We went out on the afternoon five hour trip and it was a blast! The crew is friendly and really works hard to try and ensure everyone has fun. Captain gives pointers for the spots with fish and the deckhands were on it to help with the catch and have fun doing their jobs. Highly recommend Tradewinds if you are in Newport or Depoe Bay and want to get out on the ocean to and do some fishing. read more

Went out on the "outer limits" capt was great, deckhand Noah was great. Deckhand Nick was worthless as tits on a boar. Slow day of fishing, 45 boats pounding the same small area, but still managed to pull up limits of nice fish. read more

Dog friendly whale watch trips are amazing! They have a site to board from right along the boardwalk so you don't need to re-park down in the harbor. They also have ADA accessibility. The gift shop below has motion sickness remedies on hand if needed. Tradewinds' also has the largest boat in the harbor at 53' feet , 3 bathrooms and heated cabin. This place has got you covered. The 5 hour bottom fish and crab trip is the most affordable and fun trip if you're looking for a good time fishing. read more

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Came all the way from Seattle and had this booked for 3 weeks, they canceled our trip on a beautiful Oregon coast day 45 minutes before we were suppose to leave. Don't book with this company. Communication was also terrible when trying to reach them and ask questions. read more

We were so excited for our tour. We got rescheduled due to weather which was great that we were able to get on another tour. We got on the boat and the captain says hope you like roller coasters it's going to be a little crazy until we get past the first red buoy. There was never any safety precautions other than hold on tight and don't get hurt. They didn't point out where life jackets were either. My husband, 15 year old daughter and myself have never been more terrified in our lives. The waves were so big the coastline disappeared. At least 4 people were throwing up. There were kids crying and everyone was holding for dear life. The waves didn't get much better. Anytime he tried to pick up some speed he couldn't because the boat was rocking so hard. Our entire bodies were shaking after we got off the boat. I have never been so happy to return to land. I would never have gotten on the boat if I would have known this is how it was going to be. We also didn't see one whale not one but really glad we are still alive to tell story. Seriously traumatized. read more

Good part: super duper helpful nice people. Bad: was so cold and so so choppy that the majority of our boat was puking. I even lived on a boat for 2 years but got soooo sick. Good: got my limit. They have folks ready to fillet and even vacuum pack for pretty cheap. Added the crab option and came away with sooo many. Bucket list done! But glad it's over too! Not going 10 miles out for 5 hours on a boat trip that is dealing with rough seas and bad weather. Barf. One star taken off bc they need to warn us before we get underway what the weather and chop is going to be. Info that your weather map won't provide. Note; only TWO boats were permitted to leave Depot Bay this day due to inclement boating weather. read more

By far the worst whale watching tour I've ever been on. There was very little information given about where we were going. The surf was really rough and the boat, which is obviously geared to fishing getaways not whale watching, didn't have enough seats for the number of people that were on board. People were staggering all over the place, and several people were vomiting over the side. None of the staff came to make sure people were doing OK. i've never been on a whale watching tour where I couldn't wait for it to be over. Really awful. read more

Amazing experience on the 5 hour fishing and crabbing charter! Everyone, from Tad who sold us our tickets and provided helpful information to Trey the deckhand on the Kingfisher, were supportive, encouraging, and helpful. I had never fished before and want to go out again! Caught my limit and came home with 9 crab. Go with Tradewinds, you will not be disappointed! read more

Bucket list item for me, a whale watching tour. Check. Went June 20th. We did get to see 1 whale. things the charter should inform you of on the Mariner: 1. Life vests are on the boat, but children aren't required to wear them. I asked the captian, and he laughed at me and said only in an emergency. (Wouldn't that be too late???) **did NOT appreciate this answer 2. To get on the boat, you need to walk down 3+ flights of stairs, and there is a very limited section in the back only of the boat for seating. I have issues standing for more than 20 mins, so I was in pain the entire 1 hr trip. We got on the boat behind, probably half the people on our tour, and ended up in the front of the boat. Now, the water was relatively calm. But I have a 5 yr old, my standing pain issue, and it was A LOT in the front of the boat. My 5-year-old was terrified 2 min out of the dock. We eventually moved back to wedge ourselves between the side of the boat and the center cabin section. My 5 yr old sat down and was clinging to my husband's leg. I cant imagine a rough water day So, all in all, yes we got to see a whale. Thankfully, it was on our side of the boat. Otherwise, we wouldn't have. I'm sorry to all the other passengers we ended up blocking their ability to move around because I needed to calm my kid down. Bucket list item checked, and won't be doing again. Mobility issues or standing issues, don't go on this charter. Honestly, i wouldn't take young children either, unless they are boat savvy. *they do have a drop off at a different dock so you don't have to go up the stairs. I'm not sure if they do this for down the stairs too (disclaimer) read more

We save several whales on our tour. Enjoyed our trip out on the ocean. Doesn't go out very far from land. read more

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I have not yet to go out with this company due to a medical emergency in my family. I called and they were very kind and had no issues refunding my trip and wishing my family well and hoped to see us when everything gets better. I look forward to going out on a whale watch with Tradewinds when we do make it to the West Coast. Very pleasant and professional and most of all understanding. read more

The captain of the experien 6 passenger boat didn't know to catch halibut. I was told by the lady that booked the trip, that he had 2 electric reels. When I stepped onto the boat I only saw crank reels. I asked where his electric reels ,he said I only have one and it's in the shop being fixed. I was also told by the lady that he was a great fisherman. But the bait he used was old and didn't look good. I paid for the whole boat and we had 2 82 year olds and a lady. But he just kept going to deeper water. More reeling! Totally a crappie trip! read more

mom and 3 kids (14-21) had an excellent time on the bottom fishing /crabbing trip. we caught tons of keepers and made great memories. read more

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Took five of my family members on a bottom fishing trip out of Trade winds and I will never return. Bad enough, we only caught Six sea bass between the five of us but to have to pay for our crab to be cooked and fish to be fillet as well? Save your money and go to Garibaldi we're everything is included and the fishing is actually good. read more

Came here two years ago with a group of friends and that time they charge about $16 per person to see the whales. They pretty much guarantee that you will see it. Last year came with another group of friends and they have increased the price to $20. That is a big jump. So instead we just stood at the Depoe bay and we saw the whales as well but not a close up. 2 years ago when I came with my friends, we believe $16 is a pretty good deal. I mean in Canada, they charge like $40 for it. Even for today for $20 its not bad. The only issue I have is that I have seasick. So I was on about 20 mins in I started to throw up. I mean its worth it in someways. Luckily I went before dinner. We manage to see 3 whales. Even though they don't guarantee 100% you will see it but they said 99.99% you will see the whales and the whales is out there. Its beautiful. I took some good photo and videos. I mean ALOT of videos and photos. Also note the Tradewinds Charters is a very small boat. I personally had a great time other than 20 mins in. I recovered about 10mins after I was off the boat. Also note because I went around September 1, it was freezing cold out there. I was stupid enough to wear flip flops. My toes and fingers were frozen. Please dress warmly. The Oregon Coast is pretty cold in September. The weather changes dramatically! This is one of those things that you will only do once. I mean this is what I believe! read more

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Took the Kadaho on a bottom fishing trip. Great captain, great deck hand. Got us onto fish, and when the fish left the spot, he got us on another school. We fished for several hours. Enjoyed the trip so much we went for another. Same story. Captain Roman got us on the fish and worked to keep us fishing until it was time to head back to shore. They were friendly and very good at their jobs. KADAHO every time. Planning for salmon, maybe halibut and tuna trips with these guys. read more

Tradewinds Charters - Whale Watching & Fishing - Oregon - Rockfish from first trip - Boat Charters Near Me - Depoe Bay, Oregon

The Kadaho is where you want to be if you are going to be fishing out of Depoe. I have been on many charters and have had some good and bad experiences. I have been around enough boats to know that Roman takes his game to the next level every time. It is only now after being on so many charters that I can say he is one of the few that doesn't rely on luck. He works to find the best grounds even if it means going farther and spending more money on gas. Roland, his deckhand, has a massive amount of experience in San Diego on the blue and yellow fin tuna. He is personable and loves to get to know people. He has caught dorado, mahi mahi and sailfish while tuna fishing. Quite rare on the Oregon coast to say the least. Two weeks ago I caught a 32 and 28 inch lingcod with him. With him, instead of fishing close to the crab pots, he blitzed far away from the pots and other boats with his fancy quiet engines. Yes, all captains want to get into the sea bass but he focuses on both the sea bass and lingcod equally because those are prized fish. It is a subtle but important difference. What's crazy is that he seems to charge the same price as everyone in the fleet but he should probably charge about 30 percent more because that's the amount of extra time and effort he is spending than other boats. Granted others do a fair job and you will probably get your money's worth. But if you want a true experience, ONE TO REMEMBER, then Roman is your captain. He has invested in twin 450 Cummins Marine engines and is able to blitz to his spots with a smooth and quiet ride. He is very competitive with himself and his cohorts. I go with Roman because he is an INNOVATOR, he STUDIES THE GAME, and his goal is IMPROVING EVERY SINGLE TIME ON THE OCEAN. read more

A well-run operation, knowledgeable and friendly crew. While I would not recommend for somebody prone to seasickness, (FYI, Dramamine gets zero out of 5 stars), this is a thumbs up for somebody who can handle the motion of the ocean. read more

Rented out all six spots in the Kimberly Ann so my wife and I had the boat to ourselves. Richard was our captain and was GREAT! Super nice guy who has been at it for about 40 years. Great weather and conversation and we got several fish. Great day!!! read more

I wish I would have looked at the reviews before I booked this fishing charter and also checked around before booking because this company charges $25.00 more per ticket. The customer service was lacking with this company. They have no problem taking your money but act entitled to your business without trying to accommodate you in any way and act highly irritated for any inconvenience. Unfortunately, we are visiting the area and had a really bad experience to an otherwise beautiful vacation. read more

My wife and 2 kids (5 & 7) went on a 1 hour whale watching tour on the Mr. Max boat. The crew was helpful and informed us ahead of time when a whale was going to surface because, as the captain stated, he can see very well from atop the boat. The crew did a good job poitning out and getting closer to whales. I got some great pictures as well. The captain used the speaker system to inform all guests what side and location a whale was going to be at or is at. Good time for the family, would definitly do again when in town during whale season! read more

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Went on a Saturday-afternoon one-hour whale-watching tour with friends. Very nice, well-maintained boat with a powerful engine. It accomodated a seated group on the forward deck, and another mostly-standing group on the aft deck (I was aft). We say a lot more of the whales than I was expecting, some very close to land just beyond the bridge, and another couple at a reef a few minutes south. Got to watch one spout a few times, then flip up and dive, great few of the tail! read more

We visited Portland in July of 2008 for our daughter's college graduation. While there she and her husband took us on the ten dollar tour of the area. One of many places that stand out was Depoe Bay. We went whale watching with Tradewinds Charters. They run a very efficient operation, arriving when promised, loading without feeling rushed, and departing right on time. Our boat was a 43 footer called the Tacklebuster captained by Jeurgen Turner and his crew. They were friendly, informative, and I think they were having as much fun as we were. As we headed out, they coordinated with other craft in the area and in a very short time we were looking at a magnificent Grey whale. I have flown over the ocean several times, but have never been on the ocean. I cannot swim, so I was a bit nervous, however, the crew, my wife, and daughter were having so much fun that I soon forgot the nerves, and was laughing like a little kid. One of the crew even did a little fishing and caught himself a very nice Ling Cod, which he promptly showed off to all the passengers as though we were all old friends. Nice touch. The only downside was the stairs to get to the boat, very steep, and with my wife's poor knees she paid dearly for the trip. I understand they have another boarding area that is much more accessible, though you may wish to verify that with them. All in all it was a very fun trip and made my first time on the ocean very enjoyable. Thank you Tradewinds Charters, we'll be back. read more

Tradewinds Charters - Whale Watching & Fishing - Oregon - Tradewinds Charters - Tacklebuster - Boat Charters Near Me - Depoe Bay, Oregon

We went out on the Kadaho. Captain and deck hand were very helpful and friendly. Special shout-out to the deckhand for his patience - there were a couple of little kids (6 - 9 years old) that were not the best at following directions. We caught limits of rockfish for everyone on the boat - and enough crab that everyone took home three. And, when we got off the boat there were a few guys to clean the fish and crab for a very reasonable price. My only complaint would be there are quite a few bones in the fillets - not terribly surprising with how fast they were moving. These guys were also very friendly. All around great day and we will definitely use this charter again. read more

We booked a 5 hour fishing trip for three of us. We got a confirmation email with information, where it showed a 5 hour fishing trip. A few days later we got another confirmation email saying we were switched to another boat, one that did a trip with crabbing. I didn't think much of it since we'd already booked 5 hours of fishing, but our 5 hours of fishing ended up being only 4, because the last hour was spent pulling up crab pots for the people doing crabbing. We lost 20% of the fishing we had planned, $54 worth of fishing for 3 of us, and wasted an hour sitting on a boat watching crab pots being pulled up when we were supposed to be fishing for 5 hours. It was a big disappointment, because we really wanted to be fishing all day. read more

We couldn't possibly have had a better trip than what we had tuna fishing on the Starship with Kain... Trust me, Kain wanted to catch the tuna just as bad as we did This was the trip of the summer and we will be back for sure!! Thank you for such a great time out on the water!!! read more

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Love Tradewinds--reasonably priced whale watching in a convenient location. The water is always choppy (though we never mind getting a bit splashed), and the guides are always great. We've always seen whales, but even if we didn't it would be worth it for the nice boat ride. And it's spendy if it's an impromptu thing, but if you plan your trip around it it's no pricier than the aquarium and it's a ton of fun. read more

This trip, not so much fun. The last time, was pretty good. The difference, people in the boat. The first time was a charter for a company I worked for. The entire boat was company employees. Some were avid fisherman. Most were not. Everyone had a great time and didn't crowd the boat despite being great full. This time, we had half the people, but the boat felt crowded because apparently the captain and deck hand knew most of the guys. The boat was set to drift so our side had the lines going under the boat literally every single time. Granted, the fishing all around wasn't great. But I caught only 2 legal fish and my girlfriend who is an avid fisherman and Hunter caught nothing. The guy smoking the vape-pen with the blueberry scented flavor that smoked out the whole boat wasn't appreciated either. I had one great and one not so great experience....not sure if we'll go again for a tie breaker. read more

Fun time out with these guys! It was my first time ever fishing in the ocean and it was a blast!! I caught 5 fish!!!

We went on the afternoon charter noon-5. Boat was called Starship. Our group of 6 caught 1 Coho. I would not recommend. Unprofessional. Kane was the captain and his girlfriend rode along as the 6th person. Gear was not properly maintained by having dull rusty hooks. Reels were beat on and flashers needed replaced. The one fish that was hooked he yelled "Jesus Christ! Reel it in" when he explicitly told all of us not to take the poles out of the holders making it difficult to crank. Another comment made when asking him how long he guided was "too long" Bait was 1" small herring chunks that did not appear fresh and we were only allowed to change bait after 1 hr. Some of the leader lines were coiled and stretched. We wandered around with unsuccessful results when previous boats had limits caught. We left at noon and headed back at 4 which this was advertised as a 5 hr excursion. I'm not a sore looser and understand fish are not always caught. I will not go back to Trade Winds in Depo Bay on the Starship. It is definitely not the Enterprise. read more

This is the worst experience I've ever had on a boat. It was also very unsafe for kids. Below is the email that I sent to Tradewinds today (we went on the boat yesterday, July 18, 2019). PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. Hello, I went with my two children and my friend on the 1:15pm whale watching tour yesterday on Mr. Max, and it was a terrible experience. I wanted to give you some feedback, because there are definitely things that need to change with your company. (1) In the beginning of the tour BEFORE THE BOAT LEAVES THE HARBOR OR MOVES AT ALL, the captain needs to announce that anyone sitting up front will get very wet, to give people the option of moving BEFORE they get soaked. We sat up front, and as soon as the boat left the harbor and we hit the first wave, we were soaked. My 4-year-old started screaming, and my 7-year-old kept saying, "This is like an amusement park ride, except not fun and very cold!" (2) Inform your potential customers if it is a very choppy day, so that they are at least somewhat prepared for the turbulence. I called the day before to another whale watching company, and they told me that the afternoon would likely not be a very good time because there was a front coming in with 6-foot-swells on one side, 3-foot-swells on another side, and it was what the "locals call a 'blender'" day. Of course, your company was happy to take my money without mentioning anything, and as the sea looked calm from the shore, I wasn't sure if the front had come in. As soon as we got out of the bay, I knew she was right. (3) ALL CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12 SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO WEAR LIFE VESTS. That's actually the law in Oregon. You are setting yourself up for a major lawsuit by not providing any children under 12 with life jackets. My 4-year-old daughter got hit in the face with a strong wave when we were sitting up front, and if I hadn't been holding on to her with both arms, she would have gone overboard. (4) Of the 4 people in my party, 3 of us were vomiting because of the turbulence - my friend and both of my children. We were huddled in the cabin, throwing up, while the first mate looked annoyed that she had to provide us with buckets for the vomit, the dog ATE THE VOMIT FROM THE TRASH, and the captain threatened to kick me and the children out of "his cabin" if I started throwing up. He actually said, "Are you a domino person?" (which evidently to him means "Do you start throwing up if other people do?"). When I said, "No," he said, "Good. Otherwise, I'd have to ask you to leave my cabin." This is the worst boat ride that I have ever been on. Your customer service is terrible. Your boat is unsafe. Your captain is a jerk, and I am going to write a review online letting everyone know what happened to us. You should NOT have taken people out yesterday afternoon, knowing the condition of the ocean. If you do nothing else to remedy anything (and I would recommend if not firing the captain, at least giving him - and the first mate - a course in customer service, getting rid of the vomit-eating dog, and NOT running boats during 'blender' days), make sure that children under 12 wear life jackets. You are gong against Oregon law, and you are going to get someone killed one day. Sara read more

There were 6 of us who went fishing on July 23, 2022 riding the Morning Sun. After 5 hours we came back with 0 fish. What a disappointment, not even a bite. We spent more hours looking for better spots but nothing. None of the 18 of us reached the fishing limit. Does this boat even have a fish finder? I felt ripped off and scammed. My relatives travelled from San Diego for this charter fishing but it was so frustrating. I paid $780 for the 6 of us and we got only 21 crabs that were not fat. Tradewinds said it's a big ocean so there's no guarantee of any catch. But why not equip Morning Sun with a fish finder. You out there , think twice, before booking0 read more

Great device with great people. Made every effort to make our trip as accommodating as possible. Will use this company for all of our ocean adventures! read more

Went on a 5 hour bottom fish Saturday. On the sunrise, out of the 5 hour trip we had rods in the water less than 2 hours. Our group caught 3 black bass between the 4 of us. That's over a hundred dollars a lb when dressed out(320 dollar).believe me I understand fishing, that stuff happens, but as my dad taught me many years ago, you can't catch fish if your rod is not in the water. The only real highlight was the deckhand Brian, real fun and likeable guy, however personality don't catch fish. read more

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The gals at the ticket counter got us in on a last minute trip! So appreciated their efforts! Great hour long whale watching trip. Totally would recommend these guys! read more

Took us out in 10 ft. waves. 15 people on board, 5 threw up. Crew seemed to think it was funny. The only thing I saw was waves and vomit.

I would give this four stars because of the time that I went deep sea fishing when I was 10, but I have to delete a star for our last experience. Keep in mind that I realize that this company has no control over the height of waves, nor the wind. So I booked a trip for my sons 7th birthday last June. We brought 3 others with us, and we were all excited because of our own fond memories of ocean fishing from when we were kids. I booked the nice extra pricy package, the one that includes crabbing with the fishing, as I thought that would be extra fun! Well, we arrive right on time and as I'm checking in, I inquire about the process of the crabbing that we will be doing. It's here that the guy says, "Oh no! We won't be doing any crabbing today with the waves like they are! We'd never find the pots!" I should have taken this as a sign, because when I took a look out at the ocean, it seemed pretty choppy. No matter, as none of us were prone to motion sickness. We get on the boat and take off. And then it starts. I'm the first sick one in my group, but not on the boat. Naseau, vomiting, dry heaving.... all the effects and feelings of a hangover, without the good memories that accompany a night of partying. It was awful. I cannot begin to describe just how bad it was. Nearly everyone on the boat was violently ill, and most of us were so sick we couldn't even summon the strength to pick up a pole. To top it off, no one on the boat caught anything. The waves were so bad that the fish weren't biting. I finally went inside the cabin and laid down, were I stayed with my eyes closed until the COAST GUARD issued a warning to all boats on the ocean to return and we were back at the marina. Seriously. The Coast Guard had to intervene. That bad. Like I said, I'm not blaming Trade Winds. They have nothing to do with oceanic conditions. What they should do when they know it's really bad out is CANCEL a boating trip. I mean, the guy acknowledged that crabbing wasn't feasible, so he was aware of the conditions. I would rather have been slightly disappointed, spent the day on the beach, and NOT been sick then have a whole day ruined because the place was (probably) more interested in making money. read more

By far the worst fishing trip I've ever been on. Our experience in the Mr. Max was miserable and Tradewinds should be embarrassed to have the boat in their fleet. Would rate it zero stars if I could. Captain and crew were awful with zero people skills and no regard for the experience. We started the trip by being asked if any of the guests had been tuna fishing before. A few hands went up but the majority had not. "Virgins," the captain says. No problem though. I expected to have some sort of briefing on how to use rods or how the process would go when we got out to the ocean. Nothing. We were told that the fish would be divided evenly amongst the guests but any odd number that couldn't be divided evenly would be taken by the crew because "It tends to work out well that way." No thank you. I'm not paying $250 for you to take fish that we caught. This was just the beginning. The deckhand was regularly dismissive of questions or requests for help. He would laugh and treat you like you are beneath him and an imbecile for asking such a stupid question. He had multiple arguments with members of my family and seemed to be confrontational for no other reason than to be difficult. When we actually had a fish on the line he missed gaffing the fish on numerous occasions. He even took the opportunity to fish for himself when there was a fish on the line. Extremely unprofessional and unhelpful. The captain was equally unhelpful. We were never told how deep the fish were or how long to drop our line for. He fished off the deck for himself the entire time. There weren't even enough rods for everyone on board. We had to decide who should feel the fish up when we had a fish on. He shouldn't be a captain of a boat because he never helped anyone. All he did was drive the boat. The whole experience was awful. Captain and deckhand were two of the worst people I've ever come into contact with. They were clearly only concerned with themselves and how they could benefit from the outing. Do yourself a favor. If you book the Mr. Max for a tuna trip (or any other trip), cancel ASAP and look for another charter company. Will never book through Tradewinds again unless this boat and crew is removed from the fleet. read more

My younger sister visited at the end of August and early September, so I decided to include a trip to Newport and Depoe Bay, seeing how she had never visited the NW. I booked a 2-hour whale watching trip initially, but when confirming, told it would only be an hour - not sure why, but didn't ask. My guess is it's nearing the end of the season (and business is slow), or, since whales were being spotted every day, they wanted to book more tours. Nevertheless, after missing a turn the day of our trip (September 1st), they kindly re-booked our trip later that day. Getting to the dock is tricky, so make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes (for example, heels and flops need not apply). I had a blast. I was worried about not seeing any whales; we managed to see a whale tail and back as we were out on the open water. Our captain was disappointed for us, as they were spotting whales all week, but explained some of the whales were probably on their way to Baja for warmer water. Just as we were heading into the bay to dock the boat, a whale head emerged and that giant eye looked at us and then quickly disappeared back into the deep blue sea. Everyone was friendly, efficient, and I would do it again. Some might feel cheated (by the price) if they don't see a whale, but I see it as fun regardless - getting out on in the water is a treat and since I don't have a boat, think it's money well-spent. read more

Would give zero stars but that's not an option. Never thought after fishing for 40 years that I could have an experience like I did on the Mr. Max. The WORST captain and crew I have ever had! I was embarrassed to book this boat for eight of my family for $255 a person ($2229) total. Between the deckhand being an ass an looked and acted like a ex-addict and his brother who shouldn't be a captain of a dingy. Also not having enough rods for everyone on board to fish with. Tradewinds charters should take Mr. Max off their fleet. My family and I haves fished out of depot bay for 20 plus years and have never had anything but good to say about them. After this we will never go out with them again as long as they have the Mr. Max in the fleet. I have never wrote something about an event I attended but I had to this time so hopefully someone else doesn't experience this. read more