Taking a boat tour to see the flying fish of Catalina is a must when visiting the island. Afishionados is not only the best pun ever but a great boat your company as my friend and I really enjoyed our evening ride with captain john during my last visit to Catalina. The rides are around $35-40 and the only way to see these famous fish which literally Hop and skip above the waves in the early evening as the sky falls. They do a 50 percent discount on your birthday which I hope to take advantage of soon when I return. read more

Flying fish tour!!! I was so against doing this at first. My friend talked me into it since our kayaking tour was canceled due to high wind =(. I am so glad we went though. There are two flying fish tours available on the whole island. This one I went on was $45 per person. That's $10 more than the other location. On our tour, we got the chance to see the our flying fish tour and I am sooooo glad we went on this one inside. Our captain was an awesome friendly guy named Lance. He was very knowledgeable and stopped our catamaran at the best places for us to watch the flying fish. They gave us strong flash lights that we can shine into the water to attract and see the fish. We ended up seeing sea lions, various sea creatures and a ton of the fishing fish. We also got to see the beautiful starry sky. It was a lot of fun and I definitely recommend. As for the other tour boat... it was funny seeing them zip quickly by. They don't even stop their tour to let you see the fish. They also didn't give out flash lights. They had a "main" light that would just scan the ocean. It was funny a pretty sight. We bought tickets at the Afishinado store. It was definitely worth the price. We also brought our own flash lights which I recommend. read more

Sooooooooo much fun! We did a 7:30 flying fish tour and it was a blast. It was perfect weather and we saw tons of fish and the captain was hilarious. It wasn't overbooked and you were free to walk around the boat. You also get a kind of tour of the island and sea that you might not get otherwise. When it gets dark you get flashlights and floodlights to help track the fish. It's interactive and fun. Would definitely go back. Family friendly!!! read more

Great experience... John is an expert fisherman... he has all the expertise, plus tons of years of experience, friendly and very willing to teach kids. The equipment is super good and efficient. We catch many bonitos, sea bass etc.... great family trip. read more

This was the highlight of our trip to Catalina! My hubby and I went on the flying fish tour for his birthday. It was amazing, and I really think a better value than all the other tours/activities we've done during our visits to the island. The flying fish season had just started, and there were only ~10 guests on the entire boat (Catallac) which normally accommodates ~50. We left just after sunset, and saw flying fish glide majestically across the moonlit ocean. The crew gave us these super bright flashlights so that we could find and shine our own lights onto the flying fish -- this was a fun and addictive activity. It felt gratifying to spot/track my own flying fish and illuminate it for everyone else to see! I was impressed by how long they stay in the air; they really glide across long distances! We were lucky that even though the season was just starting (mid-May this year), we got to see a lot (dozens) of flying fish. We also saw several playful seals that were swimming alongside our boat. We met Karen, who owns the business with her husband Captain John, and she was a down-to-earth and nice lady. She was just as thrilled and excited to see the flying fish as people seeing them for the first time! It was refreshing to see that they genuinely love what they do and want everyone to enjoy the beauty and magic of the island with them. This was a unique and fun experience, and we will definitely be back! read more

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We booked the Happy Hour tour through Catalina tours. We got a voice mail 3 hours before the tour that they were canceling our tour, of course after we had scheduled everything else during the day around it. This was Friday. They called and rescheduled us for Saturday (next day) same time, we said (that sucks but) ok. Fast forward to the next day. The next day we left the beach early (again, scheduling most of the afternoon around this trip) to get showered up and go on the tour. When we got to the pier the boat wasn't there, and no one was there to tell us what was going on. We called from our cell phones. It turns out that they cancelled our tour again without telling us. The worst part was that we heard excuse after excuse without any responsibility being taken. In the end they offered us the flying fish tour again, which is later and probably more profitable or something. I can't believe that so much of our time was wasted on a tour that never happened. Don't do it. Just don't. read more

Took my grandson fishing for his 11th birthday along with his dad & uncle. They all loved it ! Captain Lance was so good at what he does that my grandson was so fascinated with learning all about deep sea fishing. He was so excited about catching a few 10 pounders out there. I highly recommend afishnado for your fishing fun. Thanks Captn Scott & Captn Lance !! read more

Afishinados Charters - His favorite catch ! - Fishing Near Me - Avalon, California

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We popped into this shop the day after taking an Afishinado boat tour, and we were absolutely charmed. Very cute items available... I could have spent a fortune. I loved almost everything I laid my eyes on. Worth stopping in for sure. And the staff was very attentive and friendly. read more

Thank you for a wonderful experience on our last night on the Island, the Catallac is a beautiful vessel and my fiancé visiting from Austria had never seen a Flying Fish, he absolutely loved it and working the lights too. Just Amazing! Erin read more

Afishinados Charters - The natural map of Catalina island - Fishing Near Me - Avalon, California

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The Afishinado flying fish tour was the highlight of our trip. The captain was so funny and made the tour so enjoyable! He pointed out all of the wildlife, and we even got to witness a sea lion hunting (and catching) a flying fish! Nature at its best! I felt like we were in a sea life documentary. Plus, they let my nephew be the person who controls the light on the front of the boat! 5 stars! read more

I booked a flying fish tour for my wife's birthday about a month in advance. They emailed me to say that it was cancelled because the fish seemed to have moved on. They offered other tours but nothing that night. I booked the Sunset Tour for the next night. A few days later they emailed to say that there might still be some flying fish around and were trying to get a tour together for an earlier night but we couldn't make it. We stuck with the Sunset Tour and it turns out Captain John made it an all around tour. Capt. John has been on the water for nearly 50years and you can tell, he made the slow ride around to the back of the island interesting and entertaining. We saw plenty of the local wildlife including sea lions, seals even a bald eagle. On the way home he turned the sunset cruise into a flying fish cruise and we scared up quite a number of flying fish! Looking forward to doing it again on a future trip! read more

Loved the flying fish tour we did! The time worked out well because you could see different parts of the island and the captain was very knowledgeable and fun. We saw numerous wildlife; birds, fish, and a few sea lions. The charter was 7:30-9:30, but we got back closer to 9 which was perfect! It was nice that we sailed with some daylight and then the end in the dark. I would absolutely recommend this tour and the crew! Thank you! read more

This was a disappointing experience for sure. For starters they allow up to six people on the "private" charter but only allowed two lines in the water. There was one person working the boat. So he had to drive and help deal with the fishing gear and so forth. not realistic for the price they charged. Caught one fish and caught more than that from the shoreline the following day.... Defiantly not $1,000 worth of value for a four hour trip! read more

I have gone twice on Captain John's boat for the flying fish tour and it is a fabulous trip, I highly recommend it. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the area and if they are in the area, he will find these incredible fish. In fact, we lucked out and saw 2 different types of flying fish the night we went out. The truth is just going out in the evening, seeing more of the highland and a phenomenal moon, was worth the trip. I highly recommend booking a trip with Captain John, whether it is for fishing, or a tour looking for flying fish or a special event on his beautiful boats. And absolutely don't miss his wife's gallery in Avalon that has works for 40 different artists and Karen's own cool t-shirts. She is a very talented print artist and has great taste and experience seeking out interesting artists to showcase and sell their work in her store. read more

My girlfriend and I went to Catalina for the day, expecting to just lounge and shop. We walked by the gorgeous Afishinados store, and thirty minutes later we were heading out for a day on the ocean with Captain John. It was amazing! John really knew the island well and was so personable. I have recommended Afishinados Charters to all my of my friends, and can't wait to go back this Summerhow about THAT. read more

We called Captain John with Afishinado Charters because we wanted to go on a flying fish tour and the other company that runs them was not available. Captain John explained to me that his tour was different - only 6 people per trip, so it was going to be $90/person. I balked a bit at the price, but since I wanted to see some flying fish, we paid it. And it was worth every penny!!! We had such a great time with Captain John! He was personable and very knowledgeable about the island, its history and its animals. Having only 6 people on the boat was fantastic and we each got our own flashlight to search for fish. Going out on the boat was one of the highlights of our trip to Catalina. If we go back, we definitely will give Afishinado a call to maybe try our hand at fishing or one of their other expeditions. read more

Just got back from a flying fish tour on their fabulous new boat, Catallac. What a great boat! Saw lots of flying fish and we were able to stop and watch sea lions feeding on them. Because you are higher above the water than on other tour boats, you can really see into the water and watch the action! Smooth, quiet, comfortable ride--can't wait to take the Grandkids! read more

Those fish really fly! 80 ft across the water! Karen opened the shop for us when she saw us peering in at the Flying Fish tour photos. Glad we went. They know and love Catalina so much that they want to share it with you. Gorgeous boat where you felt like family, able to move about with 30 others. Seeing fish fly was like watching fireworks. Magical end to our trip. read more

We didn't get a chance to go on the cruise since we were the only two that booked with them that day. I totally understand that. What I don't understand is the lack of communication. I booked the tour nearly 3 weeks in advance and never received a confirmation. I called a few days before we left for vacation but reception was bad and I was disconnected. No one ever called me back, so I sent an email. A day later I was told that we were the only two booked on the tour, but they were trying to get more reservations and would keep me updated. The day of our cruise I got an email saying that it was cancelled. Catalina is a tourist destination, we were there on vacation to see the island and do some fun activities. However, due to their last minute cancellation we were unable to book another event for that evening. If I had cancelled 5 hours before the tour I would have been charged full price, yet all I got from them was a "your card has not been charged" email. It just seemed very unprofessional to me. read more

Our family of 5 did the flying fish tour. Everyone had a blast. First off, Capt John is a great captain and guide. Educated us the entire trip filled with his great sense of humor. Once we found the fish the kids were addicted to finding more. The crew gives you flashlights plus the spotlights on the boats. The fish put on a great show. Finished the trip with a little sealion action. Let's just say, a least one fish didn't "fly" fast enough. Highlight of the weekend. read more

Our honeymoon just happened to fall at the very end of flying fish season, but my hubby's never gotten the full Catalina experience, so we just HAD to go. The other company's already packed up the boat for the season, and I loved going out with them about 12 years ago, so we reluctantly went with Afishinado. Being the end of the season, the few fish that were left weren't jumping too high or too far, and there weren't too many of them, but Captain John made absolutely sure that we got our money's worth. We'd already met the "Guarantee to see Flying Fish!" so he took us for a slow ride out to Long Point, past frog rock, and back to Avalon in the dark for some stargazing. There were only about 15-20 people on the boat, so plenty of flashlights to go around, and we ended up getting to take pictures with a fish that smacked into the boat and got stunned. My husband, who's never been on a boat besides the ferry over, was absolutely over the moon with the whole experience. We're already planning our return trip during peak flying fish season so we can head back out on the Catallac and get our free t-shirts! Just have to get smacked by a fish! read more

I just had a fabulous ride on Captain John's boat named Cadillac. This is a VERY comfortable boat with beautiful blue and white stripe upholstered seating and a nice bar. Don't know how it is possible to keep a working boat so clean. Capt. John is very knowledgeable and lots of fun. I can't wait to go on the flying fish tour. Sue read more

We had an amazing Flying Fish evening trip, seeing over 25 flying fish and as a bonus, a nest of baby herons and their parents. The boat was very comfortable with an indoor salon to keep you warm once the sun went down. This was the highlight of our week vacation in Catalina. It's a must do-also if you like art take a look at in their shop near Villa Portifino Hotel. read more

I can't thank Captain John and crew enough for their ability to make a potentially difficult morning, joyful. Our family, which included 3 generations, with seven children under three, chartered the Catallac to scatter my parent's ashes. The boat was beautiful, but also comfortable and the Captain and crew went out of their way to create a positive experience. They were wonderful with the little ones and allowed us to spend most of the charter following pods and pods of dophins. I would love for there to be more than five stars, they definitely went above and beyond. read more

There is no better way to experience Catalina Island than with Afishinado Charters. Sure, we could spend all day lounging around in Avalon, but to really get to know the island, you have to get out on the water, in and out of every little cove, and pulling up Halibut and Sand Dabs along the way. Captain John gave my friends and I the best possible time I could imagine on the island, and we even got to eat our day's catch later that evening. Honestly, there hasn't been a single person that I wouldn't recommend Afishinados Charters to, and there hasn't been a single person that has left disappointed. read more

These guys do an incredible job. My wife and our 11 year old daughter booked the two harbors trip on the Afishinados Catallac Charter. We expected a bit of a "yawner" but Captain John and his first mate made the trip very memorable and fun. First of all, the boat is new, very clean and goes very fast. Unlike some of the other boats we have taken over the years, this boat does not smell of exhaust or gas, so that made for a very pleasant experience. The twin hull design makes it fast and very smooth. The first mate serves up beer and wine from the cabin below deck. The cabin is large enough for about 15 people to sit and relax, but the real fun is above deck. There are plenty of places to hang out and watch the sides on the boat. The Captain lets you go anywhere, including the smaller, elevated, pilots area up above. Besides providing lots of information about the island and Two Harbors, Captain John noticed a pod of dolphins about 3/4 of a mile east of our course and he immediately changed detoured so we could get a better look. We caught up with the dolphins and we followed them, and sort of chased us for the next 20 minutes. I got the feeling that John cared more about us getting a good look at the dolphins than he did about the schedule or how much extra gas he was using for the detour. Two Harbors was fun -- I definitely recommend the buffalo milk! On the trip back Captain John called up my 11 year old daughter and let her steer the boat (picture attached). We bought our tickets while shopping on the main street of Avalon at the Afishinado art/jewelry store. Over the years we have done the submarine, dolphin quest, zip lines, Hummer tours, but I would rate the Catallac charter top of the list because it was so much fun and I felt we got a lot more than we paid for. I give it an excellent rating. read more

Captain Charlie was by far the best captain we could have gotten, deff book with this charter, absolutely worth it. Clean boat, knowledgeable crew, very kind people and successful fishing day. Wouldn't change a thing read more

Our family of five went out to see flying fish with Capt. John just before July 4th and it was great. We all had a wonderful time. We saw lots of flying fish and it was quite amazing. We would highly recommend going with this company. They have a great new boat and the peope were kind and helpful. Thanks for a wonderful family memory :) Ron read more

What a trip! We have been on other flying fish tours and there is no comparison, the catallac is the way to go! We have 3 & 4 year old kids, and they loved the tour. We saw tons of flying fish, and captain John made sure of it. We had our own flashlights to follow the fish, which is real cool. I would highly recommend this tour. read more

The Brews Cruise was so much fun. We loved Capt John and Lance. I would recommend this company for any type boating excursion. Everyone was so knowledgeable about the island and sea life. read more

The flying fish shimmering through the air were amazing, we had so much fun! I would highly recommend this night tour for all ages and would go again in a heartbeat. read more

We just happened into the Afishinado store and weren't sure of what to do for the evening. But captain John told us about his new boat and the flying fish tour. He gave us a great deal and we were in! It was wonderful. The boat was big, beautiful and clean. Captain John was extremely knowledgable about the fish and the island. Every guest got a flashlight to be an active participant and we saw some flying fish! Thanks! read more

I booked a trip with Afishinado to take 9 of my friends to do the flying fish tour and we had a blast! So much fun and the owners were so friendly! read more

I won a trip for two last year, that unfortunately expired, but they honored it anyway - I am so grateful! They were so gracious! I bought another ticket for my niece also. (I think the price $45 is a bit high for a boat ride, but I am spoiled because I can go on a boat ride anytime) The flying fish tour was great! Capt John made it fun and interesting, the boat is big, beautiful and clean. We saw a lot more flying fish than I expected and the lights and flashlights made it fun and easy to see them. I definitely recommend it! read more

We were in Catalina earlier this week and chartered a fishing trip for 4, including our 2 young children, ages 7 & 9. Having chartered deep sea trips in the past, I will say that this is one of the best! The booking was very straightforward and confirmation was sent straightaway via email. John contacted us again a few days before our trip to confirm details, and we had a fantastic trip w/ Captain Lance and crew aboard a beautiful vessel. The crew was helpful, informative, in good spirits, and provided helpful tips for the kids. Last but not least, we were successful in securing a good amount of yellowtail! After getting some big fish, Lance brought us to a spot where the kids could catch their own calico bass without assitance and see some of the native wildlife. We were definitely not rushed and it was obvious that the owner and crew really are passionate about what they do. Will book again with Afishinados and have no reservations about recommending them to others. Bravo! read more

Afishinados Charters - Yellowtail success! - Fishing Near Me - Avalon, California

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Went lobster hooping for the 1st time....had the best time!!!! Captain Scott was awesome...we had the best time. After we caught the lobsters, he took us over to he lobster trap restaurant were they cooked up what we had just caught...never tasted any seafood so fresh. Will definitely do this again only with Afishinado Charters!!! read more

Great experience! My husband and i had a blast at the flying fish festival this may. This charter trip was the highlight! The skippers were so nice they actually treated us like family! So much fun. The best part was when the sea otters came over and ate the the dead fish that hit the boat! Poor fish but happy otters! One fish jumped in the boat so we could see it up close. Amazing!! ;-) read more

This is a bit of a mixed revieiw. I loved the glass art and sculptural art in the gallery, lots of fun pieces. The proprietor, she's a charmer, very friendly. So friendly in fact that she talked my dil and I into a Father's Day special flying fish trip. We paid and went merrily on our way to prepare for the trip. "Be at the end of the pier at 8:15" she said. We were a little early, about 8:05. There was no obvious place at the pier and about 15 minutes passed when a few others started gathering near a dock. We assumed (wrongly) that this must be the place. When we showed the captain the receipt, he said it was for Afishinados, not his charter boat. We looked and waited a bit longer when it hit us that we must have missed the boat (literally-not figuratively). I was mad and my daughter-in-law near tears...we were all very disappointed. The one thing that saved this review's stars was that we got a full refund and I shouldn't forget to mention, a very sincere apology. The owner was in a hurry to close and meet another boat and in her haste, gave us the wrong time. Oh well, I guess I'll not be experiencing any flying fish! read more

We were disappointed by our captain (Lance). He decided that we had "caught enough" fish within the first hour of our charter. That might sound nice but the rest of our charter was wasted time. We spent the next two hours twenty feet offshore from a quarry. Lance admitted to being "out real late" last night and wanted to get back to the dock ASAP, so the last hour of our charter we spent 'trolling' back to the harbor. Overall, this was a very very overpriced outing that I cannot recommend to others. There must be a better charter company on Catalina that will recognize that the customer has paid a lot of money and sacrificed time to come fish, and not be condescended to. read more

Afishinado and Captain John are as good as it gets. We spent five hours with four fourteen year old boys on a windy, choppy day off the beautiful Catalina coast. Captain John was fun, taught the boys about fishing, and made a potentially slow day, a blast, as the boys caught more fish than they could ever eat. The boat was large, safe, comfortable and fast. We even took some of the fish to a local restaurant to try for lunch when we returned. Really good time. I've been on several charters and this one tops them all. read more