Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Dana Wharf & Tickets/Policies
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We hope these landmarks will help you to find us better: Dana Wharf is located 40 minutes south of Disneyland in Anaheim, one hour south of LAX airport in Los Angeles, and one hour north of Sea World in San Diego. We are basically in the heart of Orange County!
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Advance purchase is strongly recommended, and trips often sell out quickly. To maximize your chances of getting the day and time you prefer, please buy your tickets well in advance. Tickets can only be purchased with a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.
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We do run in light rain, but if it becomes extremely windy, we might have to cancel the trip for safety reasons. If the trip has already left the dock and conditions become unsafe, we will issue a “whale check” that will allow you to come back another time for another cruise!
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Yes! We have no age limit for our whale watching cruises. Everyone is welcome, and our boats are very safe with high rails.
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While we don’t put a limitation on who may or may not attend, pregnant women should always consult with their doctors before participating in any active activities.
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Unfortunately, we do not have waiting lists for our trips. If the date and time you want is sold out, please choose another date and time from the schedule for this activity.
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Please arrive no later than 30 minutes before the cruise departs.
Questions About Whale Watching
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This season’s sightings include gray whales, humpback whales, fin whales, and minke whales. Dolphin sightings include common dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins. Please note that there is NO better time for seeing whales or dolphins as they pass by 24 hours/day!
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Sightings are guaranteed, meaning that if you do not see a marine mammal (whale OR dolphin), we’ll give you a voucher for a free trip!
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It’s always whale watching season at Dana Wharf! Gray whale season starts the day after Thanksgiving every year and typically runs until the end of April. January to March are the peak times for gray whales, and they coincide with our annual Festival of Whales. Blue whale season runs from May until November. Whatever the season, we also typically see pods of dolphins, sea lions, squadrons of pelicans, and other seafaring birds.
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Whales migrate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no best time to see whales, but the weather on the water tends to be calmer in the morning.
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The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires that we stay 100 yards away from the whales, but some may swim right up to the boat! Dolphins usually come very close, but we do not touch, swim with, or feed the wildlife.
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Gray whales are coastal navigators, so we usually travel about a mile offshore. The same is generally true for blue whales. The boat does have a range of up to 7 miles if needed.
Questions About Fishing, Limits, & Trip Specifics
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We typically catch a mixture of bass and assorted rockfish on the half-day trips. For the most up-to-date counts, please visit our fish counts page.
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We can guarantee fishing but not catching. Our crew will do everything in their power to put you where the fish are. We cannot control what does or does not bite the hook.
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While you are welcome to keep any legal-sized fish, Dana Wharf promotes catch and release and responsible conservation of our natural resources. You may also give your legal-sized fish to another angler if you so choose.
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The captain and crew are up to date with the most recent California Department of Fish and Game size and possession limits and will inform you of these at the start of the trip. Regulations will vary depending on the season and what we are fishing for on a given day.
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Even though children under 16 years of age are allowed to fish on our trips without a license, they are allowed the same legal limit as an adult fisherman.
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We will assist you with placing your fish in your sack. After the trip, fish cleaning is available for a fee. Fish cleaning is payable in cash only.
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NO! It is illegal to sell fish that are caught by way of recreational sport fishing. If you are caught violating this law, you (along with Dana Wharf Sportfishing) will be ordered to appear in court, fined, and items can be confiscated.
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If everyone catches the limits of the fish we’re targeting for the day, we will simply pull up and start fishing for something else. For example, if the boat limits out on sand bass, we might go farther out and troll for yellowtail or bonito. In any event, we do not simply end the trip early.
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About 60 – 70% of the trip is fishing time.
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Between 1 and 12 miles from the harbor.
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When we’re not fishing, you’ll enjoy the stunning California coastline, birds, whales, dolphins, sea lions, breaking fish, other fishing and sailboats, all depending on the day, conditions, and season.
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We will occasionally see whales, dolphins, sea lions, and birds while fishing, depending on the season. Please keep in mind this is a fishing trip, so any such sightings are a bonus. If there is something worth seeing nearby that does not inconvenience the trip, the captain will generally take a few minutes to check it out.
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The voluntary jackpot is an optional pool for the biggest fish of the day. If you choose to participate and put $5 into the pool, the person with the largest fish at the end of the day wins the pot! The jackpot winner is always determined by the captain.
Fishing Equipment & Licenses
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The half-day and twilight trips consist of local surface fishing. We fish in anywhere from 30 to 90 feet of water. Light tackle is recommended. Typically we use 10 to 20 lb test line, 1/2 to 2 oz. sinkers, and size 1 hooks, although recommended equipment changes with conditions.
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You can rent rods with spinning reels when you purchase tickets, and this would include a tackle package. These rods are easier to cast and less likely to tangle. Bait is included in the trip price and, when available, we will use live bait. If live bait is not available, frozen bait will be used. Additional tackle can be purchased in the tackle shop.
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Everyone 16 years and older is required by law to have a fishing license (unless you will not fish at all during the trip). If you do not already have one, you may purchase a one-day license prior to departure. Fishing licenses can also be purchased online at this link.
Questions About the Boat
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While our vessels are very safe and stable, we will be in the ocean. If you are susceptible to motion sickness, you might want to consider taking preventative measures beforehand.
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Our Ocean Adventure cruises and whale watching cruises usually take place on our luxurious Dana Pride, complete with inside and upper deck seating, a full galley, and cash bar.
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Yes, there is a clean marine head on board.
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Yes! Indoor seating and awnings are available. If you plan on staying outside to have a better view of the whales, please dress appropriately with a hat, sunglasses, and/or sunscreen.
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Absolutely. In addition to modern safety equipment (EPIRB, life floats, life jackets, etc.), our vessels are constantly maintained and inspected once a year by the United States Coast Guard, a Division of Homeland Security.
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If you would like to come whale watching with us in a wheelchair, please contact us and we will make arrangements to accommodate you.
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We do have life jackets on board, but it is not required for any passenger to wear one during the cruise.
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There is limited room to stow your belongings on board. Please only bring what is absolutely necessary for the trip.
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Smoking is not permitted on the boats
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We do not allow dogs on board, with the exception of service animals.
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Yes, all boats are available for private charters. Please contact us at (949) 496-5794 x 2
What Should I Bring?
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You are welcome to bring a “brown bag” lunch. However, you may not bring ice chests or alcoholic beverages on board. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase on board.
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The boats offer a variety of grilled sandwiches such as cheeseburgers, grilled cheese, BLT, and burritos. They also have soda, water, and beer. On the Dana Pride, we offer a fully stocked bar including hard alcohol (please remember you may not bring your own alcohol on board).
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While no money is required from you on board, if you’d like to purchase food or beverages at the full-service galley or souvenirs, please bring extra money (approximately $20). While the store on-land accepts both cash and credit cards for souvenir purchases, food and drink on the boats’ galleys will need to be purchased with cash only.
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There is no gratuity required, but a recommended amount would between $2 – $5 per person. The crew works hard to make your trip enjoyable!
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No ice chests are allowed on board. We will make exceptions for special diets, however.