Sport Fishing

Want to go ocean fishing, but don’t own a boat? No problem. Try California pier fishing instead. You can catch ocean fish without the hassle of having a boat.   Fishing in California is very diverse because of the fish migrating every season. The weather, however, is sometimes a factor that limits people from fishing. Rain, fog, and wind may occasionally be dangerous.   Since the fish are diverse, fishers have a lot of techniques depending on the type of fish they are targeting. They can do: fly-fishing,  surf fishing,  bait-casting,  pier fishing, and  many other methods. While a boat gives you access in California to thousands of miles of waterways and coastline fishing, it also has obstacles. Docking it, trailering it, maintaining it and paying the price of operating are all questions to take into consideration. Not every saltwater angler owns a boat.  Now, not having a boat is a limitation for many for their ability for fishing. But, there are plenty of possibilities for pier fishing in California for people without boats. How would you go sea fishing without a boat?  Fishing publications highlight pictures about fishing that usually involves a boat. Some fishers might feel that the only proper way to fish is by boat. But nowadays we see a growing community of shore-bound anglers. They don’t let the lack of a boat stop them from enjoying the fishing.  You can find pier fishers almost everywhere. Some with fancy tackle, some shabby taped together tackles. Their fishing tackle boxes also come in different sizes and shapes, as long as it can be wheeled or carried to the pier.  Fishing without a boat has led them to evolve their practical style of fishing, although there are lots of fishing products for pier fishers nowadays. Pier fishing – an art of its own You can just plunk a chair down at a pier and start hauling in fish, but can you catch anything without the skills born by experience? Since most of the fish usually come in waves, it might be hard getting even one bite if you don’t know when and where to cast. You can typically find them bottom fishing, hauling in two or three catches at a time.  Pier anglers just have to have a way of knowing when to reel in their line after hooking more than one fish. And that bigger catch like mackerel and king mackerel are also reachable for pier fishers.  You can see those fishers at the end of the pier using all sorts of gadgets intended to float live bait just under the surface. We’ve seen kite rigs, too, so they can lure the fish as far off the pier as possible with an appliance that merits a patent.  Fishing with two rods Mostly these people use a method called the two-rod approach. Using two rods is relatively common these days. They have a heavy fishing rod with the bail open and a lighter one where they attach the bait. When they cast out, they place the line many yards off the pier. When a fish bites, they pull the lighter bait rod back, leaving the angler to battle the fish with the heavier rod. Merely having two rods increases the chances of catching fish. Anglers fishing with two rods take up more space, and there can be issues with lines becoming crossed. It is best to stick to using one rod on a busy pier to avoid any problems. You can find more pier fishing tips from saltstrong.com. Fish for Dinner Most of the pier fishers go fishing for supper, so don’t expect to see them release their fish after catching them. They come to enjoy fishing and socialize with each other.  They are a special kind and possibly have more patience, inventiveness, and endurance than any other fishing group.   Fishing with Children Often as adults, we want to share our hobbies and pastimes with our children. When you take your child fishing, keep in mind the safety. What kind of fishing trip are you trying to set up? A day of bottom fishing? Take your child deep-sea fishing ? Does pier fishing suit your needs? Yes, it is one of the best ways to fish with children.   Regardless of what you decide is best, have the safety equipment with you at all times.   What are the best piers for fishing in California? Majority of coastal cities in California have a public pier or pay-to-fish pier. You can usually rent tackle and buy bait at the piers. If you’re having problems, many pier anglers will help and give you tips.  There are over fifty public fishing piers in California. You can find information on each at pierfishing.com  One thing of note is that you don’t need a fishing license for public fishing piers in CA.  For example, in Long Beach, when they constructed the downtown marina, they built some small piers especially for fishing along the southwest side of the peninsula that divides the marina from the Los Angeles River mouth. Belmont Pier is older, and lots of folks fish there. Pacifica pier, you can catch mackerel, salmon, rockfish, jacksmelt, crabs, halibut, surfperch, sharks, and striped bass on that pier. Tips for fishing on a pier Every pier is different. The best way to get information on where and when to fish, is to ask the locals. Be friendly, you can find old fisherman at the bar, in a bait store, or in the morning on the pier themselves!  If you go early in the morning or evening, you’re almost always guaranteed to catch something. When you arrive at the pier, you’ll see that everyone has caught something.   Look for the fish under the pier. There might be more than in the waters far away from the pier.  Bringing up big fish on a pier has always been an issue. A pier landing net (suspended by a rope) may be necessary for large fish. Bottom line If you do a little pre-trip planning for your pier fishing trip, you can get rewards for your effort. But it can be as simple and laid back as you want to make it. If you’re looking for a more relaxed, laid-back type of fishing experience, pier fishing can be just that!

During the winter season, many fishermen want to do the one type of fishing that can only be done in the cold areas and in the winter. Although it is dangerous, you will find many people who participate in the sport of ice fishing. There are safe ways to ice fish and some of those tips are common knowledge and some aren’t. In the Nordic countries, temperatures in the winter are freezing, so they have lots of opportunities for ice fishing. Ice fishing seems to be a common habit in Finland. If you are interested in ice fishing, that is a excellent article to read about the mindset. Ice-fishing is a state of mind Many people don’t realize that a thin layer of ice is not enough to ice fish on, the ice must be thick, at least 4 inches of clear ice, to be safe. The first rule should be to drill a small hole near the shore to check for the thickness of the ice. There are some safety tips concerning the ice and anyone who intends to do any sport – fishing, snowmobiling, skating should know these tips. To judge the safety of the ice follow these guidelines: 1 inch of ice – Stay off of it! 4 inches of ice – Safe for fishing 5 inches of ice – Safe for snowmobiling 8 inches of ice – supports a car or light truck 10 inches of ice – supports a medium weight truck If you are unsure about the ice, good practice is to wear a life jacket. And don’t forget the ice picks. Anyone who intends to do any sports that involve ice should also know that ice strength can change from one spot of the lake or pond to another. Thick ice is no longer good after a rain and slush ice or ice with a current under it is also very dangerous. A new layer of ice is always safer than an older layer. Also, people who ice fish need to know if there is a state law as to how big the ice fishing holes can be in diameter. Also, fishing shanties should always have reflector lights on the sides of them to allow snowmobiles to see them easier as to reduce the risk that they will get hit. Some good tips for ice fishing are to go deep when fishing. Many fish will swim 50-60 feet deep in the water in the winter time. There are many electronic gadgets that will help the ice fisherman locate the fish in the water due to this problem. Sometimes, the fish will be well within just a few feet under the water due to food issues and fishing pressure. The classic airplane jig will probably work better than the other jigs that are available. These are especially good for clear water species such as lake trout but it is easy to catch walleye and pike on these jigs too. Super lines are a good item to have available too. These have been around a while also but they are strong lines and most of them are invisible on the ice. Quivering a jig can actually be just the right movement to attract the fish. It will give the bait the right amount of action to trigger a strike from the fish. Plastic bait can work well in the winter time too. Some ice fishermen prefer the mushroom or gumball head jig. While fishing, look for green weeds. In the summertime, these are a common problem as they will tangle lines and are a nuisance, but in the winter time, the weeds are a sign of fish in the area. If it is a large weedbed, you should be able to locate the fish on the sides and pockets of the weedbed. Ice fishing and other sports can be fun as long as you act safely and follow any safety tips and rules that are available.

One of my favorite hobbies is to fish. Some people like to think that fishing is only good in the warm season. However, truth be known, you can fish any time of the year. Catfish fishing is always fun Catfish are scavengers. They are not precise in what they eat. Their diet stays the same the year around. The good thing about fishing in the winter is that there usually isn’t very many people that fish at that time of the year. This increases your chances of catching a good size fish. In the winter blue and channel catfish are the most active feeders, and flatheads are less active. As the water temperature drops, the less active they are. In cold water, shad tend to die quickly, and catfish will feed on them. Bait to use Shad is a great bait to use when fishing for catfish in the winter. However, you can use minnows or artificial shiners, too as bait. You can normally get them at your neighborhood bait or fishing shop. When you put the minnows or shad on your hook, you hook them through both eyes. This allows for some tail action in the water. Use a bell or slip sinker to help keep the bait on the bottom. The bait should be about 2 to 3 inches long. Another good bait is freshwater mussels. Many times Catfish will congregate around mussel beds in the winter time. The mussels keep them supplied with fresh food. The good thing about this is that mussels are usually found in water about 3 to 6 feet deep. Locate a mussel bed, and you will spot catfish. Mussel beds are fairly consistent each year. You can find them by taking a long pole and just dig around in the mud or near a rocky bank. Blues and channel catfish especially like mussels. I said earlier that flatheads are hard to catch in the winter. But, I didn’t say you couldn’t find them. Flatheads don’t congregate in deep holes. They seek out areas with heavy bottom cover. It doesn’t matter if it is shallow or deep. They love logs, large rocks, and brush pile treetops. Flatheads fishing technique A proper technique in fishing for flatheads is to rig a shad or shiner on your line and fish vertically over a rocky bottom. Fish straight down to avoid hangups on logs or brush. Only move your bait about a foot up or down. Many times the up and down action will attract the Flathead. Winter fishing is much like regular season fishing. You can fish from a bank, dock, or boat. You just need to pick a spot where you know the Catfish is. Many individuals like to do drift fishing. This is where you get in a boat and motor to your favorite spot and just drift around fishing. However, you can be just as successful from a bank, if you can find the right place to fish. Patience is the key You have to stay calm and wait them out. Once your line is in the water, leave it in for 20 to 30 minutes before checking it. Catfish are slow feeders. Once they get attracted though to your bait, they will stay and eventually hit it. Stay warm Dress warmly. Take a thermos of warm drink. Relax and enjoy yourself. Don’t assume that they aren’t biting when you get no immediate hits. It’s not the gear that does catch catfish in winter, it’s you and your patience. Winter slows down fish feeding. But, just like all of us, they have to eat sometime. Be prepared for hangups When you fish for catfish, you are always going into a congested area that allows for hangups. This is where they are located. Don’t get frustrated when you get hung up on a log or brush. Just be prepared for it. Many times you can avoid a hangup by simply moving your line up and down slowly and getting a feeling for the area you are fishing in. To me, there is nothing so exciting as catching a big fish. I don’t care what time of the season it is. Catching a big catfish makes even more fun and challenging. More tips on fishing during the winter season. sources; Outdoor Guide, Jim Spencer http://www.outdoorguide.com/