Saltwater fishing presents a wide range of challenges and opportunities, and the choice between baitcasting and spinning reels can have a huge impact on your success. This in-depth guide explores the core differences between these two reel types through the lens of the Southern California fishery. Learn how gear design, casting mechanics, and retrieval control affect your ability to target species like calico bass, yellowtail, and spotted bay bass. From navigating heavy kelp beds with precision to casting light lures in breezy bays, knowing the strengths of each setup helps anglers fish more effectively and with greater confidence.
Pier fishing is a surprisingly accessible and productive way to catch a wide variety of fish across the U.S. With hundreds of piers along the coasts, it gives anglers of all experience levels a chance to try new techniques and reach species that are typically beyond the shoreline. Piers attract sea life by providing structure and shelter, making them natural hotspots for fishing. It’s a practical and rewarding option for those without a boat, offering easy access to deeper waters and migratory fish right from a stable platform.
From Cape Cod to the Carolinas and all the way to Nova Scotia, the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery is thriving, and this guide breaks it all down. Learn where to go, when to fish, and what gear to bring, including spinning tackle, trolling rigs, and lure strategies. Whether you're targeting giants offshore or chasing topwater bites nearshore, this is your complete playbook for fishing smarter, fighting harder, and respecting the resource.
The Lobster season opening in California is a highly anticipated day for anglers, foodies, and outdoor enthusiasts. This opener is an excellent opportunity for experts and novice anglers to participate in trapping/fishing lobster for consumption at home in Southern California.
The Holidays are just around the corner, which for many means sending loved ones into hysteria as they try to figure out what to get for their beloved angler for the Holidays. We're a tough group to shop for, whether you're a novice angler just getting into fishing or a proven, hardcore angler with decades under your belt. If the endeavor isn't challenging enough to shop for, you must consider the kinds of fishing, price points, species, and more.
At times, the perception of the Swordfish fishery on the West Coast seemed limited and only available to specialized commercial fishermen until recently. Over the last several years, it’s become apparent that the swordfish fishery in Southern California is quite robust and much more attainable by targeting swordfish through the daytime swordfish deep drop method.
Southern California is the mecca of sport boat fishing. Nowhere in the world is there such a collection of fine-tuned vessels and crew to take anglers out in the great blue Pacific in search of their trophy fish.
Much of Southern California's fishing efforts focus on the offshore waters, our coastal waters, and kelp beds. Our bays, harbors, and estuaries often get less attention, but those who have studied these bodies of water, commonly find productive, fun fishing.
The Southern California Bight has two species of Halibut, the Pacific Halibut and the California Halibut. While Alaska Halibut fishing charters are popular and a great way to catch Pacific halibut, the California Halibut is much more common in our waters and what we refer to when discussing Halibut fishing.
Much of what we do as anglers is based on experience. Nature sometimes gives up all her secrets, such as a feeding frenzy often referred to as a “foamer.”
