We had a blast with Captain Dave. His ship is fantastic. It's so clean, comfortable and the tunes…read morewere perfect to set the mood for sailing. Captain Dave is personable and encourages participation in sailing the ship. We took a two hour excursion and Dave treated us to an extra 30 min. We had a fantastic day. Thanks Captain Dave

My recent trip with David was lovely. The burial at sea was on a beautiful sunny day. He was very…read morecompassionate, helpful and understanding. I highly recommend him as your captain! The boat is clean and homey feeling. 5 stars.

Captain Bob is the reason I started writing reviews. From a psychology lecture, I learned that…read morepeople usually write reviews only for extremes: extremely bad or extremely awesome. Because of my trip with Captain Bob, I just had to write a review, letting people know not to miss out if you are in the Oceanside area. My experience started over the phone with the Captain. I was told that the trip only accommodates six passengers. This was a concern because I was was traveling with a party of eight. I called the captain and my concern was promptly alleviated. Captain Bob was very chill with the circumstances and didn't even charge us extra. We arrived at the harbor around noon. Captain Bob met us at the parking lot and greeted all of us. Already we were all impressed. We headed out with The Captain narrating what we were looking for in order to locate dolphins. He was very knowledgeable about the ocean and taught us quite a few things about boating and sea life. He also had very interesting tales to tell. I was torn between listening to stories or focusing on novelty of being out at sea. The Captain even let one of our number steer the boat for awhile. Later he served all the 21+ beers. At one point we also pulled random balloons that we saw out of the water. This was us being environmentally friendly. It seems that the Captain was really chill with us doing whatever out at see as long as it was legal, safe, and most importantly, we enjoyed ourselves. The boat was quite roomy and fit all of us comfortably. All of my party were very impressed with the Captain and the trip. I highly recommend Captain Bob for your trip, whether your with your friends or on a date. Don't miss out!

No doubt about it. Captain Bob is a kind and accommodating host. He loves what he does and his…read moreenthusiasm is contagious. However, there was one problem that made me feel uncomfortable: the boat only has a two foot rubber railing!! Thus, it just seems to me that it would be super easy to go overboard. Honestly, even though sitting up front was somewhat uncomfortable, i didn't want to move for fear of being tossed in! Finally, if you do go, i recommend going for only one and a half hours. We were out for two hours and it was just too long.

Alex was easy to work with and indulged us taking pictures! We had a great time looking at the…read moreboats & sea lions in the marina!

We had an amazing time. Our girls rented paddleboards at the spur of the moment and my hubby and I…read moredecided to rent an electric boat to follow them into the harbor. It was so much fun. Pressley (i think that's her name) was so friendly and helpful in the rental process. We are definitely renting here again.

Took the evening trip 5 PM to 10pm me and my kids caught 20 some fish had a good time. Highly…read morerecommend this boat. The mates were extremely great with my kids. The Cook was great as well. Captain seemed nice also.

Overall this was a good fishing experience. I've had bad experiences with Helgrens fishing in the…read morepast so it was nice having an alternative company in Oceanside. So how was the trip? The weather was great, and the sea was calm. Dolphins accompanied us at the bow of the boat on our way out of the harbor. The water was clear enough to get amazing photos of these playful animals.. Our trip was in between fishing seasons (late January) and it seemed like the fishery was already depleted and all that was left were undersized fish and those pesky perch. So fishing wise the trip was a bust. I can't knock the experience because our burlap sack was empty. There are no guarantees when it comes to fishing. Crew was solid. Mike the deckhand was helpful and had a good attitude. Nacho the cook was serving up some tasty burgers in the galley. Family-friendly? We were the only family on this trip and it was safe for kids. They play classic rock and they do a great job setting up your fishing rigs, even if you bring your own poles. The Chubasco 2 was still a fun time and the Oceanside Sea Center (the owners/managers) did a great job from start to finish. We used Groupon to buy discounted tickets. Recommended. Tips - There were only 18 total fishermen (including crew) on our half day trip on a Friday. That was a good number as there was enough room to fish and rotate spots along the railing. On weekends as many as 40 people fish on this boat and that would be too crowded for me. If you can swing it, go midweek. - Remember to tip the crew. - Many people rented poles ($15). Good idea if you're new. They also provide the hook and weight and will make sure that you're always up and running.

If you want fish and a great time, Joe is the ticket. It is like fishing with a good friend and his…read morelove of fishing and people shines through. He has a mission: to put you on to fish and make sure your experience it a memorable one and he did just that for three of us. Joe constantly works hard so you can enjoy maximum time with your line in the water and he goes the extra mile to see you are comfortable aboard his very well appointed ship. I could go on and still not say enough about the quality fishing Joe provides. He is an excellent teacher,his gear is top notch and he rebaits you with each cast. I've been with several fresh and salt water guides and Joe is the BEST so far. I look forward to fishing with him again on my next visit to San Diego. Don't hesitate to book with him...you will have a fantastic adventure and if there are fish to be found, he will put you on to them. I give him my highest rating and a big thanks.

Captain Joe Epp is great!! He is fun, friendly, positive and always knows where to find fish…read more We've caught yellowtail, rock fish, barracuda, and more, also saw schools of dolphin and even a whale within a few feet--that was exciting!! The boat is clean and comfortable for those who'd rather enjoy a boat ride than to fish, but if you like to fish it has a big bait tank, lot's of deck space and it's easy to walk around the whole boat. As a female, its really nice that there's a private restroom, too. :) Great boat for avid anglers or those who'd like to enjoy the San Diego sunshine on the water. Thanks Capt. Joe!!

Helgrens is the only people I have fished with since 1990. Last year (2025) a trip was cancelled…read moredue to a coast guard inspection. Not a problem. Things happen. Our money was refunded and we were told we can rebook a trip, at no expense to us, within a year. Very cool. They didn't have to do that. The problem is that no one picks up the phone so I cannot book. We had to go with another charter for my father's birthday trip.

Don't purchase gift cards from this company. They have been closed since last year and are just…read moretaking peoples money. I have tried email them and reaching out on Facebook with no response. To make this worse, the gift card was for my son from Christmas last year. Horrible people

Lake San Marcos, Marina is just a fantastic place to spend the day even if you are not at the…read moreresort. Just enjoying the restaurants, a coffee, a gelato or a gondola tour or some kayaking. It's just a great lake and a great marina. It is so quiet. It is so sunny. Think abour being in perfect day like if it was 1963 when the hotel there was founded. I have a friend in San Marcos and that is always our meeting point because we enjoy the quiet we enjoy people watching and especially the view. There are so many photo opportunities here that makes you feel the looks deluxe even if you are a local. d During Christmas is also a good time to visit because everything gets so wonderland and with lots of igloos and lots of activities too. Just a fantastic spot.

I was having breakfast at Amalfi and decided to stop by to check the prices. I haven't rented it…read moreyet. It's very convenient to access--there's street parking available, and you can get to it through the hotel, the restaurant, or simply walk directly to it. You can either call ahead to reserve or just walk in. There was only one employee assisting. They were friendly but got busy while I was asking questions, so it took some time to get the help I needed. I will definitely try it if I have visitors to San Diego..

On 8 Aug 15, the weather was awesome, so my son and I decided to rent a few wave runners. We were…read moreat first apprehensive about the prices, but went for it anyways. The staff was awesome and were very accommodating. We rented two skis for one hour. We had thought about renting for two hours and if we had more time, we would have! The staff went over all the rules, equipment, areas to ride, etc. handed out a few life jackets and we headed out. My son had never ridden one before, but is very familiar with boating and motorcycles. My daughter rode with me! We went out past the jetty and it was on!!! Riding in the ocean and warm water of Del Mar was awesome!! Catching air off waves was intense!! What a ride!! We even saw a total of 5 Dolphins off Del Mar beach! As our time was up, the staff was there waiting to pick us up and took care of us again. Great service!! Thank you Side notes/Recommendations: Don't ride near the shore off the Oceanside Beaches. If you're between the end of the pier and the beach, you're too close! We were warned by the patrol boat! Riding in the ocean, your hands/finger tips get numb. Might try some wake boarding gloves? Also, the salt water will constantly splash in your face and eyes, if you're having fun! If you have sunglasses, bring a strap, because you will lose them! I would almost recommend some sort of goggles instead!! And lastly, a few other other things. Get a Waterproof GoPro to record the ride and a waterproof case for your IPhone, ID's, Etc. The mini PX does no have them! Just go for it!!! It's worth the money!! Have fun enjoy the ride!! We will be back!! The only reason this is not 5 stars is the launch area is so far from the rental. You might be able to get a ride with staff, but prepare to follow them and park. Might need a hide a key, or risk taking the keys with you on the ride?

Four of us rented two jet skis, one broke down and the beacon supplied didn't allow me to contact…read morethe rental shop employees. I had to use my cell phone. The local police towed in broken down ski. The workers could not give refunds, only voucher for another day. Good thing for credit cards, you can cancel charges. Could have just been the two that day, but military bases in other places I have gone require better service of their contractors. Thoroughly inspect everything before taking out a jet ski. It may have been better if they had included some rope in the storage bins too.