FISHING IN CALIFORNIA

California Fishing Means Variety

With about 850 miles of coastline, California fishing offers anglers a vast array of options. Anglers in California can target inshore species such as calico bass, sand bass and surfperch. Move a bit further offshore and you can fish the kelp paddies for yellowtail and tuna. There are also billfish to chase when fishing in California, namely striped marlin and broadbill swordfish. But, we're still just scratching the surface. Many anglers enjoy bottomfishing as well. You never know what you might hook into when you drop some baits down on some structure. Some of the more popular bottom species include rockfish, lingcod and halibut. You can also find some barracuda as you fish off the Golden State. On the freshwater side, anglers in California often target largemouth bass, native trout and salmon.

The Best Techniques to Use When Fishing In California

The best techniques to use when fishing in California vary depending on the species and location you find yourself fishing.

Using live bait is by far the most popular technique for angling nearshore and offshore. Bait can be caught locally or purchased at one of the many bait barges found off the coast of California. Many of the private boats use large, plumbed in baitwells that keep the bait alive while you're fishing. To fish with a live bait, you can either drop the bait to the bottom or cast the bait out to fish found on the surface.

Trolling is also a popular technique to employ when saltwater fishing in California. Locally called “jigs,” lures give you the opportunity to cover some water as you move around at 7 to 9 knots, pulling jigs. Whether you're using cedar plugs, feathers or swimming lures, trolling is a very effective technique for species such as tuna, barracuda and dorado or mahimahi. If you come up on a school of fish or find a kelp paddy while you are trolling, then it's time to put on a live bait and try to get a bite that way.

Want To Go Fishing In California?

If you don't have a boat of your own, there are many sport boats available for charter to take advantage of if you plan trip in California. Sport boats range in size depending on how long they go out fishing. You can find half-day, full-day and mutli-day boats to target whatever species you hope to land when fishing in California. You can find up-to-date fishing reports by the various sport boats on the BDOutdoors fishing forums. By visiting the California Fishing forums, you can follow the fish reports and find out more information such as cost and whether or not rental fishing equipment is available if you don't have your own.

No matter what type of fish you plan to target when fishing in California, you can always find something biting. Just do a little homework before you go.