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Two spiny lobsters with reddish-brown bodies and long orange antennae are nestled among rocks on the ocean floor near a crevice in a coral-covered underwater environment.
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California Spiny Lobster Season Opener

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.

Multiple Shimano Metanium Baitcasting Reels on Expride Rods with text: "The Ultimate Guide to Shimano Baitcasting Reels Banner"
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The Ultimate Guide to Shimano Baitcasting Reels

If you’ve been involved in the fishing community on any level, whether as an avid fisherman or hardcore enthusiast, it’s almost a guarantee that you know the Shimano brand name. Likely you’ve owned Shimano Rods, Shimano Reels, or Shimano Lures and know about the quality craftsmanship and effectiveness of their gear. Shimano has long been a respected name within the fishing industry, having launched their Fishing Tackle Division in 1970. They’re known for their high quality, innovative products which continue to develop and improve seemingly every season. With decades of experience, Shimano has built a reputation for providing anglers around the world with reliable and efficient fishing gear and tackle. Shimano’s baitcasting reels, in particular, are celebrated for their precision, durability, and advanced technology.

Black spool of Seaguar Threadlock braided fishing line with blue label rests on weathered wood. A fishing reel appears blurred at top right. Text reads: “HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST BRAIDED FISHING LINE”.
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How to Choose the Best Braided Fishing Line

These days, braided fishing line has become an extremely popular choice among anglers, in both fresh and saltwater fisheries, due to its high strength, thin diameter, and low stretch. These are just a few of the factors that make fishing braided lines effective across a wide variety of fisheries. Knowing how to select the best braided fishing line for your specific fishery is crucial as it can significantly influence your fishing success, increase your hookup ratio, and help you land more of the fish that you hook.

"WHY YOU NEED GYROS FOR OFFSHORE FISHING" In white text over white board hardtop with person holding black Fujinon binoculars
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Why You Need Gyros for Offshore Fishing

Gyroscopic stabilized binoculars should be an integral piece of equipment for every serious offshore fisherman around the country. They allow you to see far beyond what you might be able to pick up with the naked eye, and with the help of stabilization technology, gyro binoculars deliver the user a clear image of what’s on the horizon.

"A GUIDE TO NIGHTTIME FISHING FOR BLUEFIN TUNA" in white text on black background with 4 anglers gaffing a tuna.
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A Guide to Nighttime Fishing for Bluefin Tuna

Well, it's that time of the year again... long nights, no sleep, and biting fish. Nighttime fishing for Bluefin Tuna is proving yet again to be one of the most consistent and productive ways to target these fish in our local waters. Over the past few seasons, it always seems like the first big hits of the year have come from boats searching down South during the late Spring months and finding schools of biting fish after the sun has set.

"A COMPLETE GUIDE: FLYING BALLOON DRIFT SETUP FISHING THE BALLOON RIG FOR BLUEFIN TUNA" in white text over blue water. White boat on the water hooked up to an orange balloon rig.
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A Complete Guide: Flyer Balloon Drift Setup Fishing the Balloon Rig for Bluefin Tuna

Our local Southern California bluefin fishery, specifically with the emergence of the "cow" tuna, has seen drastic changes in the way we pursue and target these big fish over the past decade. Bar none, the most thrilling methods used to target big bluefin have to be those which allow anglers to witness a visual topwater bite. Whether that be casting into foaming fish, kite fishing, trolling through a breezing school, or drifting a flying fish (flyer) with a balloon rig through the big fish zone, I would challenge you to find an angler who would disagree.

Text reads Fishing a rail rod from a skiff. Tips and Tricks. Author Ricky Fischel in navy AFTCO hoodie uses a black rail rod with a silver and gold color reel while fishing from a skiff.
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Fishing a Rail Rod From a Skiff - Tricks and Tips

As fishing techniques continue to evolve and become ever more effective, have you honed in your craft on the latest styles of fighting and landing big fish from a small boat? Over the past decade, Southern California has become the mecca for targeting trophy Pacific Bluefin Tuna. For both seasoned anglers and weekend warriors alike, catching that once-in-a-lifetime cow Bluefin Tuna has likely become a reality in recent years.

Text reads Fishing Holiday Gifts: A Complete Gift Guide. Angler in a maroon hat and long-sleeve shirt fights a fish with a bent rod on a boat over open water.
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Fishing Holiday Gifts: A Complete Gift Guide

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.

Three men posing beside hanging marlin with catch board; center shows close-up of silver-colored electric reel with yellow line; third view features man on boat holding large swordfish on the edge of the boat.
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Daytime Deep Dropping For Swordfish in Southern California

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.

White sportfishing boat labeled “SHOGUN” on open ocean with distant islands in background. Large bold text reads “SPORTBOAT FISHING 101” across the right side of the image.
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Sport Boat Fishing 101

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.