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About the Huli Cat Boat

Operating out of Pillar Point Harbor in beautiful Half Moon Bay, the Huli Cat is 53 feet long and has an enclosed cabin.

It accommodates up to 40 people for whale watching and tours. But, we don't fish that many for your comfort and enjoyment. The boat is fast, efficient, affordable, and clean - complete with a crew that really cares. 
 

The Huli Cat Advantage:

  • Centrally located on the California coast for maximum results

  • Our captains and crew are the best in the industry

  • Your fishing or charter experience comes first

  • Coast Guard certified

  • We exercise safety at all times

  • Fishing charters include Salmon, Rock Cod, Squid, Crab, and Tuna

  • Other Charters include:  private parties, wine and cheese cruises, whale watching, nature trips, bird watching, weddings, and burial at sea (scattering of ashes)   Charter details

Tom is on the Board of Directors of:

  • Coastside Fishing Club

  • SCI Conservation Committee, Scholarship Committee, Audit committee

  • Dungeness Crab Task Force – Whale Entanglement Prevention Team

  • Safari Club International Board of Directors

  • San Mateo County Harbor District Board of Harbor Commissioners
     

Tom held positions on:

  • Salmon Stamp Committee for California

  • DFG License Agent Advisory Committee

  • NOAA’s California Sportfishing Action Team

  • Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group Member for the MLPA

  • (California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative)

  • Fishery Enhancement and Research Foundation

  • Golden Gate Fishermen's Association

 

 
In an effort to contribute to research, Tom works with NOAA’s PFEL tagging chinook salmon.  He also worked with NOAA’s Santa Cruz field office gathering stomachs and beaks of Humboldt squid.  He recently completed a study with the Point Reyes Bird Observatory collecting lingcod, salmon and halibut stomachs and is currently involved in a study with Scripps to gather albacore stomachs.

He was an avid skin diver and participated in Cen Cal Freediving Competitions progressing to A Division diver. He has appeared on television and in books for his Blue Water Hunting abilities and has speared tuna over 200 pounds breath hold diving.  Tom is also an avid hunter.  In 2006, he hunted in Argentina, Canada, Africa, Kansas and California.

His Bachelors degree from San Jose State included a thesis on the sea urchin industry in California.  He has an MBA in Management, with a minor in Marketing. Tom ran the Cardiology Department for a community hospital with an open-heart surgery program in southern California.  He also ran a Cardiology practice in Texas and a Nuclear Medicine facility. 

In 2020, Tom was re-elected to the San Mateo County Harbor District Board of Harbor Commissioners for a third term.  He currently serves as Board Treasurer.  www.smharbor.com 

2021 saw Tom Mattusch inducted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame.

Captain Tom Mattusch

Captain Tom
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