The History of H&M Landing
August 15, 1934
The Day It All Started
Howard Minor and Ralph Miller Sr. (Barney), two partners in Harbor Water Taxi, took a day off to fish marlin. The two men got hooked on the sport and thought seriously about founding a sportfishing company.
Discover the Roots of West Coast Sportfishing
Walk down the docks at H&M Landing today, and you’ll see some of the most advanced sportfishing vessels in the world. You’ll see fiberglass hulls, side-scanning sonar, two-speed reels, and modern tackle designed to beat the biggest bluefin.
But long before the modern tech and the daily social media fish counts, there was just a group of hardcore anglers with wooden boats, magnetic compasses, and a vision that would change San Diego forever.
Since 1935, H&M Landing hasn’t just been part of San Diego’s sportfishing history—we built it.
Step Back in Time
We’ve put together a comprehensive look back at our roots, and if you have saltwater in your veins, you need to see this.
Head over to our History Page to take a deep dive into the archives:
- Explore the Archives: Check out incredible vintage photos of the original fleet, old-school tackle, and the legendary catches of yesteryear.
- Meet the Pioneers: Read the stories of the founding captains who charted the very offshore banks and islands we still target today.
- Trace the Evolution: See firsthand how the sportfishing industry evolved from a handful of day-boats in 1935 to the modern, long-range powerhouse it is in 2026.
Knowing where this sport came from makes every fish you put on the deck today mean that much more. Don’t just fish the historic fleet—get to know it.