I have just come back from my second annual Lady Angler fishing charter and have already signed up for next year. The Captain and crew are 5 star first class in every sense of a Sportfishing trip. Our charter masters were Sophia Huynh (sponsored by Seeker Rods), Wendy Tochihara (sponsored by Izorline International) and Lori Byron-Sachau (sponsored by Turner Outdoorsman). The Searcher incredibly generously put together a fundraising for The City Of Hope Women's Cancer Research in which they DOUBLED our donations, so if that doesn't scream class, I don't know what else does. The boat has seamlessly transitioned ownership to Captain Mike Todter and Head Chef Josh Evans who continue the tradition of sold out charters! But don't be discouraged and make sure to get on the waitlist because something will open up and you will love your total experience with Searcher Sportfishing! Expert deckhands, exceptional cuisine, comfortable cabins, great prices and the list goes on! Plus, they provided a safe and professional space for our "all women's" fishing charter where a girl can just be a fish slaying girl! Thank you to all! Tight lines! read more

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This once fine sport fishing business has become a ship of fools. Captain Mike was in charge of our trip and was a very poor commander at best, as he was constantly disorganized with his briefings and decision making. He failed to introduce the deck hands at the beginning of the trip and they had no visible identity (shirts, name tags?) while working, adding confusion among the anglers as to who they were. Every crew member had the title of Captain and it showed they were apparently too entitled to work the deck. The level of service was minimal and the nonchalant attitude of the crew members was obvious; they were not engaged with the fishing. There were fishermen on board who needed help with casting, tying hooks and line, yet these "deck hands" were mostly oblivious to the customer's needs. Capping off the one star rating is the circumstance of our two day trip leaving six ours late and totally eliminating the first night of fishing, as the boat did not arrive at the Tanner bank until twilight. Weather was dicey for drifting so we sat on anchor most of the day for some very sporadic action on tuna. Captain Mike announced a move to the Cortez bank around noon, but changed his mind so we continued to have an agonizingly slow day of fishing. At three o'clock, Captain Mike decided a move to the Cortez was in order, so we made the move, arriving there at four thirty. At five thirty fishing ended as our illustrious Captain pulled the plug on fishing and headed for port. This abrupt end of our fishing time eliminated the prime hours of sunset fishing and thoroughly disappointed all of us customers. The trip was scheduled to arrive at port at eight a.m., yet we reached the dock at five fifteen a.m. after cruising at idle speed for one hour. This rush to get back to port eliminated several hours of promising fishing time and was the perfect ending to a horrible trip. My fishing mates and I will never fish this boat again. read more

Another yearly trip . This years trip was a bucket list on the size of our blue fin weighing in around 229 pounds! We enjoyed our 3 day experience. Last years trip was crazy epic so when we got the huge one made them equal in different ways ! The staff was professional , kept us safe, well fed and entertained (thank you Dan) We are already for next years trip ! read more

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The crew on the Searcher is why you want to choose a trip on this vessel. Art Taylor and the team are truly amazing. Whether you are a beginner at long range or over night trips, or a seasoned vet, they will take awesome care of you. I've taken several trips on The Searcher as well as most of the other top boats and The Searcher is simply the best! There is nothing like a 5 or 7 day Fall trip with this crew. You WILL catch fish, a lot of them. They know where to go and they know how to fish every spot. Great communication is key as well as their all out effort to find the fish. Looking for the perfect trip? Call The Searcher and book today. read more

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Had an AMAZING trip and it's all thanks to the hard working crew and team behind the Searcher. It was one of the first boats my farther went on over a decade ago and always mentioned how hard the crew worked to get anglers on fish and fish on the boat. Being able to experience that with him many years later was a joy mainly in part because that same quality and dedication was on display each day of the trip. Captain Mike and the crew went above and beyond to put us on the fish, feed us well, and ensured we had a enjoyable experience. Also shoutout to Celia who - from the moment I first booked this trip - was always in constant communication; keeping us updated on the trip status, worked with us to set up payments for the ticket price, and made the whole process from booking to boarding a breeze. Thank you Searcher team! read more

Searcher is a great experience. The crew was outstanding and attentive. Worth the time and money. Definitely a do it again trip. read more

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I took my first extended 1.5 this September for my first ride aboard The Searcher. I rarely do any over night sleeping on boats due to my size being 6' 6". I was pleasantly surprised by bunk size and state room comfort. I really enjoyed the space and the comfort of the boat in all aspects. Captain Art put us on fish at Tanner Banks and we all had a great day of bluefin and yellowtail fishing. The deckhands were properly trained and really went the extra effort to make you comfortable and make sure you are enjoying your trip. Our chef was Dan and prepared some scratch meals that were up to par for any fine dining you can do on land. I learned first night to ask for a smaller portion because they sure do feed you and its too good to turn down. They have an upper deck midship that is on a second level and really makes for an enjoyable and extremely relaxing experience. Really cool to take a break and watch everyone fishing below you, makes for some killer views. Only negative i have is the rod space, if you have long rods make sure to talk with crew about storing them outside of the rod racks. Uluas , 540 and other 10 foot rods need to be stored somewhere with more space. All that being said I booked my first 3 day with them next September and plan on making this a yearly thing. From Celia in the office to the deckhands they all do their best to make you feel like family and that just makes rhe experience that much better!! read more

Searcher Sportfishing - Bluefin Tuna - Fishing Near Me - San Diego, California

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I have been on this boat total of 3-4 times and I don't have one bad thing to say about the boat or the operation. I can tell that the owner, Art runs a tight ship. The captain Mike and the deckhands are super friendly and helpful. Always there to help. Sean is probably the most knowledgeable and hardest working guy on the boat. He always has the brightest smile. Not easy to do when working through the night to help people land that dream fish. I have been on just about every single fishing boat in the San Diego fleet. This is definitely one of the better ones. Celia is also very accommodating and nice as well. I would definitely recommend this boat for a beginner or seasoned fisherman. read more

Just got back from a trip on the searcher. What a great experience we had. Everything was perfect and wouldn't change a thing. Tons of tuna and smiles the whole time. We will be back soon. read more

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Okay. Here we go. Let me tell you about my adventure onboard the Searcher. A friend of mine and I decided that we wanted to get together and take the longest fishing we have taken so far: 3 days. What? I can't imagine what you do on a fishing boat for more than three days. Those 12 day fishing trips are waaaaay to long on the water for me. I mean, you can't possibly be fishing 12 days in a row. Anyway, we choose the Searcher. They have an Accurate sponsored trip coming up on June 28th that fit our schedules AND our budgets. Let's face it..... can you say Lay-a-Way. Again..... What? I'm po. Too po to spell the whole word; poor. LOL! No really. The monthly payment option allowed me to finagle my way to a $975 trip and still do my many half, full day, overnights and 1.5 and even the new 1.75 day trips between now and June. Again..... What? I fish a lot. What can I say? Well, with a Sunday free and nobody looking...... shhhhh. I decide to do a full day onboard the Searcher just to check out the boat and crew. The Liberty is still dry docked so the Searcher volunteered to do day trips until their multi-day season starts. I wanted to make sure the boat floats and the crew knew how to, well, crew. And of course to catch some fish. This gave me the opportunity to do so. Let me just start with, I didn't catch many fish. I mean, I caught fish, but I've caught more and bigger. We were just at the Coronado Islands. However.... OMG!! One of the best day trips ever. There was this little kid named Jack, couldn't have been more than seven, that they kept passing their pole to him to catch fish bigger than any of my catches that day. This kid was elated! The glow in his eyes as he strained to pull up big reds from 300 feet was soooo awesome. "Keep reeling Jack! Keep reeling!" Yes, I joined in too. The interaction of the crew with the anglers was exceptional. They had these quick wits and senses of humor that just made the trip fun. And yes! They definitely knew how to crew. I can't wait for these guys to control a boat full of anglers on a school of tuna. It's gonna be AWESOME!! Lets face it. I can catch fish. But without a crew to get them on the deck and make sure the other anglers properly ride the rail, I'll never get the fish home. A great crew is only a reflection of an awesome captain. Dude knew how to drive a boat on some very challenging waters. Now we weren't in an hurricane, but the tide and wind made drifting and even anchoring down challenging. It couldn't have been done better. Now remember, these guys had no idea I was looking and taking all this stuff in. The best, and I mean the very best part of this crew? They supported each other. I saw none of the crew drama that I ignore on some of the other vessels. As a matter of fact, other than the Pacifica, I have never seen such a cohesive group. I wanna take another full day trip just to hang with these guys. They were having fun so I was having fun. The amount of fish was inconsequential. Don't get me wrong, I came home with a good amount of fish to fry. Rock fish. Best for frying in a grease filled skillet. I hear about ceviche and other recipes others use and they all sound great. But I'm black and I need a good frying fish. Other than sheep head and ling cod, all rock fish are fish and chips to me. The boat itself is amazing. Large galley and plenty of outside seating. Lots of room for tackle and really nice state rooms. Though the state rooms were closed for the day trips, they took me on a tour so I could choose the room I wanted for my June trip. Sooooo.. Do I like this boat? Hmmmmm. Maybe I'll do another trip just to be sure. read more

OMG What can I say but what a Awesome Captain and crew, the food was just fantastic Chef Josh y John were on point. I'm a foodie and the meals were just so flavorful, will be booking 4 trips with them next year. read more

I've fished with many boats / crews over the past 30 years. You will be hard pressed to find a better well organized group than the Searcher. From the moment you sign up for a trip with Celia to traditional end of trip handshake with the man himself, Captain Art Taylor. Impeccable! I honestly can't say enough good things about the Searcher. Oh and let's not forget Chef Dan. You will NOT go hungry and the food is awesome! I look forward to my next trip! read more

Searcher Sportfishing - Yellowfin Tuna on the Searcher! - Fishing Near Me - San Diego, California

Captain and crew awesome! Customer service off the hook! One way or another they get us on the fish read more

Searcher Sportfishing - Fishing Near Me - San Diego, California

Hands down the best boat we have been on. Dad and I have had the pleasure of joining the Searcher every year for the past 7 years and have never been disappointed. The crew and staff make it the most memorable, the food is always great, boat is always clean and the catching is always a huge plus We look forward to our next trip the moment we step off the boat Recommend 10/10. read more

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What a great time my 5 fisherman had. They said the deck hands were exceptional, the food was great, accommodations were nice and they caught fish. Can't ask for more. read more

My favorite trip of the year is on the Searcher. What an amazing and attentive crew. Great food & accommodations. 2020 wasn't all bad but I am looking forward to 2021 and fishing without a mask. read more

Searcher Sportfishing - Limited on this trip. - Fishing Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've been on two 1.5 day trips over the last two years and the whole crew was nothing short of fantastic, very courteous and professional! Cpt Art was able to put us on fish both trips and the Food and meal service were on point. Spacious cabins and plenty of room to fish. Overall great experience read more

Searcher Sportfishing - Yellowfin on The Searcher - Fishing Near Me - San Diego, California

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Amazing every time, great fishing. Hospitable crew that knows a ton about fishing and how to catch em.

Just got back from a 2 1/2 day trip on the Searcher, boat limits of 30# to 100# blue-fin tuna within the first 36 hours! Extraordinary yes, and doesn't happen like that every time but the consistent welcoming, skilled professionalism, and great food experience does. I've fished them for many years now, and highly recommend the Searcher Team! read more

My father in law and I went on a 3 day trip aboard the Searcher. The boat is very well maintained. Captain & Crew is top notch. Definitely plan to return again. read more

SEARCHER SPORTFISHING IS THE BEST! Want to take a 1.5 day to 8-day ocean fishing adventure, then seriously consider Searcher Sportfishing. There are many sportfishing operations in San Diego, CA and Searcher is one of the best. From the time you book your fishing trip, they guide you all the way. First time angler, let them know and they will help you prepare. Do not have rod's/reels for your trip, let Searcher know and they have some loaner gear for you to borrow at a very minimal charge...if any. What to bring, ask Celia in the office...and she is half of the owner/operator Searcher team of Art Taylor and Celia Condit. Celia will help you get ready for your trip. On the boat, Captain's Art and Mike will get you the best opportunity to "catch" a Tuna, Yellowtail or other SoCal and Mexican waters species. Catching is never guaranteed, after all its "fishing", however no boat/crew works harder to get you on the fish than the Searcher crew! By the way, depending on where they fish, you may need to bring your Passport if they fish in Mexican waters....they will let you know. You will need a California Sportfishing license and this can be purchased at the landing before your trip....if you need one. The Searcher is exceptionally well taken care of. Bunk areas are comfortable and air conditioned, two anglers in each stateroom. The galley team is exceptional and the cooking area is well-appointed for your gourmet meals...yes gourmet! Three meals per day and two snacks between meals. The coffee is always hot, hot water for tea is ready and included in your cost. Sodas and beer are very nominal in cost and there is usually a great selection. Example of one day's meals.....Breakfast: Eggs your way, hash browns, bacon, toast and fruit, Banana Muffins for morning snack. Ravioli with home made marinara sauce for lunch. Pot stickers for afternoon snack. Dinner: Flank Steak with chimichurri sauce, vegetables, scalloped potato's and bread for dinner. Oh yeah, Chocolate Brownies with ice cream for dessert. All top-quality high-end meals! Am a 5+ year customer of Searcher Sportfishing. I just came off my second trip on Searcher this year, a 4-day trip, Aug 7-11, 2021. Already looking at booking several trips for next year. On this trip we had opportunities to fish for Bluefin Tuna up to 50 lbs., amazing Yellowtail 20-35 lbs. and even got in a quick stop for some rock fish. Pictures of my recent catch are part of this review. So, there are bigger boats, longer trips and some are less/more expensive. For your next fishing adventure and no better value for your dollar, consider Searcher Sportfishing. Check out their website at: www.searchersportfishing.com read more

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If deep-sea fishing is on your bucket list, I highly recommend Searcher Sportfishing! The staff is professional, fun, experienced and makes safety a priority. You really can't find a nicer crew! The cabins are clean and spacious and the food is top notch. Of all the boats I've been on, this food is the best by far! read more

Searcher Sportfishing - Fishing Near Me - San Diego, California

Great opperation... If you every wanted to try deep sea fishing.. you can start here read more

Favorite boat to go on trips everything is excellent the captain is always on the fish the crew is awesome and friendly and the food is always so good !! Every time I've gone on searcher I've had a five star experience and Celia is awesome to read more

Searcher Sportfishing - Fishing Near Me - San Diego, California

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You won't find a better boat if you are sport fishing from San Diego!!! There are others for sure - but the Searcher and it's crew go out of their way to make your trip awesome starting with Celia and Erin in the Office and Captain Mike is absolutely always in the fish zone and the deck hands are super chill! Always will be a top favorite of ours when going out of San Diego!!!!! read more

Very well run operation. Boat is over 50 years old but gets periodically remodeled. Crew was friendly and helpful. Overall vibe was relaxed and fun. read more

First class operation. Fishy boat with an excellent crew and captain.

Great boat and crew!! Highly recommended!! If you want to catch some fish, book a trip with these guys! read more

I retired 2 years ago and immediately was diagnosed with cancer. When I recovered my wife encouraged me to pick up a hobby. I thought I would give deep-sea fishing a try. Went out bought equipment and without knowing anything went on a couple searcher trips and started following them on Instagram. Inside of the year I've become an expert fisherman thanks to their tackle to Thursday and the help with the crew on the boat. Best decision I ever made , To pick up deep-sea fishing and letting them be the experts to show me how to fish. I would highly encourage them for anyone from the office to expert read more

Searcher Sportfishing - Fishing Near Me - San Diego, California

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Amazing operation and always a great time! Fishing with the Searcher Crew is a first class operation. It starts when you call the office and speak with either Celia or Cali. Both ladies are friendly, knowledgable and helpful. The boat is clean and accommodating. The chefs in the galley are topnotch!! We love our yearly trips with them and look forward to many many more. read more

I've been fishing on the searcher for over 20 years now! I started coming on the boat in high school with my dad and my brother and I've yet to have a trip that disappoints. The Searcher team always brings A+ service and it's always an enjoyable time. It's not easy running a hotel, restaurant, and a fishing operation all under 1 roof! The accommodations are always first class, the food is always great, and if there's fish to be caught the Searcher will find them. Thanks again for all the great memories. read more

I have been fishing on the Searcher since 2004 and just love it. The past 3 days I had the greatest time fishing with the ladies on our 4th annual Lady Angler Searcher Special. Celia, Art, Cali and the crew always make this trip special. I highly recommend fishing or going on an eco tour with the Searcher, they have top notch service, great accommodations & amazing food. You can't go wrong with the Searcher, give them a try! read more

I have been fishing the Searcher for over 20 years, and there is a reason I keep coming back. The moment you contact the Celia or Cali in the office, you feel like family. Your every question is answered. The anticipation leading up to your trip is matched only by the desire of this operation to make your trip as memorable as can be. Between Captains Art, Shawn, Kenny, Mike, Ryan and the crew, there are over 100 years of local fishing knowledge and experience and it shows on each and every trip. If you are new to the sport, and want to try it out, they will help you every step of the way. If you are a pro, you will appreciate the hard work, dedication, and focus on service this operation brings to the table. Bring an appetite, bring your sense of adventure, and prepare to make some lifelong memories, and maybe some lifelong friends as well. read more

My first time going out and Searcher was the best . The crew was wonderful and our group of 6 had the best time of our lives. Thank you.

Capt Art and his crew are top notch! A great boat with an outstanding crew that work at their hardest to put you on fish and go out of their way to help you catch that fish of a lifetime! read more

I have fished the searcher with Art on and off for the past 20yrs. Consistently Art has put our trips on really top notch quality fishing every time. I can not say enough good things about the entire crew. My best yellowfin tuna, yellowtail and albacore trips all happened on the Searcher with Art. That's saying a lot given given my 50yrs of fishing out of All of San Diego's landings. Several of the trips were even in poor weather, rain, wind and swells and in the end Art still managed to put us in the right places at the right times to make these trips special and the best for me and my friends. Thank you Art and the Searcher Crew for defining what a SoCal Sportfishing Experience should be like. read more

I booked a trip on the Searcher and experienced a flawless booking experience. The office staff was very pleasant and professional. On my trip I found that the captain and crew worked together to provide the best service possible. The advice and help the passengers received from captain and crew were always right on. We would not have landed all the fish we did without their help. The food provide was as good as a quality restaurant. If some one had a special diet, they were taken care of by the chefs. With the experience I had on this trip, I will definitely return to do another trip on the Searcher. read more

I've been on this boat a couple of times and when I say top tier... they are top tier! The captain and deckhands helped my two sons on their first trip and they absolutely loved every minute. The deckhands were eager to help with anything we needed. I'm not one to ask for help so when I was approached by one of them I asked if they could help get my sons rigged up. I'm looking forward to trying to get on one of their longer trips next year. read more

Great boat: great knowledgeable, friendly crew; and most important, they work hard to put you on fish. The Searcher is the only Long Range trips that I will take....Feels like home. read more

Just and awesome operation for decades. I just took my son and we had a wonderful time with excellent service and help from the skipper and crew. Highly recommend this boat. read more