Dana Point is a one-landing town: Dana Wharf Sportfishing, operating out of Dana Point Harbor since 1971 and in business since 1958. The fleet runs fourteen vessels, ranging from the 95-foot, 149-passenger Dana Pride down to the 25-foot, 4-passenger Second Chance.
Grounds
The grounds are close. Dana Wharf's own beginner's guide puts "prime fishing grounds… typically just 20–30 minutes from harbor." For longer runs, the 14-Mile Bank sits roughly 18 miles off the harbor — a seamount that rises from 2,000 feet to 350, known for marlin, swordfish, and deep rockfish. Overnight trips head to Catalina Island and San Clemente Island for yellowtail and rockfish on iron jigs.
Seasonality
Dana Wharf's editorial describes spring (March–May) as "excellent fishing for white sea bass, halibut, and bonito as water temperatures warm"; summer as the "most diverse… with tuna, yellowtail, and mahi-mahi moving into local waters"; and fall as "considered by many to be the best fishing season in Southern California." A recent weekly report (Oct 9–15) documented water temps of 66–68°F, bluefin tuna within 25 miles, and "quality catches" of rockfish on the 14-Mile Bank.
Pricing
Pricing in 2026 starts at $53 for a 5-hour half-day and $89.04 for the 9-hour ¾-day. Private charters on the Sum Fun run $1,800 for a weekday half-day and $3,000 for a 9-hour weekday. The halibut derby returns in January, and a kids' clinic starts at $63.60 for anglers under 14.
Captains
Captain Brian Woolley has skippered the Sum Fun since 1997. Dana Wharf describes him as a certified marine naturalist with the American Cetacean Society and a San Clemente native. His own quote, on why he does it: "It doesn't matter if they're young or old, seeing the excitement on their faces when they reel in their first catch is thrilling for me."
Recent reports
Recent visitors back up the specifics. A June 2025 private charter on The Fury "caught well over 80 calico bass." An April 2026 Lady Anglers trip on the Sum Fun pulled "limits for everyone" on rockfish under Captain Brian. A January 2026 whale-watch reviewer logged "a mega pod of over 1000 common dolphins and a juvenile humpback whale that must have breached at least 10 times." Dana Wharf's own policy encourages catch-and-release for non-consumed fish.
