Find and rent the best Los Angeles boat rentals

Visit Catalina Island

Located approximately 32 miles Southwest of most Los Angeles marinas, Catalina Island is a favorite destination for Southern California boaters. Covered in white sand beaches and surrounded by crystal clear waters, Catalina also features mooring fields for boaters and beaches where boaters can nose up onto the sand. 

At more than 30 miles away, this may not be a trip for the average pontoon boat, but bigger center consoles, dayboats, and cruisers can make the trip with ease. 

The island can be busy in the summer when the weather is best, but Spring and Fall are also great times to make the trip. Winter weather can make the ride a little choppy so it’s best to pay close attention to the weather forecast or take one of the many tour boats and ferries.  

Once on the island, visit the beautiful beaches, or visit Green Pleasure Pier to find a variety of great seafood restaurants, tours, and access to water sports and other activities. The island is filled with attractions, including the Catalina Island History Museum where visitors can learn about the island’s link to early Hollywood or that it was once the winter home of the Chicago Cubs. 

Check the weather forecast before you go, and be sure to take plenty of food, water, and sunscreen along. 

• Location: Google Maps Link

• Closest boat ramp:  Marina Del Ray Boat Ramp is available  near Venice Beach

• Lat/Long: 33.47352° N, -118.53989° W  

Visit the Channel Islands National Park

For a more adventurous and experienced boater, Santa Cruz Island and the Channel Islands National Park are approximately 81 miles from Los Angeles. However, at just 25 miles at the closest point, leaving from the marinas of Santa Barbara or Oxnard Shores can make the ride to Santa Cruz Island a much shorter ride. From the tip of Santa Cruz Island, it is another 20-mile trip to Santa Rosa Island and a little further still to San Miguel. 

If you are taking your own boat, remember you are crossing 30 miles of open water, so be sure you are prepared with appropriate safety gear, water, and even some food in the event of a breakdown. If you wish to go but do not want to take your own vessel, several local tour companies offer transportation to the islands. 

Once there, take advantage of beautiful hiking trails to sea wildflowers and wildlife, or explore the shoreline and its many sea caves. For snorkelers and divers, the area is home to beautiful Pacific kelp forests and assorted sea life. Guided kayak tours are also available with different themed adventures. 

As with Catalina Island, Summer is the best time to visit Santa Cruz and the Channel Islands National Park, but there are things to see and experience year-round. 

• Location: Google Maps Link

• Closest boat ramp:  Channel Islands Harbor Boat Launch Facility in Oxnard

• Lat/Long: 34.04195° N, -119.74431° W

Fish Offshore in the Pacific Ocean

With so much of the beautiful and generally calm Pacific Ocean within easy reach, the Los Angeles and Southern California area is a great place to go deep-sea fishing. With species like Yellowfin and Bluefin Tuna, Mahi Mahi, a variety of sharks, and Blue Marlin waiting for anglers to come hunting with rod and reel, an offshore trip will surely be an adventure. 

If you are new to fishing in the Los Angeles area, renting a boat with a captain or signing up for a fishing charter at least once to get the best possible experience might be a good idea. Both are also great ways to learn local fishing methods and possibly some local hotspots or other secrets. 

Deep Sea Fishing in the Pacific (Offshore)

• Target species: Yellowfin and Bluefin Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Marlin, shark, rockfish, halibut, seabass, calico bass, sheephead

• Seasonality: May through August are the best months for many species. Although things cool down in the winter, there is still plenty to catch

• Boat selection: Center consoles, sportfish, and convertibles for deeper water