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Davey's Locker Sportfishing & Whale Watching
Categories: Hotels & Travel Tours Active Life Fishing Event Planning & Services Boat Charters Tours, Fishing, Boat Charters [Edit]
400 Main StNewport Beach, CA 92661
(949) 673-1434
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
208 reviews for Davey's Locker Sportfishing & Whale Watching
208 reviews in English
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Review from Joel M.
Anaheim, CA
5/24/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
The tour was awesome. Saw a Gray whale and her calf and some dolphins and sea lions and even a sun fish! The staff is pretty chill. One of the guys came by and was giving us some facts about whales, so that was nice
I would recommend taking some kind of motion sickness medicine because there were some people on the boat that were sea sick.
Great weather helps. Take snacks!!! -
Review from Margaret L.
Hacienda Heights, CA
5/29/2012
Went fishing this past weekend and had a great time (we saw sealions, dolphins, and a bunch of seabirds).
We spent a good time trying to catch baracuda, but didn't have much luck, so we spent the rest of the time catching sole and sculpin.
The staff was really helpful with dealing with the fishing licenses and the groupon deals.
The crew was great and really helpful, especially with helping us take the fish off the hooks (which is something I can't do for myself). The crew primarily makes their money off of tips, so please tip generously.
They also charge you $1/fish to gut/clean your fish for you.
The only downside is that the boat was way too crowded, causing our fishing lines to get tangled like crazy
Bring snacks/drinks with you, and double check with the staff about where you should park, we kind of got screwed over by a $25 parking structure that took forever to get my car out. -
Review from Lovember S.
San Diego, CA
5/26/2012
WORST BUSINESS YOU COULD CHOOSE FOR A FISHING EXPERIENCE.
I purchased a deal on livingsocial for this place back in March. My boyfriend and I have been trying to book this fishing trip but every time we call to schedule they tell us something different each time and wouldn't let us book our trip.
When we FINALLY get to schedule our trip THREE MONTHS LATER they cancel the trip 10 minutes before we were supposed to sail out. We even called them the day before to make sure the trip was still on because we saw that the weather wasn't going to be ideal for sailing. But they told us that the weather was fine and the fishing trip was still on schedule.
This whole trip was a waste of time and money. We lived nowhere near Newport and had to book a place to stay and drive all the way from where we lived just to take this trip to find out last minute that it was cancelled was so frustrating.
They run their business so unprofessionally. They need to realize that not everyone that books with them live nearby which means that they need to make decisions early on based on the weather forecast to decide whether or not sailing was an option. Instead they choose to wait ten minutes before the trip to cancel on their customers.
Don't waste your time with Davey's Locker. -
Review from Roy B.
Anaheim, CA
5/15/2012
I chartered a boat last weekend for a local Boy Scout group I'm affiliated with. This is the second time I've used Daveys for this. I've fished on dozens of charters and local sports fishing outfits. And I must say the Thunderbird is one of the better local over night boats.
Left on time Friday night and headed for San Clemente Island. Stopping first to pick up bait from the bait barge. Squid, anchovies & sardines. On the way out the Capt. gave us a rundown on safety aboard, emergency procedures and what we might expect fishing SCI the next day.
We geared up the rods & reels for the next days fishing with the help of the deck hands who volunteered to set up the 40+ outfits we'd brought for the boys. Thanks guys! By then most of the group was fast asleep in the clean bunks below.
I woke up before grey light (4:30ish) and started fishing with a couple of the other chaperone's. Caught a couple of fish on our mooring stop. After a short while the Capt. decided to move to a more productive spot. 15-20min later we were re-anchoring and the boys started waking up to the sound of HOOK UP as us older guys started to catch fish. We got the boys set up and fishing and it didn't take long for them to start reeling them in.
Shortly afterword the smell of BACON began to permeate everyone's nostrils. One of the hands was getting the breakfast mojo going. YEA! Everything goes better with BACON! We fished this spot for an hour or so and it was off to another. Just in time for breakfast. For some reason everything tastes better when at sea.
I finished my large breakfast burrito as we arrived at the next spot, fished, moved again, fished some more. We had a pretty steady pick all day and the crew was superb aiding the boys when they needed it.
Soon the smell of garlic coming from the well seasoned grill was everywhere and that meant burgers and the like. Damn good ones too! Remember everything tastes better when at sea. Double bacon cheese burger hit the spot. Man I always gain weight on these trips.
Moved around a few more times before heading back to Newport.
Mostly rock fish and bottom type stuff caught along with a few bass & perch, saw a few Yellowtail but they did not cooperate. But then again that's why they call it Fishing and not Catching.
Caught fish all day A+
Boys all had fun A+
Clean Bunks A+
Good food A+
Helpful crew A+++
Weather nice A+
Great fish tacos next day A+
Decent Price A+
Will come again! -
Review from Sandy V.
Review for Deep Sea Fishing
I had a GREAT TIME. the crew though abrasive were all very fun and friendly. Everyone was very helpful. Im a first time fisherman and sucked it up and went solo on this adventure. I ended up catching 14+ fish! Yeah my casting was ugly and looked like a retard trying to save the anchovies that fell on the ground but hey i have the excuse of being a girl and a noob.
There were about 60 people on my trip and 4 deck hands helping out. Luckily when you go there are always some avid fisherman that help you out. Just holler "fish on" or "help" and someone will come to your rescue. We caught a lot of poisonous Scalpin so the deck hands were ready with pliers to get them off your line. Tangles with other fisherman are bound to happen so be prepared to practice some knot untying skills. Everyone walked home with at least 4 fish.
They make their tips at the end when they ask if you want your fish gutted or flayed. $1 per fish and they can get a little pushy about it. But I dont think they would care if you just took your fish and tipped them. Most people dont know to tip so make sure you do!
I was a little disappointed in the groupon. (see photo of receipt) I got charged for a bunch of other stuff that I was unaware of or even asked if I wanted! I knew I would have to pay around $16 for the day fishing license that they sell there but everything else though was unexpected and left a sour taste in my mouth. $8 for a tackle pack (3 weights 3 hooks), $6 for a set of weights, $1.75 for a rigged scampi. Yes you need the scampi yes you need a weight and a hook but to sell me more without even asking me was shady. Seems like the charter likes to nickle and dime you. -1 star if not 2.
Se la vi. take your trip tone and get out there and fish!Listed in: Adventures
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Review from Tatum K.
Huntington Beach, CA
5/29/2012
The tour was awesome. It's not that expensive. I saw a common dolphins, and sea lions. I would recommend people to come because it was a great experience.
I give 3 stars because my bf and I went there to buy a ticket. The boat will depart in 2 hours, so we decided to walk around and played games. We went to the dock 30 mins before the depart time. We waited for another hour with some other passages, my bf went back to the cashier and asked what happen to the boat. The cashier guy told him that the boat already left , the guy told us that he sent someone to tell everyone that they change the boat. -
Review from Edward N.
Diamond Bar, CA
5/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went on the 3/4 day trip bought with the http://Travelzoo.com deal for 1/2 price w/ rod and reel, and lunch on May 5th. I didn't use their rod - I brought my own. I went with my brother and a few friends on the Freelance boat. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!!!! 90 people on the boat - not a problem, but the boat and its crew seem to be $$$ hungry - Charge for fuel surcharge of $8/person X 90 = $720 and we f*cken did not go the CATALINA, but we went to Long Beach Flats for f*cken sand dabs and then some 2 fish sticks size rock fish. Crew charged $1 per fish for cleaning - we are talking about cleaning a couple of hundred sand dabs!?!?!??! I have been on the Freelance in 2009 and the Captain and crew was great. This was the worse trip ever. I do not think I will be back on that boat anytime soon.
BTW, I didn't want the gunny sack and wanted the plastic bag for my fish. They charged $1 a bag - WTF!
Looks like all the positive reviews on Davey's Locker are based on whale watching... -
Review from Sara P.
My friends and I came out on a late Sunday afternoon for our Sunday funday to whale watch. The guy at the counter was awesome and very helpful to a group of girls that seemed to be lost the whole time we were trying to figure out the schedule and boats and where to go. I think we went back in about 3x before we finally purchased tickets. :-\ Thanks for your patience guy - you rock!
We saw two whales, a baby whale, a few dolphins, sea lions (or whatever they are called)... what really made the experience awesome was how stoked the guide was. This guy was seriously into what was going on. One would think that after 5+ excursions a day, that the repetitiveness of each day slowly kills your passion for life. But this guy is the real deal. Live your dream dude, live your dream!
I can't promise you that you will see any of what I saw and that it will be as fun as I had. But if I want to come back to check out the blue whale season, this is definitely the company I am going to use. ;) -
Review from ClickGal L.
LADERA RANCH, CA
5/27/2012
I could rate a 0 if I would.
So disappointed by this whale watching trip!
The only upside is that we were with friends and it was a beautiful day. Everything else about this day was wrong:
There was not enough sitting for the passangers
Terrible crew that was not interactive with guest
The Crew member on the PA was rude to guest and not welcoming
Small lower inside sitting that smelt of vomit
Dirty bathrooms without toilet paper
An additional surcharge of $11.00 per person
Also, we did not see any whales or dolphins. However, this was not their fault. But, it was not until after the ride home that they informed us that there were not any whales out.
I would definitely, NEVER go on this boat again. -
Review from Bebe T.
Pasadena, CA
5/7/2012 2 photos
Davey Locker also has a sunset cruise! We recently took a spontaneous cruise and just loved it. The service was great, everyone from the front desk check in to the bartender was warm and welcoming. It was a beautiful weekend by the water, the weather was perfect to be out in the ocean sailing.
I have plenty of beautiful photos of the sunset, the island, and the water. We sat at the very top and was able to catch not only the sunset but also the moon while we were heading back to dock.
BONUS: There was a pod of dolphins that swam along with the boat and it was fantastic to see them play in the water.
The boat serves alcohol although I was not drinking. Met some friendly people on the boat as well. It was a great time. It makes you fall in love with Southern California all over again. Love. Highly recommended. -
Review from Lorenzo M.
Costa Mesa, CA
5/29/2012
I went within the last 30 days and had a pretty good time. I was expecting to go out to back side of Catalina island but supposedly the fishing was bad there so they went to a local rock fishing area. I caught about 7 small fish enough for a few tacos. The crew was very helpful for the guests, they will unhook your fish if needed, and help with untangling lines only to a certain limit though. Tickets were purchased through living social and was not expecting the fuel surcharge. On the boat, its $5 for a used 8oz weight, I fully suspect that at the end of the trip they remove the weights and resell them to the next passengers, but the convenience justifies it.
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Review from Rudy A.
Chino Hills, CA
5/30/2012
I took my boys fishing this past weekend on a 3/4 day fishing trip. Since this was their first time ocean fishing it was a good experience, not great. We were able to watch Sea Lions eat the barracudas that were caught before the deck hands were able to get them in the boat (Fun for us to see, Sad for the fisherman that caught the fish). We were extremely disappointed by only fishing by long beach. If I could make one suggestion, create a smoking area or ban smoking on the boat. By noon I was sick to my stomach being surrounded by smoke. Fishing past the oil rigs in Long Beach and all the cigarette smoke gets this a 2 Star rating.
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Review from Lizzie b.
Los Angeles, CA
4/13/2012
Last August, my partner, our two friends, and I had been planning to go whale watching in honor of one friend's birthday. We'd been figuring we'd go to Ventura, but a Yelp deal showed up for this place, and we decided grab it.
When we got on the boat, and the captain came over the PA system to tell us that the wind and waves out in the open water were very strong, and there was the possibility that once we got out there, we'd have to turn around and come back in. Um, fine. So we putted out the length of the bay for about 10 minutes, and as we neared the mouth of the harbor, the captain comes back on the PA and says, "OK, I talked to one of our other boats and he said it is really bad out there, so we're crazy if we go out, so we're going to turn around. It's a safety issue."
My thought is: You couldn't have talked to that boat 10 minutes ago and come to the same conclusion?
When we get off the boat back at the dock, everyone is handed a pass for a trip at another time.
Caveats:
1. The pass expires May 31, 2012, so you don't have even a full year to use it.
2. You have to re-pay the fuel surcharge ($3/person) when you use the certificate.
3. The certificate is good for $30 worth of services, but a whale watch at full cost is $31.
So: They filled the boat up with people, knowing that there was a very good chance (perhaps a surety) that we would not be able to take the whale watch, and in return, they gave us a piece of paper that will cost us more money to use, and surely, they hoped we wouldn't use it at all. Thanks so much, Davey.
And take this into account, too, when considering whether to go whale-watching in Newport Beach. It took us the better part of TWO HOURS to find a parking spot in Newport Beach on a weekend day in the summer. Seriously. -
Review from Victoria H.
Los Angeles, CA
4/13/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Even with the yelp deal, I still paid a lot of money for this excursion because of the license, bait and tackle, parking, cost to filet the fish, etc. I caught a few sculpins... most were too small so they were thrown back. My cousin's catches were also tossed back. My brother was seasick so he was useless. So combined I paid something like $150 for the three of us to bring home 3 teeny fishes. That's a steak and lobster dinner!
It was a fun experience, but don't expect to haul a shark home or anything. -
Review from Christopher F.
Newport Beach, CA
5/27/2012
Added an $11 dock and fuel charge on arrival per person. We were told to arrive at 7am for the Catalina/whale watching tour. We waited for for an hour to load the boat. should have left when we saw it. Instead of the double decker with ample seating, we were placed on a modified fishing boat. There is no shade to be had on this boat and no proper seating. They have about a dozen lawn chairs back by the engine, which sound exactly like being underneath an OH-58D helicopter but louder. The 40-50 people on the boat just don't have proper seating. After 9 hours, I was burnt, my wife is having chills and nausea and my expensive jeans are ruined from the paint I had to sit on on the roof. Couldn't move around towards the end, all the exhausted children were sleeping on the walkways because the tiny amount of bench seating did not provide a place. The crew did not interact with the guests at all after we left port except to make an announcement. No whales and not even a close dolphin. Their remedy was a discount on their whale tour with dock and fuel fees... If you want to be miserable for 9 hours and risk your health, go ahead.
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Review from Huynh W.
Placentia, CA
5/2/2012
My husband and I went on the whale watching boat ride and had a good time. We didn't see any whales, but saw tons of dolphins and sunfish. Overall, a good experience and wish we could of seen whales.
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Review from alison w.
Costa Mesa, CA
5/1/2012
Took the 3/4 day fishing trip with my 2 brothers using Travelzoo vouchers. We checked in (arrived a few min before the time they gave us) and after paying the fuel surcharge we went to wait for the boat. about an hour later they gave us an update that the boat would be there shortly (a maintenance issue.) We departed a good 45 min late but we also didn't return until 5:45 so they made up for the time. I was glad we didn't have any engagement to make it to that night.
On board we were completely packed but it actually wasn't as bad as I expected until we started fishing. We had to use some seriously heavy weights due to current but still we managed to tangle dozens of times. So close to your fellow fishermen with such a strong current = lots and lots of tangles.
The guys on board were great - always there to help out, putting all the fish in our bags and helping with the tangles. The food was good as well. We all had cheeseburgers.
Although the boat was small and crowded feeling I liked how low it was to the water, making it easy to pull out the fish. We caught over 60 between the three of us but none of them were good sized. Between decent and small was about all we caught but it was still fun to pull them up, even if we threw them right back. -
Review from Carloss G.
Covina, CA
5/12/2012
Worst CUSTOMER SERVICE experience ever! Owners wouldn't honor a Fishing voucher that was a few days expired. For my first time trying yo use them, it will be my last. I am going to stick to the other Sport Fishing companies nearby. You lost a new potential regular. I worked in Management for the past 10 years, and I am very disappointed.
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Review from Jonny H.
San Gabriel, CA
2/26/2012
My name is Jonny Huynh. I'm the founder of a fishing club on facebook it's called Southern California Angler Club also known as So cal Angler. incident happen on board of the Western Pride Charter. if you read this statement you would understand
2/25/2012 at Daveys Locker Sportfishing Landing on the Western Pride during a Twilight trip, the deckhand had racist comments agains us Asians/Pacific Islanders. Also, one of our friends gunny sack was given away without any notification. The crew was very irresponsible about the situation and just said "Do you want me to search everyone?" Then turns away with no care.
I highly wouldnt suggest this fishing vessle to my crew and to anyone else.
this statement is from my club member David Mao
David Mao
Worst boat experience with these deck crew! On the Western Pride in Newport, lazy, called them out to help with unhooking a sculpin and one member ask..." What u need help?".....umm I didnt yell for no reason,racist bagging on Asians how we are gonna kidnap him in a Acura integra and take him to garden grove and make him a prositute ? What really got Me Piss!! is that when I went to the galley to enjoy my dinner my wife made, they gave my bag of limit sculpins away#never attendingthisboatagain..
Join us on facebook find us southern california angler club help us get our voice heard we demand fairness. -
Review from Arvil P.
Norwalk, CA
2/27/2012
On 02/25/2012 my group and I attended a twilight fishing trip aboard the Western Pride. One of the most irresponsible and racist deckhand crew ive ever experienced. My group will no longer be customers to this landing. Our feedback has been spread and many past customers also agreed.
I do not recommend fishing with this landing, or atleast the Western Pride. Ive been fishing most of my 25 years in life and ive been on dozens of caddle boats, and this by far was the worse experience ever. -
Review from Chris L.
Laguna Beach, CA
3/18/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Got a Yelp Deal to get two for the price of one day trips. Had a great day fishing trip. They took us out about half or two thirds of the way to Catalina near some oil platforms and we were hauling in lots of sand dabs (a kind of sole or flounder). I also got a good size red snapper and some rock fish. My buddy who went with me got even more sand dabs and a few good size rock fish as well. One guy on the boat caught several large Sheephead fish and took the jackpot. The crew is helpful with rigging up your line if you need help and untangling snags with other anglers.
They do a jackpot where everyone who wants to play puts 5 bucks in the hat and at the end of the day, the contestant with the biggest fish wins the pot. They do serve food and beers on the boat but that part is cash only. It was mainly burgers, breakfast burritos, etc.
All in all, a great local OC outfit to go fishing with. -
Review from Kellie M.
Highland, CA
4/24/2012
Best deal for whale watching, and they never disappoint. I ALWAYS see whales. boats are decent, crew is awesome. Got splashed the last time (I like to sit outside, and dont care if I get wet) and ended up with free beer! Can't wait to go out again when the Blues return this summer!
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Review from Ash S.
Garden Grove, CA
4/28/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Nice boats and informative captains! Alot of fun :)
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Review from Karen C.
I purchased two Yelp deals for a half-day of sportfishing (one for myself and my dad), a great deal. But as with all online deals you just have to make sure you use it, so a week before the expiration date I found myself at Davey's Locker. I am pleased that they offer so many times for fishing throughout the week so I was able to squeeze this trip in on a Friday afternoon. =D
Davey's Locker was a drive from where I live. It's a good thing I saved some monies by purchasing the deal so I can spend it on gas and parking! Damn the parking was expensive, for half a day it was about $8 for five hours so def. try and carpool if possible. =(
The staff at Davey's Locker is friendly and helpful, their website and phone recordings of fish counts are also updated regularly. I guess it's good to know what types of fish are being caught on their trips so you would be prepared. I like how they can provide everything you can possible need on a fishing trip right at their shop: fishing licence, pole rentals and bait (squid).
The level of on boat service provided was amazing.The captain moved the boat a few times when he noticed that people weren't catching any big fish. They also hooked everyone up with discounts on our next trip, since everyone's catch was on the small side. Rich the super sweet Samoan, helped me with bait and getting my fish off the hook all afternoon. He also cleaned the fish at the end of the trip, very useful especially when you caught a fish with poison barbs like the CA Scorpion fish/Sculpin. It's you get poked it supposedly feels like you got stung by 100 bees! O_O;
I really appreciated that they had hot food and drinks available for purchase, they are on the pricey side but I guess they can charge a premium 'cuz where else are you going to get food?! Hot Dog, $4, Burger $5, Cheeseburger $6 and Double Cheeseburger $7. To me the Double Cheeseburger is the best deal, but I wanted something to hold me over and not spoil my dinner so I got the regular cheeseburger. Jessie was the one who cooked it up, so it's not gourmet cooking but hey cooking on a rocking boat is a feat in itself! Burger was juicy and medium done great with some chips on the side. =)
Beside the staff the regulars on the boat are also good folks, I had strangers who went out of their way helping me set up. I learned how to tie a "blood knot" and also how to add more line to my reel. Very fun learning experience, recommend this excursion to people of all ages but perhaps more PG-13? A boat full of outdoorsy guys will talk like sailors, if you know what I mean. There was only one seven year old kid on the boat, but he had a blast since it was his first time catching fish (he kicked butt on the fish count).
So I didn't win the friendly competition for largest bass caught for the trip, ($5 voluntary entry and winner takes the pot) but I got fish I was able to take home and eat. Sure it's about $10 a fish considering all expenses (sand perch at that!) but it's the memories that will last. I will go on another deep sea adventure because this trip though fun didn't turn out to be the father-daughter bonding experience I had hoped for... if you get motion sickness easily (like my dad) Bonide was highly recommend to be taken two hours beforehand. -
Review from Jim Z.
Palos Verdes Estates, CA
1/29/2012
Karen C wrote a great review - I had the 7-year old she was referring to and he had "an awesome time". I also got the Yelp deal a year ago and waited until the last minute to use it.
The crew was great, the the boat was clean, the skipper was informative and certainly felt guilty about the the big ones that decided that Friday would be a good day to take a nap... Every time we caught anything, they were right there to help out. On this day, there were about a dozen people fishing (Friday afternoon boat, and yes, I pull my son out of school early for this, and yes I know this teaches him it's OK to play hooky, but ONLY to go fishing with dad!)
We had a great time and would definitely go again, and they gave us a discount for next time since the fishing wasn't so hot.
Why only 4 stars you ask? We drove a long way to get there. Called in advance to make sure there was room on the boat, and was told to be there by noon for the 12:30 boat. When we got there they told me there wasn't enough people for the boat to go. Fortunately Karen C. showed up with her dad, and made the numbers big enough - I spent a half hour trying to figure out how I was going to explain this to my boy, but that worked out.
Not enough to justify 4 stars? OK, no live bait on this boat. I'll speculate that there weren't enough people on board to justify that purchase by the company, but still there is an expectation for live bait on a deep sea trip.Comment from Davey's L. of Davey's Locker Sportfishing & Whale Watching 2/3/2012
Unfortunately, live bait is only in our harbor from April… More » -
Review from Ragzz D.
Riverside, CA
3/11/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
We got our tickets through yelp for 29$ for 2. There was an additional fuel surcharge of $3. The problem with street parking is that its valid for a max of 2 hrs and since whale watching is going to take more time we ended up parking in newport landing parking structure. Don't forget to get it stamped at Daveys else u ll end up paying 15 instead of 8.
We ended up seeing one blue whale, lots of dolphins and otters...
The captain and crew are helpful.
It was a fun trip and i might end up doing it again.... -
Review from Sherwin N.
Irvine, CA
1/2/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal 1 Check-in Here
On my bucket list was whale watching. Check.
It was a really fun experience. After you check in, they load everyone on the boat at once. I recommend finding a place to sit as the boat goes out to the ocean. When you are out in the ocean, find a place to stand in the front of the boat. The very front of the boat has an extension that you can stand on (think Titanic).
How to spot whales: First look in the direction of seagulls. They are hovering over source of food which is where the whales are. When the boat is still, listen for the puff of air from the whale's blowhole. If you see it come up once, you will see it come up a few more times. Another tip is look up at the captain and see what direction he is looking at.
Oh the trip back, you get to see sea lions and sea gulls will follow your boat back because it smells the puke from people throwing up overboard. Hopefully you're not one of them haha
PROS
+ There is an indoor seating area and snack bar
CONS
- I didn't get to see dolphins
- I was hoping to see a whale jump out of the water haha
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
* If you don't want to ruin your experience, take seasick pills
* Bring a camera
* Expect cooler winds, so bring a jacket and beanie
* Wearing polarized glasses helps with the glare from in the water
* Don't pay full price. There are 2-for-1 deals out there. -
Review from Elysse P.
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Christmas Newport Beach harbor booze cruise.
FYI: It's not really unlimited. You get four well drinks, but yes the beer and wine is unlimited... which is totally worth the $30 voucher purchased from Travelzoo! Yes, there is ONE tiny bar inside the boat... but that bartender will give you as many beers as you ask for all at once... and because of this and the brilliant idea to shotgun, we definitely got our money's worth. The couples around us didn't seem to be having a good time. It's not really as "romantic" as they make it seem like... To have the best time possible, I would recommend purchasing discounted vouchers, going with a group of friends, coming with the mentality that you will be getting shitfaced, and planning on bar hopping in Newport Beach afterwards. Oh, and I have to reiterate: shotgun beers!!!!!!!! -
Review from Narek M.
Burbank, CA
1/9/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I wish we actually saw a whale, but I still had a pretty good time. If you're not good with waves make sure to take sea sick pills as the ride gets really rocky haha.
We saw a whole bunch of seals and it was really cool to watch all the dolphins swimming right next to you and right underneath the boat, but we hardly got a glimpse of one whale.
I mean I guess it all really depends on the luck that day, but it is still a really cool experience. Really the day is what you make of it and I made sure to make it a good one. The harbor is beautiful and the fact that they offer food and drinks on the boat is really great to. It just gives you another really cool thing to do when we already live in the best section of the country.
If you can grab a deal online its totally worth it. And you also get a 50% off coupon for next time. Such a good deal. -
Review from Tany M.
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Part 2
Davey's Locker was a little bit like the Giligins. And let me tell you why. I was on a 6 hour tour of open water on my 3/4 day fishing trip. As far as i am concerned we travel to our destination longer than we fished and coming back was the same. LONG LONG LONG 6 hour tour of looking out and just taking in the waves watching the dolphins ride the waves.
I could not tell you how much I dred this trip to the point that i was sea sick the majority of the time. The Crew was very helpfull in getting our tackle set up, to getting us food, and lastly getting us back to the maine land safely.
If you are not a person that goes out and deep sea fishes then this is not for you. Don't waist your time or money purchasing a 1/2 day, 3/4 day or any other day.
Just to prove my point on how slow this boat was, we saw the Catalina Express passed us and picked up new customers and was on its way back to Catalina.Listed in: Places you should never step…
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Review from Johnny P.
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for the "Boat Parade" deal l found ($20 boat ride for 1 hr plus 2 drinks). Called and made reservations, wrote down the time and thought I was set. couple days before, I called to confirm my reservations and the time was confirmed.
The day I arrived, they stated "we don't have a 1 hr boat parade package?" I was WTF???? But I showed them my confirmation # of the deal and they still honored it. So "thumbs up" for that! But it was a 2 hr boat ride....so I guess I came up? (But I was hesitant about being on a boat for 2 damn hrs in the freezing cold)
I wasn't given any ticket stubs for the drinks, so another situation that was more annoying...but when I went to the bar and explained to the bartender, the gentleman was nice and still offered us drinks for free, but tipped him well.
Overall, boat ride was cool, nice smooth boat ride around the harbor checking out the Xmas light decorations on the houses. Something different...cool for a date if you are trying earn some brownie points! Oh and bring something warm to wear or drink more alcohol...cause it can get cold! (But hey that can be a good thing if you are on a date!) haha -
Review from Laurie H.
Long Beach, CA
1/9/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
The Yelp deal ($25 for a two-hour whale-watching trip for two persons) was too good to pass up so I had to buy it. I finally got to use it on the last day it expired, It was an awesome experience! We saw a whale (I don't remember which one), tons of dolphins, and sea lions at the end. The crew was really good about staying in certain spots long enough for everyone to catch a glimpse.
Not a huge being-out-on-the-ocean fan so I was ready to go after an hour... -
Review from Eli S.
Los Angeles, CA
1/7/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I enjoyed the experience, however, there were way too many people fishing off the boat and lines were often getting tangled. The crew was very helpful and efficient. They were able to get the lines untangled and redid people's lines for them. It was just frustrating and a lot of people just gave up on fishing.
The boat took us out near Catalina Island and we saw Whales and Dolphins along the way. I caught quite a few Sand Dabs. I would have preferred to fish for other fish, but nothing else was biting. -
Review from Nancy P.
2/20/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal 1 Check-in Here
** We saw a Finn Whale and tons and tons of dolphins**
I called 3 days in advance and made reservations. We got there a little over an hour early to try and find street parking (no luck) but we ended up parking in the Balboa Pier Lot. Which is $1.50 an hour (we paid $6 when we left at 12:50pm). We did the 10am tour with the Yelp Deal. Don't bother renting binoculars because the mammals are moving so fast you can't use them. We brought ours from home and tried to use them but it was useless. We also packed our own snacks and a few drinks which we definitely needed. Our boat left 15mins late so they said they were doing 1/2 price drinks for an hour. 1/2 price meant Hot Chocolate was $1.00 and a very good Bloody Mary was $5. That's all we got because we had our own snacks.
Thank goodness I brought my bottle of Dramamine because all of my friends needed some. We weren't sure if the kids needed it but we gave them some too because I read other reviews that said their kids were so sick. It got VERY choppy but we were all fine. We stayed on the top deck for the entire trip but maybe next time I'd be down below, too. There were some Dolphins right next to our boat that I wanted to see a little closer. It was also hard to hear the Captain on the top rear of the boat.
The man next to me was trying to brag about his Living Social deal $35 for 2 which was NOT better than my Yelp Deal $29 for 2. He was really surprised I got the better deal. Hee Hee I love a great Yelp Deal! It was totally worth it. We had such a great time. But, I would definitely search around for a coupon and not pay full price. BTW, it was really hard to take pictures so, I ended up taking a lot of videos. We also had to pay a $3 surcharge each for gas so, it was an extra $18 since there was 6 of us including kids. -
Review from curious g.
Fountain Hills, AZ
12/22/2011 6 photos
Beautiful boat and wonderful captains and mates on Explorer. When searching for whales, you can never predict if you'll spot some or not. Even my husband went on a whale watch near the coast of Panama and didn't spot any. The boat ride was relaxing and enjoyable, the music nice and watching the school of dolphins was fun.
Of course it helps that it was a sunny day on the Pacific Ocean.
They provide coupons for your friends and there's a great happy hour in the restaurant with delicious oysters, fish tacos, to name a few. I had a great time in Newport and Balboa. Take advantage of a Groupon or other special during the winter months. -
Review from Ryan K.
Los Angeles, CA
12/31/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I had gotten the yelp deal for the half-day sport fishing excursion, and the reviews on here are relatively accurate. There are a lot of "additional costs" like buying hooks and bait, and when you catch fish, cleaning costs are extra, but minimal. The people on the boat we took were pretty awesome, and really helpful. The captain wasn't really chatty, but he was working, which made sense. I caught a BUNCH of fish, and after they were cleaned by the crew, I cooked them up and they were delicious. We caught sand dabs and something like skullfin or something...I can't remember the name.
I was disappointed that it took three-tries to book the excursion though. I had tried once and booked it, and they called me the day before I was supposed to go and they said the boat was in the shop and that they weren't taking anyone out. I tried a second time, and they said to call back within two weeks of when we wanted to go, so I did...at which time they told me they were no longer taking out weekend cruises, which was really frustrating. So the third time, I was able to go during the week, and it was a rainy, crappy morning, but that made for a boat that was not horribly packed, which was nice. I can't imagine going at a super busy time, as the capacity of the boat was something like 90 people. That would have been unbearable, but the 20-some odd people who were with me made for a nice trip, and everyone was really excited for other people who were catching things.
Overall, I enjoyed the trip and the crew once I was able to actually schedule time with it. Would I do it again? Probably, but I definitely wouldn't do it without some type of online deal due to the extra costs, and potential headache with booking. -
Review from Katrina P.
Los Angeles, CA
11/27/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
We did the Living Social Twilight Deep Sea Fishing and it was a pretty cool experience. Be aware that you pay an extra $50 when you arrive in fishing licenses and fuel surcharge (plus a few bucks on the boat for a fish bag and to filet the fish).
Night time fishing off the coast is pretty, we saw dolphins, we caught 3 fish each, all of which were crazy looking, and we learned some new skills.
On the down side the staff assumes you know everything and seem generally frustrated by everyone on board. The main fish we were catching was poisonous to touch, which luckily someone shouted to us right as we were about to grab it. The staff seemed annoyed that we didn't know that. On the other hand they were really helpful and tried to make sure we caught fish, so I have mixed feelings about them.
There's cheap food and drinks on board, but bring WARM clothes. I wore tennis shoes, two sweatshirts and jeans and was FREEZING. I should've worn waterproof shoes, wool socks and a scarf and hat. The ocean weather said 62, so I was cocky that it wouldn't be that cold, but it's the coldest I've been in a long time. Overdress! -
Review from Celine L.
Monterey Park, CA
9/21/2011
This is the second time I went on their 2.5 hour whale watching trip.
My first trip was an utter disaster; we were late and didn't make the 30 minutes prior reservation cut off time (My friends were driving from Northridge!). Thus we had to wait 3 hours to get on the next one (3pm). Which leads to...
The water was too rough, everyone got really seasick, i sat at the front of the boat and i got soaking wet. It was wilder than any water ride I've been on! It was sunny so I expected it to be warm and wore a sundress and a cardigan. BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER! It was FREEZING!!!!
Continuing from the strings of misfortune, we didn't see ANYTHING aside from the lazy sea lions which are a given. Not a single dolphin, let alone whale! Consequently we were all given a free voucher. The saddest thing was the cruises earlier in the day did see some dolphins and even whales!
The best time for blue whale watching is in august, unfortunately i totally forgot about the vouchers and had to make do with late september (again!). Fast forward a year later, i went on what i thought was going to be the warmest day (forecasted 84 high, ended up to be 78 high). I also made sure to get on the 9am one, because that's your best chance of seeing any whales. Probably due to calmer waters. This time, the ride was a LOT smoother. I didn't get so seasick next time. but DEFINITELY stay away from the cabin if you are prone to seasickness! This time I wore jeans/sneakers/long sleeve shirt and a medium weight jacket.
Next time, wear a puffer jacket with a HOODIE! Because I was still FREEZING.
Luckily, despite the overcast and the exit of summer, we managed to see a school of common dolphins, and after an hour of nothingness, we saw blue whales!!! i think it was more than one. It was kind of far away, and it didn't stick out too much, but i did hear/see it blow steam! mission accomplished! The tour guide was informative. The sound system has room for improvement but in general I could hear her.
***
Tips: Go in late July, early August, and in the mornings for blue whales. DRESS WARM because it's freezing. do not go into cabin if you are prone to seasickness. Arrive 1 hour before your reservation time. Eat beforehand because they only have snacks. Park on the street to save on parking fees. Also be sure to check the weather! If you bring kids, make sure he/she does not get seasickness. I saw a lot of miserable kids on the cruise when the sea is rough.
Do not want: $3 per person fuel surcharge this year. COLD!
Last words: I will definitely be back for a closer view. I will be sure to time better...and dress warmer! -
Review from Tori S.
Redondo Beach, CA
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
This was an AWFUL trip. The upside was that we saw whales and dolphins and that was amazing but the actually boat experience along with the stop at Catalina was beyond awful. My boyfriend and I bought the vouchers off Living Social and it was not explained in the fine print on the site that you are stuck...stranded in Two Harbors for 2.5 hours where there is absolutely nothing to do. There is one eerie old smelly restaurant and that's about it. It was quite a funny experience because I think everyone was bummed/over it since on the way back everyone was sleeping or trying to drink away the rest of the trip until we finally got to land!!!!!! Between the $15 parking, the $11 each extra charges once we got there, not having enough seats on the boat, and getting wet when the staff decided to hose done the boat on the way to the middle of nowhere Catalina the trip was just unpleasant. Also the address on the Living Social voucher was incorrect we had to call the place to find out where they were really located..ugh the whole thing was just disorganized and kinda painful.
Seeing the whales, dolphins and sea lions were amazing though! Two Harbors, or wherever the hell we were, was cute the water was very clear...once you got over the whole "I'm in the twilight zone, with no one around and strange staff".
I would like to try a Catalina experience again and this time make sure I'm going to Avalon. I saw the Catalina Express which was next to our dinky little makeshift boat and I would definitely consider trying that next time. -
Review from Kristin Leigh M.
Los Angeles, CA
Booked a voucher through OC Register's Deal of the Day for a 90 minute sunset cruise.
I'm happy that my husband and I had a relatively free diary for the month of October because boy - they fill up fast! If you're keen to go, make sure you call several weeks in advance to ensure you have a spot on the boat.
We were told to arrive between 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. We were rushing like mad people to get there by 5:00... only to find out that wait! The boat doesn't leave 'til 5:30. I was honestly a bit annoyed by that... but relieved that we didn't arrive at 4:30 to hang around for an hour.
We ended up boarding the 'Ocean Explorer' about 5:45 p.m. (no mention to what the delay was; we were supposed to board 5:25). Hubby and I were fortunate enough to snag a seat indoors. As it's October, it's starting to get pretty nippy out - especially out in the ocean!
They have complimentary chips and salsa available for snacking. Smart move, encouraging you to get drinks. Salsa was mediocre, but I'm not holding that against them. I was happy to have something to munch on. Note that you can bring your own food aboard! The family behind us had sandwiches, crisps and a proper meal. They have some sort of beverage package you can buy, too. We didn't. The drink cups are small - not solo cup size and note full drink size, so bear that in mind. If you want to purchase drinks on board without the pre-paid package, sodas and coffees are $2, cocktails $6... and beers... I can't recall but at least $4, if not more.
The sunset cruise itself was nice. The water walk calm so we were able to leave the harbor, going out through Corona del Mar and into the ocean. Really pretty sunset (no Maui, but pretty darn nice!). What was particularly cool is that we saw a fin whilst we were out in the ocean. Apparently this never happens - so we were super lucky. We also got more than just a glance at it - saw it for a full few minutes straight.
Crew was friendly, boat was nice and tidy - all around, a good, different way to spend an evening!
