BY DAVE HURLEY
SAN FRANCISCO – The new year opened with major changes in the northern California party boat fleet as anglers’ desire for a fast, comfortable ride along with hot food in the galley continues to grow. The anticipation of a longer ocean salmon season along with the opening of all-depths for rockfish have brought a new spirit of optimism to Nor Cal party boat owners.
Captain James Smith of California Dawn Sport Fishing out of Berkeley was the first to put in a galley several years ago, and from the first days of the California Dawn 1, breakfast burritos and gourmet fare has been a huge draw for anglers.
Smith continues to go far beyond those first days on the California Dawn 1 as he is unveiling the New California Dawn for the upcoming halibut/striped bass trolling season starting in April. Formerly the Legacy out of Stagnaro’s Sport Fishing in Santa Cruz, Smith purchased the 56-foot Westport, and it’s first venture was south to 22nd Street Landing in San Pedro for the renovation of the cabin and addition of a galley. Smith previously renovated the California Dawn 2, a 55-foot catamaran at the 22nd Street Landing, and this boat has the reputation as the fastest and most comfortable ride in northern California. Smith said, “In this industry, if you aren’t growing, you are dying, so it seemed like the right time to upgrade our fleet.” Smith plans on replacing the motors during the 2027 offseason to increase the current ‘fleet average’ speed of the vessel. All these upgrades come with a major infusion of capital, but Smith is determined to provide ‘Southern California comfort with northern California speed.”
The Legacy isn’t the only boat experiencing an upgrade as Captain Steve Mitchell and his parter, Melvin Weidner, are in the process of renovating the El Dorado, a 56-foot Blanchard, into the Perseverance, adding comfort to the cabin along with a hot food galley. Mitchell plans to focus on coastal and Farallon Island rockfishing along with hope for an extended salmon season. Stay tuned for upcoming Western Outdoor News charter trips on the California Dawn 2 and the Perseverance in the summer months.
Another longtime northern California vessel is participating in the ‘musical boats’ as the 62-foot New Sea Angler is heading south to replace the Aloha Spirit at Aloha Spirit Sport Fishing in Oxnard. The New Sea Angler has been the staple out of Bodega Bay at the helm of Captain Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing for an impressive 42-year run. Powers wants us to know that his is not retiring, just conducting a redo, and he will remain the talisman out of Bodega on one vessel or another. The new owner, Captain Shawn Steward, is changing the name to the Aloha Spirit along with renovating the boat for trips to the Channel Islands. The original Aloha Spirit has made the long journey north to Homer, Alaska to be operated by James Smith’s brother, Captain Steve Smith of Captain Steve’s Fishing Lodge.
As Jimmy Buffett said, “It’s those changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same.”
