The Pacific Queen has a proud history of being one of the premier sportfishing operations in the San Diego fleet. Originally built for the US Navy in 1944 the boat was completely re-built and converted to a sportfishing boat by legendary captain Eddie McEwen in 1962. Captain Eddie owned and operated the Pacific Queen until 1996 during which time he was in the forefront of the industry consistently put his boat on fish. In 1996 captain Eddie retired from sportfishing and the Pacific Queen was purchased by two partners, Sam Patella and Brian Kiyohara. Sam and Brian came up in the long-range part of the sportfishing industry. Sam on the Qualifier 105 with Don Sansome and Brian on the Royal Polaris with Frank LoPreste. Sam and Brian brought their long-range experience to the Pacific Queen with tackle techniques, fish handling, and customer service as well as having some outstanding catches of fish during the years they owned the boat. In 2002 the Pacific Queen was purchased by the current owner/operator Bill Cavanaugh. Bill also has invaluable long-range experience working for legendary sportfishing icon Bill Poole aboard the Excel for seven years. This completing the ownership lineage of the Pacific Queen, from Eddie McEwen to Bill Cavanaugh the Pacific Queen continues to be a first class operation.

Bill Cavanaugh began his sportfishing career at the age of 14 working on the Monte Carlo out of Ventura back in 1983. Coming up as a 'pinhead' working for Captain Andy Volaski catching calico bass and sand bass. Working summers and weekends growing up instilling a work ethic and a love for the ocean that was very instrumental to Bills fishing career. The next boat Bill worked on was the Sea Angler which also was the first sportfishing boat owned by Andy Volaski and also operating from Ventura. Bill obtained his captains license ant the age of 21 and began operating trips at this time. The first boat he ran was the Sea Angler. Bill operated a number of sportfishing boats in the Ventura area and in 1996 came to San Diego with an opportunity to work on the worlds largest passenger carrying sportfishing boat, the Excel. Within 10 months of working on the Excel, Bill starting operating trips. Over his seven years working on the Excel, Bill established himself as a proven captain making some outstanding catches in a highly competitive environment. Bill Cavanaugh brings this experience, work ethic, and love for the ocean to his operation on every trip to ensure his passengers have the best chance possible of a memorable time on the water.