Captain James Nelson
Captain James Nelson
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Fish with one of San Diego's most experienced and trusted captains! Captain James Nelson is the longest-running fully licensed private guide in the area—and the only San Diego native still offering a 'Catch Fish or It's Free' guarantee.
A full-time professional (not a part-time weekend guide), Captain James knows these waters inside and out. Whether you're targeting freshwater species, exploring the bay, or heading out for inshore saltwater action, he'll put you on the fish and help you make the most of your time on the water.
You'll be fishing aboard a fully rigged 22' Seafox Viper Hybrid Boat, perfectly suited for up to 4 anglers. The vessel is equipped with a trolling motor, advanced electronics, anchoring system, and an ice box to keep your drinks cold—everything you need for a productive and comfortable trip.
All fishing gear is provided, so you can simply show up and focus on the experience. Captain James prides himself on creating fun, memorable trips for anglers of all skill levels. Families, kids, beginners, and seasoned anglers are all welcome—each trip is tailored to your goals.
Safety is always a top priority, and Captain James has an impeccable track record. Beyond catching fish, he's passionate about teaching new techniques and making sure everyone on board has a great time.
You're welcome to keep any legal catch, and Captain James will even clean and fillet it for you at no extra charge. Full-day trips also include lunch, making your day on the water completely hassle-free.
Book your trip today and experience San Diego fishing with a true local expert!
Fish with one of San Diego's most experienced and trusted captains! Captain James Nelson is the longest-running fully licensed private guide in the area—and the only San Diego native still offering a 'Catch Fish or It's Free' guarantee.
A full-time professional (not a part-time weekend guide), Captain James knows these waters inside and out. Whether you're targeting freshwater species, exploring the bay, or heading out for inshore saltwater action, he'll put you on the fish and help you make the most of your time on the water.
You'll be fishing aboard a fully rigged 22' Seafox Viper Hybrid Boat, perfectly suited for up to 4 anglers. The vessel is equipped with a trolling motor, advanced electronics, anchoring system, and an ice box to keep your drinks cold—everything you need for a productive and comfortable trip.
All fishing gear is provided, so you can simply show up and focus on the experience. Captain James prides himself on creating fun, memorable trips for anglers of all skill levels. Families, kids, beginners, and seasoned anglers are all welcome—each trip is tailored to your goals.
Safety is always a top priority, and Captain James has an impeccable track record. Beyond catching fish, he's passionate about teaching new techniques and making sure everyone on board has a great time.
You're welcome to keep any legal catch, and Captain James will even clean and fillet it for you at no extra charge. Full-day trips also include lunch, making your day on the water completely hassle-free.
Book your trip today and experience San Diego fishing with a true local expert!
Trip availability and prices
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Customer reviews
Rating
Anglers' gallery (179)
What anglers say
All reviews (94)
Our 12-year-old fisherman from Iowa had always dreamed of catching a shark, and Captain Nelson made that dream come true! He was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and great with my son. During our trip, we caught eight different species, including two sharks, which made for an unforgettable adventure. My daughter and I aren't big fishing enthusiasts, but we joined the trip to support him—and we ended up having the best time. We even reeled in a few fish ourselves! The entire experience was fun, exciting, and something our family will cherish for years to come. If you're looking for a memorable family fishing adventure, we highly recommend Captain Nelson. He made our son's dream a reality and gave us memories that will last a lifetime. Five stars all the way! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I am so glad you guys all had a great time. It seems only the fish did not appreciate it too much. I can't wait until next time. Safe travels.
 captain James outdid himself! first stop to the last stop just outside the point of point Loma we were on Fish. We had calico bass, barracuda, lingcod, and white seabass. My daughter couldn’t keep bait on her hook. We couldn’t even put hooks on the lines for live bait. We ended up starting with some artificial jigs and started catching immediately. I would recommend James and his boat for anyone looking to catch fish and enjoy the times.
You guys were great! I am looking forward to the next time.
We are on vacation and booked with Captain James to hopefully be able to catch some fish we hadn't ever before and boy did we!! We are a family of 4, 2 kids (age 15 & 9) and both our girls had such a great time. The time flew by because we were having so much fun. We caught several fish, including a Leopard Shark, Guitar fish & a Giant Black Sea Bass, which is protected, to name a few!! It was even better than anticipated. Captain James was amazing from start to finish. Very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful to us, especially being first time salt water anglers. Book with him and you won't be disappointed. Thank you Captain James for giving us and our girls an experience we won't ever forget!
You guys are wonderful. Thank you for sharing your time with me, and your review for all to see.
Our family of 4, (13 year old son and 10 year old daughter) had a great time with Captain James on our 4 hour pm fishing charter. His dad jokes kept us all motivated while we waited for the fish the bite. He even got me, the family photographer, to fish and I got 3 mackerel :) We caught sharks, bass and a guitar fish. All around a fin-tastic time on the water!
You guys are awesome. I am so very honored that you shared your family time with me. It was a pleasure showing your our wonderful fishery. Many blessings
Capt. James took my two teenage boys and me out this morning, and we had a great time. The fishing wasn’t fast and furious, but we still managed to catch several fish for the table—which was exactly what we were hoping for on the last day of our vacation. We ended up keeping six fish, including bass, rockfish, and a couple of other species. Capt. James really came through for us. He was funny, professional, and kept us entertained the entire trip. Highly recommend—would definitely book with him again!
Thank you for the kind words, John. It was my pleasure.
FAQs about Captain James Nelson
- US $500 per group - 4 Hour Trip – Bay (AM) (4 hours)
- US $500 per group - 4 Hour Trip – Bay (AM) - 6:30 AM (4 hours)
- US $500 per group - 4 Hour Trip – Bay (AM) - 7:30 AM (4 hours)
- US $500 per group - 4 Hour Trip – Bay (AM) - 8:00 AM (4 hours)
- US $500 per group - 5 Hour Trip – Freshwater (5 hours)
- US $550 per group - 5 Hour Trip – Bay (5 hours)
- US $550 per group - 5 Hour Trip – Bay - 6:30 AM (5 hours)
- US $550 per group - 5 Hour Trip – Bay - 7:30 AM (5 hours)
- US $600 per group - 4 Hour Trip – Bay (PM) (4 hours)
- US $700 per group - 4 Hour Trip Inshore (PM) (4 hours)
- US $800 per group - 5 Hour Trip – Inshore (5 hours)
- US $800 per group - 5 Hour Trip – Inshore - 6:30 AM (5 hours)
- US $800 per group - 5 Hour Trip – Inshore - 8:00 AM (5 hours)
- US $800 per group - 8 Hour Trip – Bay Fish & Lunch (8 hours)
- US $800 per group - 8 Hour Trip – Bay Fish & Lunch - 6:00 AM (8 hours)
- US $1,050 per group - 8 Hour Trip – Fish & Lunch Inshore (8 hours)
- US $1,050 per group - 8 Hour Trip – Fish & Lunch Inshore - 6:00 AM (8 hours)
- US $1,050 per group - 8 Hour Trip – Fish & Lunch Inshore - 6:30 AM (8 hours)
- GPS
- Fishfinder
- Live bait well
- Multimedia system
- Wireless trolling motor
- Ice box
- Rods, reels & tackle
- Live bait (Unless the customer requests otherwise, we will use the best bait for the trip; alive, dead, or artificial. This applies to freshwater and saltwater trips. )
- Lures
- Catch cleaning & filleting (There is no additional fee for onboard fish filleting.)
- Snacks (Prepackaged snacks, trail mix, granola bars, and nuts, are included. If you want to bring your own, please do. )
- Drinks (Bottled water is included. If you would like to bring additional beverages, please do. It is a small boat, so please be prepared to transfer to the boat's cooler.)
- Lunch (On Full Day Trips)
- Fly fishing equipment
- River fishing (Although I seldom do it, I can run trips on the Colorado River system. Message me for details. )
- Lake fishing
- Inshore fishing
- Nearshore fishing
- Reef fishing
- Wreck fishing
- Flats fishing
- Light tackle
- Heavy tackle
- Bottom fishing
- Spinning
- Jigging
- Popping
- Fly fishing
- Drift fishing
- Barracuda (Pacific)
- Bass (Largemouth)
- Bonito
- Calico Bass
- California Sheephead
- Ray
- Rockfish
- Sand Bass
- Shark (Leopard)
- Yellowtail Amberjack
Your captain
The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.
Captain James Nelson has been a fully licensed private inland waters guide longer than anybody in San Diego, California. He was born and raised in San Diego and has spent thousands of days learning the best fishing spots in Mission Bay, San Diego Bay, and the local lakes. As he honed his skills, he started to compete in tournaments, successfully participating in FLW, WON Bass, ABA, and East County Bassmasters. Now, he uses those skills to teach clients on every fishing trip he takes out. Captain James loves helping people catch fish and being a part of their most treasured memories and he is well-qualified, and certified, to take you out on the water. A father of four, he is appreciated by his clients not only as an excellent guide and teacher, who is great with kids, but also as a pleasure to fish with.
The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.
Captain James Nelson has been a fully licensed private inland waters guide longer than anybody in San Diego, California. He was born and raised in San Diego and has spent thousands of days learning the best fishing spots in Mission Bay, San Diego Bay, and the local lakes. As he honed his skills, he started to compete in tournaments, successfully participating in FLW, WON Bass, ABA, and East County Bassmasters. Now, he uses those skills to teach clients on every fishing trip he takes out. Captain James loves helping people catch fish and being a part of their most treasured memories and he is well-qualified, and certified, to take you out on the water. A father of four, he is appreciated by his clients not only as an excellent guide and teacher, who is great with kids, but also as a pleasure to fish with.
Real catches by this captain
What is the boat like?
What kind of fishing will you do?
Which fishing techniques you can try
Which amenities are available onboard
How cancellations work
Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip
You can cancel or modify your booking up to 3 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.
What the listing policies are
Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
How you can pay
Pay online in full
Pay online in full through FishingBooker and save on credit card fees at the dock.
No additional fees.
What’s biting in San Diego right now
Barracuda (Pacific)
Bonito
California Sheephead
Rockfish
Yellowtail AmberjackCompare similar fishing charters
