I fished aboard the Pamela J on July 12, 2026, out of San Francisco, and it was nothing short of fantastic. Departing under the Golden Gate Bridge at sunrise was a breathtaking start. Captain Matt Juarez and deckhand Vincent made the entire day memorable. They were knowledgeable, patient, and went above and beyond to ensure everyone had a great time—whether it was helping us land salmon, taking group photos, or keeping the mood light with music and laughs. We even had whales and dolphins show up, making the day even more special. The crew’s dedication, especially Vincent’s, stood out—he truly wanted us all to succeed. By the end of the trip, we had quality fish and a boatload of great memories. Highly recommend the Pamela J for an all-around stellar fishing experience!

5 friends and I went out looking for salmon with Captain Matt and our deckhand Vincent last week. We were celebrating a birthday, and decided to go fishing. All of us like to fish/crab from shore and have been on a fishing boat in the Atlantic, but salmon fishing and going out in CA was going to be new to us. Talking beforehand, the whole goal was to have a fun day on the water, and that energy was instantly matched by Captain Matt before we got on the boat. He’s knowledgable, incredibly responsive by text as we were getting organized, and helped answer all our logistical questions. Before we headed out under the golden gate he and Vincent gave us a safety briefing and some intro to the baits we were using and what to do in the case we hooked up.

It’s a good thing they gave us those tips, because as soon as the lines were in the water we were pulling up salmon and stripers! To our great delight, these were some HUGE fish too. As a group if we caught enough fish to have a big group dinner, that would have been a win. We went well beyond that, and took on a TON of keepers. Even with the catch split up into 6 parts, ALL of us had to clear freezer space at home. We’re all planning dinners to host each other just so we can put a dent in amount of fish. The cooler on board was overflowing to the point we had to start stocking fish in the drinks cooler we brought.

Fishing isnt always catching, but you won’t find a team more dedicated to getting you catching than Captain Matt and Vincent. They both did their jobs supremely well and worked in tandem throughout the day to find fish, adjust speed and line depths, give us tips as we were pulling the fish on board all while curating an incredibly fun day.

Also he deserves a shoutout; the man of the day was 100% Vincent. He’s been working with Matt for years and this guy didn’t take a break the whole time we were out there. Vincent was laser focused on re-baiting the lines, setting up new bait, talking to Capt to make adjustments. Somehow he did all of this while being able to teach us and give us tips, take part in conversation AND scan the rods like every 15 seconds looking to see if we had a fish on in the case we missed a bite indication.

If you’re looking for a great day on the water, look no further than the Pamela J Charter right here. They have less reviews than others, but it’s certainly due to them being newer to Fishing Booker and I expect that will change in rapid fashion as I fully expext they will put on a 5 star day for any guest. It’s crystal clear that these guys know exactly what they’re doing and will do everything they can to ensure you have a great day on the water.

Writing this 2 days after our trip, and the 6 of us have been raving about this non-stop! The conversation keeps coming back to how much fun we had and how great the whole experience was and we’re already starting to work on plans for our next outing soon. When we do, we will 100% be back onboard with these guys, and I can’t recommend them enough!

Thank you, Matt, and team, for such an awesome trip!  I highly recommend that anyone looking to book a fishing trip does so on the Pamela J.  This is a beautiful, clean, and extremely comfortable boat.  Matt wasted no time getting our lines in the water and the action started! He is knowledgeable, proactive, and makes the trip even more fun with his positive energy and excitement.  I had a really great time and plan to have Matt take me back out in the near future!

Matt and Vincent take care of your from start to finish. Provide quality gear, some snacks and water included in the price. So no extras for rod or tackle or bait or weights!! The cabin is clean, warm and dry. They work all day to put you on fish and running gear to find success. These guys are engaging with experience and interesting information. Great crew!  Thanks again!