I just purchased my first sailboat - and it's big. (My rigging guy patiently explained that…read moreusually, you buy a 25 foot boat in your younger days, then move up gradually). Well, my circumstances dictated a larger first boat. Insurance was difficult to obtain, and when I did, they asked for 30 hours of sailing and a sign off from a licensed captain. Captain Joe of Far West marine agreed to be my mentor, and I could not be happier; an expert sailor, an intuitive teacher, and an interesting person to spend time with. We have finished our insurance requirement and I feel like I've made a good friend. Im sure we will sail again in the future.

I recently bought a 27 foot yacht but had no clue how to drive it. I had a few "expert" friends…read morevolunteer to teach me but the size of the boat was bigger than anything they had experienced so they kept crashing into stuff and causing all kinds of problems. I quickly realized I'd need professional training or else the boat would never be enjoyed and might as well be sold. Luckily, I was able to find Captain Joe online. Joe is everything you would want in a marine mentor or coach. He's extremely knowledgeable but also patient and knows what to say and when to say it so you learn while also feeling safe . After a few hours under his tutelage we went from not even being sure how to really start the boat to being able to pull it in and out of the slip ourselves, get it to the ocean , get it on plane, drop anchor. He also went around and did a basic safety check of everything on the boat and gave some recommendations for a simple maintenance plan . Joe is also full of good stories so it's fun just to hang out with him. I'd definitely recommend far west marine for anyone interested in getting into nautical piloting and seamanship .

My wife and I had an amazing two-hour sail in Oxnard with Captain Dan and Nico. Honestly, the…read moreentire experience hinged on whether they'd be great company--and they absolutely were. Captain Dan's quiet 20 years in the Navy made us feel in expert hands, and the conversation was just as enjoyable as the sailing. We laughed, learned a bit about the sea, and left wanting more time out on the water! (J&N)

We took the ASA 101 Sailing Course with Capt. Dan and it was absolutely superb! Wiley is a lovely…read moreboat and the perfect vessel to train on. Capt. Dan was incredibly thorough, communicated directly, and is an excellent teacher. He also did a terrific job of tailoring the lessons to the skills of his students. Any day out on the water is a good one, but the four days we spent with Capt. Dan were truly some of our best on the water to date! Can't wait for the 103!

All around excellent adventure at sea. The crew is great & couldn't have asked for a better time…read more Caught lots of mahi mahi & can't wait to enjoy it on the BBQ. Mitch's food in the galley is a huge treat too, that guy knows how to cook. Wish they were in San Diego full-time but we'll catch them when they are here. This is our boat of choice now.

This is the Boat you want to go on to catch fish!!! The Boat and the Crew are Amazing helpful and…read moreFun! All ages are welcome my family kids and grandkids who are younger and this boat is comfortable and accommodating! The food is top notch! And they get you on the fish! I highly recommend looking to go fishing for White Sea Bass or Rock fishing.... This is the boat to go on!

Just got off the boat yesterday. A great boat and great crew. Been on the boat many times…read more Definitely will be back out again on it.

Allow me to open with a brief anecdote to illustrate the talent of Capt. Tucker:…read more On our last trip, in 5 ft. seas out of the northwest, and 20 knots of wind out of the northeast, Tucker held the boat over a reef in 320 ft. of water like we were sitting on anchor. To say this skipper and crew are outstanding is an understatement. After a lifetime of being on boats as both customer and crew, I can honestly tell you that the Mirage runs a high quality operation. Veteran deckhand Ryan and the whole crew are always, and I mean ALWAYS, Johnny on the spot if you need a fish gaffed, if you get a tangle, if you lose a rig and need it re-tied... Just amazing. The boat sleeps 24, and it's no foo foo pleasure cruise, but comfortable and a pretty good ride. A full galley with indoor seating, plenty of deck space, and double bait tank capacity makes this a great platform for overnight fishing to the outer islands. Little extras like keeping lingcod and other delicate fish in the ice water hold below decks for the trip, the positive and polite crew, and one of the most knowledgeable young skippers on the coast makes this my favorite boat for rockfishing. They simply find fish, and do everything they can to help you out them on the boat. These guys earn their tips and greatly appreciate the opportunity to truly work hard for you. Fish cleaning on the boat is professional and neat... Buck a fish, $2 for lingcod and other select bigguns. Ever get a whiff of rotting fish carcasses in your trash cans after a few days in the sun? Worth every penny and then some. Whether you're a veteran or a novice, this crew will take care of your fishing needs.

My husband and I booked the EPIC (an accurate description) Sea Caves tour and what an incredible…read moreexperience it was! There were so many great moments and high points, including a playful pod of dolphins that leaped in and out of the boat's wake (and alongside us); kayaking among a large nursery of leopard sharks, both babies and adults; in one of the sea caves, the phosphorescence was lit up like a bright neon blue light along one wall of the cavern; and finally, snorkeling in a gorgeous kelp forest was beyond words! SO many fish (and one seal that sped by us like a bullet train). Our deepest gratitude to the crew, Roger, Cameron and Cooper for their kindness, humor and far-ranging knowledge of marine and island life. It's plain to see they love what they do and we were lucky to be a part of it.

If you're thinking about taking this tour just do it! From the moment you arrive these guys treat…read moreyou like your best friend visiting the islands for the first time. They show you all the cool stuff answer all your questions. It's been a few days and we're already missing them! They are truly lovely to chat with. When it was time to hit the activities they went to work showing their skills and knowledge. FYI we're vegetarian and the lunch was lovely- so make sure you order that too! Thanks Captain Dan and crew! It was a bucket list day we won't forget!

As always the crew from CIDA treated us like family, spoiling us with great dives, incredible…read moreviews, unbelievable hospitality of course delicious food. We'll be back again soon to dive with the CIDA crew.

I have used Channel Island Dive Adventures (CIDA) many times in the last several years and I have…read morebeen blown away with this dive operation. The gentleman who runs it is a very experienced diver and an all around nice guy. One of those guys who just makes you feel good to be around him. He puts together a variety of great trips. While he doesn't own the boats we go out on, he charters the boat, plans the trip, and seems to find interesting things that I wasn't able to find on other trips. Back when I lived in California I did both single day and multi-day trips around the Channel Islands. I had a uniformly great time every time I hit the water with him. Now that I live in the East Coast I'm still able to go diving with CIDA because he puts together trips out here at well. Next up -- North Carolina for a Megalodon Shark Tooth and Wreck Diving trip. His prices are VERY reasonable, and his service is just fantastic. His website has a ton of information, not just about his trips, but about the areas in California where he dives. If you're looking for a great trip and an all around great time check out CIDA. If you sign up for one of his trips outside of Cali you might even see me there.

Pacific Islander is a never again. Unfriendly Captain andmost of f the crew. The boat is in poor…read morecondition. We ran out of fresh water, bottled water, and bait on a 3.5 day trip. Ran out on day 2. Galley only holds 8. Bathrooms are bad toilets to small. Captain is super cheap how he stocks snacks and drinks...i have Been on many boats from this area. Your choices are.better on any.other boat!

Went on a day and a half trip and was less than pleased with the way the captain handled the boat…read moreand himself right of the bat before even leaving the dock we were getting yelled at and told that we needed to take back any gear considered heavy or rigged up more than 80 pound for a tuna trip. Thankfully no one listened as the 5 fish brought were nothing was less than 115 pounds. Not to mention we were told we would have to drive all night to get to Mexican waters which was no issue. The problem was instead of being in Mexican waters we ended up at San Clemente. We weren't allowed to fish until 8:30 am and then spent most of the time driving around in a circle while just about every boat was parked catching fish. I would never recommend going on this boat and would strongly recommend thinking twice before coming on this boat.

Capt JT was a fantastic guide. I came from MN to take my son and 2 grandsons on their first pacific…read morecharter fish. The youngest is 4 and Capt JT was so awesome with both boys. We saw a lot of fish we have never seen before and had a very memorable day. Thank you Capt JT for helping us make amazing memories together.

There's not enough that can be said about fishing with Capt. JT!…read more1st, just out of the harbor you'll know you're safe and on the way to an incredible experience. Then, relax while your knowledgeable captain cruises you along out to the islands. Your choice or his for what you're targeting, but you'll enjoy the day either way. This was our 3rd trip with Capt. JT and there will be many more.