How Much Does Catalina Island Charter Fishing REALLY Cost? | Full Breakdown & Review

Ever wondered what it’s like to go charter fishing at Catalina Island, California? In this full breakdown & review, I’ll take you step-by-step through my entire trip on the Thunderbird Sportfishing boat out of Newport Beach/Davy’s Locker. From the true cost of booking a Catalina Island fishing charter to the gear, tackle, and species you can expect to catch, this video covers it all. You’ll see the real cost of Catalina charter fishing (from ~$366 on the low end to ~$670+ with gear), plus expenses like parking, tackle, fishing license, rental rods, food, tips, and fish processing. I’ll also show what happens when you hook into a big game fish—I fought a 38 lb yellowtail and share the whole intense moment! ⚓ Highlights of this trip include: How much Catalina Island charter fishing really costs 💵 Breakdown of gear: Penn Battle 4, Penn Spinfisher, Ugly Stik, 50 lb braid & leader line What you can expect to catch: yellowtail, white seabass, tuna, mahi mahi, rockfish, lingcod, sculpin, sheephead, calico bass, and more Sleeping & food setup on overnight fishing boats Deckhands & crew going above and beyond to help anglers land fish Unforgettable moments with nature: squid schools, flying fish, seals, and anchovy bait balls If you’re planning to book a trip on the Thunderbird charter boat out of Southern California, this video will give you the full breakdown of costs, tips, and what to expect before you go. 0:00 – Intro: Catalina Island fishing 0:36 – Booking the charter (Thunderbird out of Davy’s Locker) 1:12 – Parking costs (free vs. $34) 1:29 – Buying tackle at Newport Landing Sportfishing 1:58 – Fishing license 2:07 – Gear rental vs. bringing your own 2:22 – Recommended rod/reel setups (Penn Battle 4, Ugly Stik, braid & mono leaders) 3:06 – Penn Spinfisher too small for big fish 3:41 – What fish you can expect to catch (game fish vs. non-game fish) 4:08 – Checking current fish counts online 5:03 – My experience with the crew & other fishermen 5:54 – Sleeping arrangements & food on the boat 6:21 – Beautiful sights: squid, anchovies, flying fish, seals, Catalina & San Clemente 7:07 – The Catch: 1:30 AM seabass fishing with squid 8:55 – My yellowtail fight 12:59 – What my sisters caught (sheepshead, whitefish, calico bass) 13:54 – Final cost breakdown (fish processing, food, tips)