Searcher at a glance

Searcher is a US Coast Guard SOLAS (Safety of Life At Sea) and FCC inspected and certified sportfishing vessel.

Searcher is a US Coast Guard SOLAS (Safety of Life At Sea) and FCC inspected and certified sportfishing vessel.

  • 95 ft long, 24 ft wide
  • 14 Cabins
  • 4 Restrooms
  • 2 Showers
  • Air-conditioned
  • 10 Ton Freezer

Searcher is a 95-foot long, 24-foot wide sportfisher operating out of Fisherman’s Landing in San Diego, California. Fourteen cabins sleep two or three anglers each and have storage shelves, sink, mirror, and a 110-volt AC outlet. Each bunk has sheets, blankets, and pillows. There are four restrooms, two showers, a large indoor dining and relaxing salon, and padded benches on the upper observation deck. The boat is air-conditioned throughout.

Searcher’s bait tanks carry 250 scoops of bait for plenty of casts. Our 10-ton freezer with RSW (refrigerated saltwater) will store your fish until we get to the dock. There you can do business with reputable canning, filleting and smoking companies.

Searcher is a US Coast Guard SOLAS (Safety of Life At Sea) and FCC inspected and certified sportfishing vessel. We carry two 475-horsepower computerized Caterpiller engines and two 60-kilowatt generators. State-of-the-art electronics such as GPS satellite navigation, satellite phone service, radars, color-scanning sonar, depth sounder, and more keeps us in touch and on the fish!

Interactive Deck Diagram


Get to Know Team Searcher

Our team of professionals ensures your fishing experience is fun, safe, and productive. Captains have the latest fish-finding gear at their fingertips to identify the best fishing conditions which maximizes your catching success. Crewmen are there to offer tackle tips, help at the rail, and gaffing assistance. Chefs prepare fresh and delicious meals and snacks that keep you satisfied and energized. Land crew gets your trip booked and questions answered, and handles all the dockside details.

Catch some adventure with Team Searcher!

Art started his fishing career in junior high school, working aboard half-day boats in exchange for fishing time. He got serious about fishing as a career and after a short stint in commercial fishing, earned his skipper’s license at the age of 19 and was captain of his first fishing trips at the age of 20. Throughout this time, Art was working under captains such as Bill Poole, Frank LoPreste, Bob Fletcher and others. He joined the crew of boats including Cat Special, Champ, Royal Polaris, and Chief as deckhand, second captain and master. The thrill of sportfishing, the reward of teaching anglers to fish better, and the pride in keeping a boat operating smoothly from the engine room to the galley has turned Art into a well-rounded boat operator and business owner.

The boat that was to become Searcher was built in 1970 by San Diego’s sportfishing pioneers Bill and Ingrid Poole. After a 15-month construction, she was launched on May 24, 1970 in Newport Beach, California as “the largest sportfisher on the West Coast.” She was named the Cape Polaris and was the first “long-range” sportfisher–the first in a line of famed Polaris boats built by Poole Boats. Her name was changed to Searcher in 1975.

Captain Art Taylor and Searcher bring you to the fish.

Cape Polaris Legacy

Cape Polaris was the first “long-range” sportfisher–the first in a line of famed Polaris boats built by Poole Boats.

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Join Captain Taylor aboard Searcher

Join Captain Taylor and the entire Team Searcher aboard Searcher on a 1.5 day offshore chasing tuna or a 7-day trip to Alijos Rocks where there’s a chance to reel in a 100-pound yellowfin tuna or a feisty wahoo. Or maybe a 3 to 4-day trip fishing for bluefin tuna and yellowtail fits your schedule better. Click for current San Diego Sportfishing Schedule.

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