Frequently Asked Questions

Please check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. Count on it being a little cooler out on the water than in town.  Small bags/ purses can be accommodated, but please do not bring any large bags aboard. Larger bags can be left securely at the ticket sales office during business hours. Definitely bring your camera if you do not buy the photo package and your wallet if you desire to tip the captain.

The wonderful thing about the ocean is you never know what you are going to see. Sea Lions are always a guarantee, but we cannot guarantee we will see dolphins. The Captain always works his hardest to find the wildlife of interest for his passengers. Some of the wildlife we have encountered at the shoreline or on the water include: Blue Whales, Fin Whales, Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Orcas (that’s right, Killer Whales right outside the harbor), Pilot Whales, Risso’s Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, Mola Mola (ocean Sunfish), Flying Fish, and Bald Eagles.

Tickets can be purchased at the Catalina Coastal Tours & Fishing ticket office at 205 Crescent Ave unit 106. We are open 7 days a week from 9AM until 5PM. The ticket office accepts all major credit cards and cash.  You will be asked to review and sign a liability waiver then you will meet your captain.  If the ticket office is not open, please call us at 626-290-2888.

Every tour will not last the same amount of time. We don’t rush into the following tour so that we have a little extra time to stay out longer if need be. We never know if we will run across a pod of dolphin right at the end of a tour. We also try to answer all questions and accommodate all photo opportunities so that you have the most enjoyable experience possible. We also leave another 15 minutes between tours so that you are not rushed off the boat at the end. You may have to get the contact info or say your goodbyes to your newfound friends!

The Captain will make the determination prior to the tour whether it will be an enjoyable experience. If the weather is too foul for fun, the tour will be cancelled, and a full refund given if you have already paid. If the weather is good enough to go out, but you choose not to go, please give us a heads up prior to the tour as early as possible. If you have a private charter booked and you choose not to go within 48hrs of the trip, but the Captain says it is a go, you will be charged a 100% cancellation fee. The Captain is very reasonable and doesn’t want to go boating in bad weather any more than you do.

While that question cannot be answered for each person, keep in mind this is a smaller boat. Sometimes being on a smaller boat is an advantage because the boats roll period is shorter vice the long slow roll of a larger boat. You will also get plenty of fresh air on this boat with no diesel fumes coming into a cabin (a major cause of motion sickness). If you do get sick it’s not the end of the world. We have complimentary bottled water on board and the kelp fish love fresh chum!

Just like other service industries, the Captain and crew work very hard to give you the most enjoyable and safe experience on the water. If you feel the crew earned a tip, please hand it to the Captain upon leaving the boat. If you would like anything special during your tour or charter please don’t hesitate to ask the Captain. He is there to make your experience memorable and to want to come visit again.