About Stagnaro Charters
Stagnaro Charters is a family-run operation with roots stretching back over a century in Santa Cruz, ever since Italian patriarch Cottardo Stagnaro settled in the area in 1879. Today the company operates two well-appointed vessels — the 60-foot Velocity and the 56-foot Legacy — out of Santa Cruz Harbor, offering whale watching cruises, sport fishing charters, scenic bay cruises, and private event charters on Monterey Bay. Few operations on the Central Coast can match the Stagnaro family's depth of local maritime knowledge, built up over five generations of working these waters.
Their whale watching cruises run year-round, tracking the seasonal movements of gray whales during their winter and spring migration and humpback whales that feed in the nutrient-rich waters of Monterey Bay from April through November. Sport fishing trips target salmon, halibut, lingcod, rockfish, and albacore tuna depending on the season, with experienced captains who know the reefs, drop-offs, and currents that produce the best catches. For groups and special occasions, Stagnaro offers private charters for corporate outings, birthday parties, weddings, and sunset cruises, with full catering options available.
What sets Stagnaro Charters apart is the heritage and the consistency. While other charter companies come and go, the Stagnaro name has been synonymous with Santa Cruz seafaring for well over a hundred years. Their vessels are Coast Guard–certified, spacious, and comfortable, and the crew strikes a balance between professional seamanship and genuine hospitality that makes every trip — whether you are hauling in a lingcod or watching a humpback breach — feel like a proper Santa Cruz tradition.
