Quick Details
Fishing
Starting at:
$ 1,820
See grid below
for full fishing pricing
Whale Watching
2 Hour Charter
$ 1,200
Clemente Fishing Charters in Dana Point
The Clemente is a 65-foot fishing boat that runs out of Dana Wharf in Dana Point Harbor. It is nimble and fully equipped, and it carries up to 60 passengers, with up to 45 recommended for a fishing charter.
A full galley is always stocked with cold drinks. Book the Clemente for a private fishing charter, from a four-hour twilight trip up to a 12-hour all-day trip, or for a two-hour private whale watching charter.
Captains Chad Steffen and Corey Lieser run the Clemente.
Amenities
Set up for group fishing, with room for up to 60 passengers.
- Full galley with hot and cold food and cold drinks
- Live bait and frozen squid on board
- Rods and reels to rent
- Crew on deck to help you fish
- U.S. Coast Guard inspected
- Free parking with a permit in our long-term lot
Private Fishing Charters
Book the Clemente for a twilight, half-day, three-quarter-day or all-day private fishing charter out of Dana Point Harbor. Live bait and frozen squid are on board, and the crew will help your group at the rail.
Fishing charter rates are listed below.
Public Limited Load Trips
The Clemente also runs some of our public trips, priced per person. It is one of the boats that can run the All-Day Limited Load trip to Catalina Island or offshore, and on the 10-Hour Offshore Limited Load trip it carries no more than 25 anglers.
Private Whale Watching
Charter the Clemente for a two-hour private whale and dolphin watching trip off Dana Point, home to the trademark Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World®. The starting rate is in the price list on this page.
A certified marine naturalist can be added on request on all whale watching charters at no extra charge. If you would rather not have one on deck, your captain will narrate the trip.
Rates
Private fishing charter rates
| Trip | Mon. – Fri. | Sat. & Sun. |
|---|---|---|
| All Day / Local (12 hours) | $3,570 | $4,780 |
| 3/4 Day (9 hours) | $2,760 | $3,750 |
| 1/2 Day (5 hours) | $2,000 | $2,670 |
| Twilight (4 hours) | $1,820 | $2,670 |
*not including fees
Up to 60 passengers, 45 recommended for fishing charters.
A temporary fuel surcharge is added to fishing charters: $100 for a 1/2 day, $150 for a 3/4 day and $250 for an all-day charter.
All-day charters run 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., 3/4 day 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1/2 day 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. or noon to 5 p.m., and twilight 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Crew gratuity is not included; we suggest 15 to 20 percent of the charter price. A non-refundable deposit of 50 percent of the charter rate confirms your date.
Rod rentals, galley minimums and fish cleaning are listed on our sportfishing charters page.
The starting rate for private whale watching is in the price list on this page.
Reviews
See what our guests say about their trips with Dana Wharf.
Photos of the Clemente
Request a Charter Quote
Tell us your date, how many guests and the kind of charter you have in mind, and our charter department will put together a quote.
Clemente Boat Captains
Captain Corey Lieser
Deceased 4/9/2022
Certified Marine Naturalist, American Cetacean Society
In loving memory of Captain Corey, a resident of San Juan Capistrano, he has been a part of the Dana Wharf family since 1998. Born in Ohio, this Captain of the Clemente has taken out thousands of anglers over his 24 years with the landing. Although there’s no special trick to finding fish, Corey has said he watches the conditions, water clarity, wind and weather and uses his gut to find the right spot. “When the fish are biting and everyone’s happy, I’m happy.”
This Captain is usually busy navigating the boat and doesn’t have much time to actually fish, but when he does and he hooks up, he hands over the rod to a young angler or someone who hasn’t been having much luck and lets them reel it in. He recalls an elderly gentleman who caught a nice Tuna. “He shook my hand and said thanks – that’s probably the last fish I’ll ever catch.”
Dana Wharf Sportfishing is saddened to share the passing of long time Clemente Captain Corey Lieser on 4/9/22. We know many of our passengers loved fishing with Corey and we have so many charter groups like the Dana Wharf Lady Anglers that booked year after year to fish with him. We send our deepest condolences to his family and many friends. Next time you’re fishing on the Clemente take a minute to remember a time Corey helped put a smile on your face.
Captain Chad Steffen
Certified Marine Naturalist, American Cetacean Society
Captain Chad was born in San Clemente . After getting his captain’s license in 2005, he became a certified ACS naturalist and loves exploring and sharing the many wonders of the Pacific Ocean.
Captain Chad is passionate about fishing, especially aboard the Clemente. The Clemente is a perfect fishing vessel, nimble, fully equipped and the perfect size. Dorado is his favorite fish to catch because they put up a good fight making them really fun to catch. The Dorado jump and put on a great show, their vibrant colors sparkle in the sun and they are a great tasting fish.
The best part of working on the ocean is that it is ever-changing; no two days are the same – ever! The weather is up and down; fish bite feverishly then they just quit; whales and dolphin are everywhere, then the ocean can become as quiet as a desert. We run such a variety of trips and service locals and tourists with the goal of each trip providing an experience of a lifetime.
Steffen is credited with finding the wreck of the A.C.E., a 58-foot drum seiner, en route to the Dana Point Harbor after a night of bait fishing.