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Operator review

LA Sportfishing

A Marina del Rey six pack with a strong catch record, a clear posted price list, and an unusual open party overnight to the outer islands, marked down on a stack of add-on fees and a catamaran some reviewers find rough in a chop. Strong for a Westside group that wants a private day or a longer offshore run.

Ranked #3 of 8 in Los Angeles Updated June 2026 Reviewed by the fishing desk

LA Sportfishing runs private charters out of Marina del Rey and sits in the upper half of our Los Angeles field on the strength of its catch record and the clearest posted price list of any six pack in the port. The headline boat is the Fin Fetish, a 31 foot Bertram, backed by a 32 foot catamaran, the Marsea, and a separate 53 foot cruise boat. It is the rare local six pack that also sells a shared overnight seat to the outer islands, which gives a solo angler a way onto a long offshore trip without booking a whole boat.

The verdict and where it ranks

At 7.6 LA Sportfishing is a strong choice and the third ranked boat on the Los Angeles ranking. Captain and crew, trips, and track record are all strong: rotating captains who draw repeat praise, a wide trip menu, and a consistent run of reviews into 2026. What pulls it back is value and transparency. The boat rates are clear, but a range of added fees, roughly 10% to 20% for dock tax, cleaning, tackle, bait, and ice, lands on top of them, so the real cost is higher than the headline. Book it for a Westside group that wants a private day or a longer outer island run.

The boats

The Fin Fetish is a 31 foot Bertram sportfishing boat with 630 horsepower, a 22 knot cruise, and Coast Guard certification, and it is the boat most of the fishing trips run on. The Marsea is a 32 foot SeaSport catamaran the operator bills as an all-weather boat, though a few reviewers found it less comfortable than the Fin Fetish when the Pacific kicks up a chop, so it is worth asking which boat your trip is on if the forecast is rough. The Sea Trek is a 53 foot passenger vessel used for harbor cruises, whale watching, and burials at sea rather than fishing. All take up to six anglers on the fishing trips, fishing close to the captain.

The fishing and what you target

Close to Marina del Rey the boats work the local reefs and kelp for rockfish, calico and sand bass, barracuda, and bonito, with California halibut best in spring. The longer outer island and overnight trips reach for yellowtail and white seabass, and bluefin tuna offshore through the warm months. The standout in the reviews is the half day local trip, where anglers regularly report counts of 30 or more fish on a good morning. The crew matches the run to the season rather than promising tuna in January.

Trips and prices

The rates are posted by the whole boat for up to six: $1,199 for a 5 hour half day, $1,599 for a three quarter day, $2,496 for a full day to the outer islands, and $2,995 for the extended full day. The one shared trip is an open party overnight to the outer islands at $665 per person, which is the cheapest seat in the lineup and a genuine offshore option for a single angler. The catch is the added fees: a range of roughly 10% to 20% for dock tax, cleaning, tackle, bait, and ice goes on top, and a California license is extra. Read the fee line before you book so the total does not surprise you. The cost guide and the party boat versus private charter guide help you set this against a walk on seat at the landings.

The crew

The captains, named in reviews as Brian, David, and John, and their deckhands draw steady praise for finding fish, teaching beginners, and running a professional trip. The review base is solid for a small operation, near the top of the rating scale and current into 2026, though smaller than the San Pedro six packs above it. The few complaints that surface are about the catamaran in rough water rather than the crew or the fishing, which is a narrow and honest weakness.

Booking and what to know

Book through the operator’s site or FishingBooker. The most important step is to read the added-fee range and confirm your California license, since those are the costs that sit outside the headline rate. Bring food, drinks, and a cooler. If the forecast is rough, ask whether your trip is on the Fin Fetish or the catamaran. The outer island and overnight dates fill in summer, so reserve ahead.

How we scored it

LA Sportfishing scores 7.6: a well-reviewed crew, high catch counts on the local trips, a wide menu that includes a rare shared overnight, and a clear boat-rate list. Captain and crew, trips, and track record carry it. Value and transparency is where it slips, on the stack of added fees, and the catamaran is the one boat to ask about in a chop. See how we scored this boat, and compare it across the Los Angeles charters we rank.

Private six packMarina del ReyOuter island tripsBeginner friendly
Typical LA Sportfishing rates · Up to 6 anglers (private)
TripHoursRate
Half day (AM or PM)5 hr$1,199 for the boat
Three quarter day8 hr$1,599 for the boat
Full day outer island10 hr$2,496 for the boat
Extended full day13 hr$2,995 for the boat
Open party overnight (per person)Overnight$665 per person
Overnight outer island (boat)Overnight$3,330 for the boat

Frequently asked questions

How much does an LA Sportfishing trip cost?

Most trips are booked by the whole boat for up to six: $1,199 for a 5 hour half day, $1,599 for a three quarter day, and $2,496 to $2,995 for a full day to the outer islands. The one shared option is an open party overnight at $665 per person. A 10% to 20% range of fees for dock tax, cleaning, tackle, bait, and ice is added, and a California license is extra.

What do you catch with LA Sportfishing out of Marina del Rey?

Close to home the boats work the local reefs and kelp for rockfish, calico and sand bass, barracuda, and bonito, with halibut in spring. The longer outer island and overnight trips target yellowtail and white seabass, and bluefin tuna offshore in the warm months. Reviewers regularly report high catch counts on the half day local trips.

Can a beginner or a family book LA Sportfishing?

Yes. The recurring note in reviews is captains and deckhands who teach first timers, bait up, and keep kids busy, on a private boat where the crew has time for six anglers rather than forty. Tackle and fish cleaning are included, so you can turn up with very little.

Compare in this port

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Full Los Angeles ranking
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  2. 2

    Mystic Queen Sportfishing

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  3. 4

    Spitfire Sportfishing

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