Smith. He has been a licensed captain for over 30 years. You will find it located on "H" dock at Pillar Pt. Harbor in El Granada (near Half Moon Bay), California. The Captain was with us and he was able to help the weak ones, like me, without making me feel like I did not belong. The boat leaves super early in the morning so get some sleep the night before. I had to nap after. Go to their website to see what type of fish is in season or you will not be happy. We went for Rockfish and caught a few and were so happy. We grilled it all up and it was great and we were able to serve a lot of people. I was hoping to see a whale, but sadly, did not. I think they are pretty rare to see in that area. They have clean bathrooms. We will be back, this time for salmon.