We did the 5-hour nearshore trip on the SD Slot Machine Charter with Captain Daniel Boney, and it was an absolutely fantastic experience! It was the four of us — my husband and I and our two boys (12 and 14) — and we truly couldn’t have asked for a better day on the water.

We ended up catching around 25 fish, including bonito, sculpin, white sea bass, calico bass, rockfish, treefish, and more. A few weren’t in season so we had to release them, but they were still a blast to catch! The action was steady and exciting, especially for our boys.

Captain Dan was outstanding. We had never ocean fished before, and he took the time to explain everything clearly and help us whenever we needed it. When the first spot didn’t produce many bites, he quickly repositioned us — and that made all the difference. He kept us on fish and kept the energy fun the entire time. He also had a great playlist going, which just added to the overall vibe of the trip.

There were a few times we got snagged on the bottom (rookie mistakes!), and he was quick to fix things and get us back to fishing without missing a beat.

If you’re considering a charter, I would absolutely recommend going out with Captain Dan. He’s knowledgeable, patient, great with kids, and truly wants everyone to have a successful, memorable day. We had such a great time and would definitely book with him again!

Took my kids (7 & 14) on their first inshore trip.  Captain Dan is a good, easy-going dude and great with kids.  We fished on good equipment and had a selection of live and cut bait to choose from.  Captain Dan’s style is to give you the tools and tips and offer any assistance needed, while also giving you the space to make your own bait/fishing decisions and find your own rhythm.  We found the fish, got a variety of species, made good memories

, grabbed some nice pics, and had delicious fish tacos for dinner.  Great experience - would do again and recommend.

Highly recommend booking with Dan. From the first message to the getting ofd the boat, communication was clear and easy. He’s professional but laid back, super knowledgeable about the ocean, and just a genuinely fun captain to spend the day with. He really prioritized what we wanted while offering smart suggestions and adjusting when bites slowed. We caught some calico sea bass, white sea bass, bonito, and whitefish and had an awesome time. Next time we’re in San Diego, we’ll absolutely book with Dan again.

We had a great day on the water with captain Dan. First order of business was safety. Dan showed us where all the safety gear was and made sure we were comfortable throughout the day. He was equally persistent on putting is on the fish. Multiple moves produced 7 different species and 19 fish overall. Dan catered to what ever we wanted to do, making sure all our request’s and needs were filled. Super job Dan, tight lines, thank you!

Daniel was so awesome and made this trip so enjoyable. it was a crowded ocean and tough fishing. we had such an enjoyable time; and will definitely be back to try to set the new boat record! 74.