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!
