San Diego Charter Ends Season and Adds Longer Early-January Voyages

The charter departed San Diego at 0800 on January 3 for what the crew described as the final trip of the season, carrying a full load of bait and a hungry group of anglers. The voyage featured many first-time guests alongside familiar faces, creating a dynamic atmosphere where returning customers could share experience and tips with newcomers.

Operational changes announced with the trip point to a busier early 2026 calendar. The operator will continue this itinerary next season and is adding a new 12-day trip that will arrive on January 15. In addition, the traditional day-after-Christmas outing will expand from a 4-day to a 7-day voyage. These adjustments aim to broaden variety fishing opportunities, with planned targets that include tuna, wahoo, yellowtail and dorado.

The timing matters because past years have shown strong results in this window. Crew notes emphasized historical success around early January, and the charter planned to travel all day January 3 and most of January 4 while keeping a close watch for breaking opportunities. Weather was favorable at departure, and the crew posted a wheelhouse view to highlight calm conditions and clear skies.

For anglers this means more choices and longer trips that increase the odds of consistent bite windows and mixed-species hauls. Longer 7- and 12-day trips offer extra days to work shifting ocean conditions, set up on schools, and chase both nearshore and offshore structure where tuna and wahoo congregate. Returning anglers can now bring newcomers on the same trips, helping newcomers learn boat routines, tackle setups and fish-fighting techniques sooner.

Booking implications are straightforward: expect expanded availability in early January but plan ahead for the longer runs, which will demand more bait, tackle and time at sea. The charter’s emphasis on variety fishing makes these trips suitable for anglers who want a mixed-species experience rather than a single-species focus.

The trip report listed Roy Rose and was signed by Duke Ekstrom, who shared the wheelhouse photo of the departing vessel. With the season’s final departure completed and an expanded slate for early January, local anglers have fresh options for planning their 2026 tuna and game-fish outings.