In my opinion yes. There is often quite a difference in the boats themselves as well as the skills and attitudes of the skippers and there are some landings I will no longer use if and when I might decide to take another trip to the dark side.
I decided to compare a couple of landing and decided to use two that I frequented in San Diego in the '60s and '70s and which basically fished the same waters. I limited the years so that the comparisons might be more valid (one quit operating around 1980) and all of the trips listed were half day trips (leave 6 a.m. back around 11:30 a.m.).
The first was the landing that began life as the Mission Bay Sportfishing and evolved into the Islandia Sportfishing before closing. I primarily fished their boats because I had better success.
Mission Bay/Islandia Sportfishing: 16 trips yielded 2.79 fish per hour and 11.47 adjusted points per hour (based on size).
Topwater/Midwater Fish: Pacific Bonito 52, Kelp Bass 39, California Barracuda 24, Pacific Mackerel 16, Jack Mackerel 6, California Yellowtail 3
Bottom Fish (during the winter): Senorita 8, Sand Bass 3, Queenfish 3, Vermilion Rockfish 2, Olive Rockfish 2, Kelp Rockfish 2, Blue Rockfish 2, Ocean Whitefish 2, California Scorpionfish 1, Chilipepper Rockfish 1, Pink Rockfish 1, Whitebelly Rockfish 1, Starry Rockfish 1, Greenstriped Rockfish 1, Lingcod 1 (won a jackpot), Giant Kelpfish 1.
Seaforth Landing: 5 Trips yielded 1.77 fish per hour and 6.86 adjusted points per hour.
Topwater/Midwater Fish: Pacific Bonito 24, Kelp Bass 4, Pacific Mackerel 1, Jack Mackerel 1
Bottom Fish (during the winter): Treefish 1, Olive Rockfish 1, Chilipepper Rockfish 1, Sand Bass 1
Just to be clear, this is not a reflection on how the Seaforth boats do today. That was many years ago and I imagine the boats, crews, and results could be quite different.
However, it does mean you should find out which of your local landings provide better service and results (if you have a choice).
I decided to compare a couple of landing and decided to use two that I frequented in San Diego in the '60s and '70s and which basically fished the same waters. I limited the years so that the comparisons might be more valid (one quit operating around 1980) and all of the trips listed were half day trips (leave 6 a.m. back around 11:30 a.m.).
The first was the landing that began life as the Mission Bay Sportfishing and evolved into the Islandia Sportfishing before closing. I primarily fished their boats because I had better success.
Mission Bay/Islandia Sportfishing: 16 trips yielded 2.79 fish per hour and 11.47 adjusted points per hour (based on size).
Topwater/Midwater Fish: Pacific Bonito 52, Kelp Bass 39, California Barracuda 24, Pacific Mackerel 16, Jack Mackerel 6, California Yellowtail 3
Bottom Fish (during the winter): Senorita 8, Sand Bass 3, Queenfish 3, Vermilion Rockfish 2, Olive Rockfish 2, Kelp Rockfish 2, Blue Rockfish 2, Ocean Whitefish 2, California Scorpionfish 1, Chilipepper Rockfish 1, Pink Rockfish 1, Whitebelly Rockfish 1, Starry Rockfish 1, Greenstriped Rockfish 1, Lingcod 1 (won a jackpot), Giant Kelpfish 1.
Seaforth Landing: 5 Trips yielded 1.77 fish per hour and 6.86 adjusted points per hour.
Topwater/Midwater Fish: Pacific Bonito 24, Kelp Bass 4, Pacific Mackerel 1, Jack Mackerel 1
Bottom Fish (during the winter): Treefish 1, Olive Rockfish 1, Chilipepper Rockfish 1, Sand Bass 1
Just to be clear, this is not a reflection on how the Seaforth boats do today. That was many years ago and I imagine the boats, crews, and results could be quite different.
However, it does mean you should find out which of your local landings provide better service and results (if you have a choice).