Davey's Locker operates out of the Balboa Pavilion at 400 Main Street on the Balboa Peninsula. The Pavilion opened on July 1, 1906, is the oldest standing building in Newport Beach, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Davey's Locker Inc. purchased the Pavilion in 1969 to anchor its Catalina passenger service, and after WWII Newport Harbor had been "the center of sport fishing activity in southern California with over 100 boats and 9 landings" — Davey's Locker is one of only two landings still operating from that era.
Fleet
The current fleet runs eight vessels:
- Thunderbird — Capt. Jeffrey Markland
- Aggressor — Capt. Brian Oldmen
- Blackfish — Capts. Michael Harkins, Rusty Padia, Mitch Christensen
- Bongos — Capt. Michael Mongold
- Freelance — Capts. Rusty Padia and Chris Goble
- Nautilus — Capt. Robbie Ellingboe
- Patriot
- Western Pride — Capts. Mike Harkins and Christopher Kerrins
Trip types
Trip menu covers half-day (5 hours), 3/4-day, full day from 7am to 5pm, twilight, and overnight island and offshore tuna runs. 2026 pricing from the landing's own rate page: half-day trips run $65–75 standard adult and $55–65 juniors/seniors, with limited-load trips at $75–95 all ages. 3/4-day standard adult is $86 on Tuesdays; extended 3/4-day runs $110 across adult/junior/senior, with limited-load extended at $118–148. Overnight trips range $172–285 across a 22-hour 9pm-to-7pm window. Rod rental is $22 standard or $40 premium, one-day fishing licenses are $21.09, and tackle packs run $12.50–27.50.
Reviews
Guest reviews on TripAdvisor average 4.2 of 5 across 1,363 reviews, ranking #6 of 94 Newport Beach boat tours and water sports. One reviewer wrote that the "crew did a fabulous job in all respects and kept a good commentary on sea life in the area." Another: "The captain promised us dolphins and he definitely delivered."
