• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact
Friday, February 3, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
Dana Point Times
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
Dana Point Times
No Result
View All Result

Dana Point’s August Business of the Month: Dana Wharf, Fish for Life

by Dana Point Times
October 29, 2013 1:15PM
in EYE ON DP, News Headlines
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
The city of Dana Point and Chamber of Commerce named Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching and Fish for Life the August 2013 businesses of the month. Pictured (L to R) Mark Kalez, Donna Kalez from Dana Wharf, Mayor Steven Weinberg and Jim Holden from Fish for Life. Photo by Andrea Papagianis
The city of Dana Point and Chamber of Commerce named Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching and Fish for Life the August 2013 businesses of the month. Pictured (L to R) Mark Kalez, Donna Kalez from Dana Wharf, Mayor Steven Weinberg and Jim Holden from Fish for Life. Photo by Andrea Papagianis

Compiled by Robert Sedita, Management Analyst, Dana Point Community Development

Located in the OC Dana Point Harbor, Dana Wharf has offered sport fishing and whale watching excursions to residents and visitors of the area for over 40 years. Owner Don Hansen began working at a San Clemente sport fishing company in the 1960s. He later purchased the business and moved it to Dana Point where he changed the name to reflect its new Harbor home, which opened in 1971. As the first business in the Harbor, Dana Wharf set the precedent for the locale’s future of tourism.

Dana Wharf’s operations include fishing trips, whale watching excursions, twilight cruises, dinner cruises, kids fishing clinics and charters for group outings and company meetings. Their services draw thousands of new people into Dana Point and the Harbor each year.

The staff at Dana Wharf understands that the highest level of customer service is mandatory in the tourism industry. Each member recognizes that he or she may only have a short interaction with a visitor, but they take that opportunity to ensure visitors have an unforgettable experience. Employees at Dana Wharf love their jobs, and their enthusiasm for their work is shared with everyone. A few employees have worked at Dana Wharf for over 40 years, while several more have worked there for 20-plus years.

Dana Wharf sees customers and visitors as an extension of their family, so it is no surprise that people come back year after year.

In 2010 when the nonprofit Fish for Life was started, Jim Holden came to Dana Wharf with the idea to give people with special needs the opportunity to get out on the water and fish. Having been committed to ensuring all kids have this opportunity, Dana Wharf knew this would be a great organization to support.

Fish for Life is a 100 percent volunteer organization, and through the sponsorships they receive they are able to provide complimentary fishing trips to people with special needs. The partnership with Dana Wharf allows Fish for Life to charter the 95-foot Dana Pride and take about 100 people on each fishing trip including, 30 special needs children and numerous volunteers. In addition to the boat, Dana Wharf provides staff, poles and bait so everyone is able to take part.

Upon arriving at Dana Wharf, participants are checked in and issued a T-Shirt sporting the logo of the trip’s sponsor. After checking in, speakers say a few words to honor the special needs guests and their parents, followed by a prayer and the singing of the National Anthem. Each special needs guest of honor is then introduced individually as they walk or roll down the gangplank on a red carpet.

Volunteers aboard the boat, called “Fishing Team Leaders,” are assigned to special needs guests to care for them and help them catch fish. As the ship leaves the Harbor, members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol escort particpants to sea with fire hoses blasting and sirens flashing. While out at sea, volunteers help set the children up to fish and cast their reels for the fish below.

For most children on the trip, this is their first experience fishing and they are always very excited once their first fish is reeled in. It is a great experience for the children, their chaperon and everyone on board. Volunteers also teach the Fish for Life dance to all the honored guests who are all able to participate regardless of their condition. On the way back to the dock, all the fish are cleaned and the team leaders individually award trophies to all the children and young adults who participated.

To find out more about helping to sponsor a trip or for more information about Fish for Life, visit www.fishforlife.org, or call 949.285.8819, and for more information about Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching, visit www.danawharf.com or call 949.496.5794.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: Business of the MonthChamber of CommerceCity CouncilDana PointDana WharfFish for Life
ShareTweetPin

Dana Point Times

Related Posts

Saying Goodbye to Pat Curren

Saying Goodbye to Pat Curren

February 3, 2023
Grom of the Week: Marlo Leigh Harris

Grom of the Week: Marlo Leigh Harris

February 3, 2023
Dana Hills Girls Basketball Swings Back, Can’t Land Final Blow Against El Toro in League Title Fight

Dolphin Report: Girls Basketball, Girls Water Polo Wrap Up Regular Seasons, CIF-SS Playoff Positioning

February 3, 2023
Adoptable Pet of the Week: Marlowe

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Marlowe

February 3, 2023
Next Post

Preview: Dolphins Football to Host Villa Park

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

DP Times Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get the DP Times delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Dana Point Times
  • San Clemente Times
  • The Capistrano Dispatch
  • DP Chamber Directory

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.