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07-19-2021, 12:55 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Sep 2015
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Catalina Charter Review
I went on a 3-day, 3-night Catalina Island spearfishing charter guided by Al Schneppershoff Jr this June. I was very unsatisfied with my experience. The cost was 4 figures for my portion. Here are the issues I had with Al’s charter:
• Clients are expected to pull and drop anchor by hand the entire trip. The 30’ boat does not have a winch. There was even a diver 60+ years of age doing this deckhand work. Guide and Captain would not do this work. This is unacceptable for a professional, high-cost charter. • Al talked to me disrespectfully and unprofessionally on multiple occasions during the trip: o He called me “anchor boy”, and did stop when I made it clear I did not like that. o He asked all the clients what race their girlfriend/wife was. o He told me I need to take spearfishing lessons because I had not shot any fish by the 3rd day. Keep in mind that 3 other divers also went home empty handed. • Did not actively pursue fish. We continually went to the same locations which had yielded no fish on previous days. Zero attempt was made to try more productive locations. • Charter was unlicensed. We were asked to “pretend we were all just friends” because the boat was not authorized to run charters. • 2 pieces of gear were badly damaged/destroyed: o My float line got wrapped up in the propeller, after I had asked the captain if it was safe to deploy my float. I spent 30 minutes diving under the boat, trying to unwrap it until I was forced cut it free, destroying the line. Captain did replace the line, but not the integrated bungee. o The butt of my custom wooden speargun was split while bouncing around haphazardly on deck. The boat did not have a gun rack, bungee system or a bin to safely store guns. Safe gun storage is a basic necessity for a professional spearfishing boat. • Price was changed upon arrival at the harbor, and I ended up overpaying by $168. I would not recommend this charter to anybody. It was unprofessional, and certainly was not worth the high price. |
07-19-2021, 05:28 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 66
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Re: Catalina Charter Review
yikes that sounds like a nightmare
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07-20-2021, 09:34 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 398
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Re: Catalina Charter Review
Sounds like the Al jr special. Can’t recall ever hearing a positive experience with his guide services.
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07-20-2021, 10:43 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: O'side, CA
Posts: 3,149
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Re: Catalina Charter Review
He's been doing this shit for years. I'm really surprised they haven't gottne somebody badly hurt or even killed. Can't believe nobody has called Coast Guard on them to stop them from running these trips. I've had a few people come on my trips tell me what a shit show those trips are. He kept hitting me up about doing spearfishing classes on my boat back when I was still running charters. Not too ure if he's allowed to go to Mexico anymore, heard more than a few horror stories about those trips down to Turtle Bay.
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07-20-2021, 11:44 AM | #5 | |
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Re: Catalina Charter Review
Quote:
Last edited by sidewazzz; 07-20-2021 at 03:14 PM. |
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07-20-2021, 09:26 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Downey, CA
Posts: 893
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Re: Catalina Charter Review
$40K fine for operating without a Captain’s license. Even having people pitching in (which is to be expected) can constitute a violation.
I hate to be the one setting those kind of vicious dogs on someone. I think the fact that you posted here is great- Buyer beware!!!
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No sea menso mijo, no sea menso!!!!! |
07-20-2021, 11:13 PM | #7 |
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Location: Moss Beach
Age: 42
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Re: Catalina Charter Review
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07-21-2021, 02:38 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: st. petersburg,fl.
Posts: 2,221
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Re: Catalina Charter Review
They have busted a few unlicensed charter boats here in Florida. I'm sure the LAW monitors this site and other sites. Just a matter of time. You can make a call and speed up the clock.
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07-21-2021, 11:37 PM | #9 | |
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Re: Catalina Charter Review
Quote:
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07-22-2021, 11:38 AM | #10 |
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Location: South Bay
Posts: 1,655
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Re: Catalina Charter Review
Hey Leo, really glad to see you on here again. I still have fond memories of your charters on your boat. You got me on my first MAHI off of San Diego! Hate to see how far down Sneppersnoff has gone to. He was responsible for getting me on my first YELLOWTAIL down at Turtle Bay.
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07-22-2021, 11:39 PM | #11 | |
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Re: Catalina Charter Review
Quote:
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07-23-2021, 12:24 AM | #12 |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: South Bay
Posts: 1,655
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Re: Catalina Charter Review
Be happy to, he'll love hearing from you
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