Floating Treasure: How to Fish an Offshore Kelp Paddy Like a Pro
When the Dana Wharf sportboats head offshore in the summer and fall, every set of eyes on the boat—from the captain in the wheelhouse to the anglers on the bow—is scanning the deep blue horizon for one specific thing. A floating piece of detached kelp. In the vast, featureless expanse of the open…
The “Bait Matrix”: How to Hook a Live Sardine so it Actually Gets Bit
You can have the most expensive rod and reel on the boat, but if your live bait is spinning in circles or dies the second it hits the water, the fish are going to swim right past it. When you fish with Dana Wharf Sportfishing, our bait tanks are loaded with fresh, lively…
The Spring Awakening: How Fishing Changes from Winter to Spring in Dana Point
If you fish Southern California year-round, you know that the Pacific Ocean has moods. During the winter months, the water is cold, the days are short, and the strategy is all about going deep. Winter fishing at Dana Wharf Sportfishing is dominated by heavy lead, dropping bait to the bottom, and pulling up…
The Pound-for-Pound Champion: Targeting Ocean Whitefish off Dana Point
When you drop your line down to the rocky reefs off the coast of Southern California, you never quite know what’s going to bite. While many anglers have their hearts set on a giant Lingcod or a colorful California Sheephead, there is one fish that often steals the show: the Ocean Whitefish. Don’t…
Cracking the Code: How to Hook the Notorious Sheephead
They have teeth that look like a human’s, they change gender from female to male, and they fight like a bulldog. The California Sheephead is one of the most iconic fish in our local kelp beds. While many anglers catching them by accident while fishing for bass, targeting them specifically is a skill. Known as…
The Offshore Gold Rush: How to Target Mahi Mahi
When the water temps rise off Southern California, the “Gold Rush” begins. Mahi Mahi (Dorado) move into our local waters, often coming within just a few miles of the harbor. Whether you are hopping on a ¾ day boat out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing or running your own skiff from Dana…
The Light-Tackle Rockets: How to Target Bonito out of Dana Point
They vibrate like a jackhammer, run like a tuna, and fight harder than fish three times their size. The Pacific Bonito is the unsung hero of the Southern California coast. Often called “little tuna,” Bonito are pelagic schoolers that invade the waters off Dana Point when the currents warm up. For anglers aboard…
The “Hitchhiker” Rig: Targeting Lingcod
When the rockfish season opens, the sacks at Dana Wharf are usually filled with Vermillion Rockfish (Reds), Boccaccio, and Whitefish. These are great eating fish, but for the serious angler, there is one prize that stands above the rest: The Lingcod. Often called “The Dragon” because of its prehistoric look and mouth full…
Creating Future Anglers: 5 Tips for Your Child’s First Fishing Trip
There is nothing quite like seeing a child’s face light up when they feel that first tug on the end of the line. It is a core memory in the making. But as any parent knows, taking kids on an ocean adventure can also feel a little daunting. Will they get bored? Will they get…
The Hunt is On: Your Guide to Winning the Dana Wharf Halibut Derby
With the rockfish grounds closed for the season, the spotlight at Dana Wharf turns to the undisputed king of the sandy bottom: The California Halibut. Right now, anglers are stepping aboard our boats with one goal in mind: catching a “Barn Door” (a large trophy halibut) and potentially landing on the leaderboard for…