Capt. Mark Wisch

Well-known California captain, writer, speaker and tackle shop owner, Capt. Mark Wisch has been helping anglers catch fish along the West Coast for decades. As an author, Mark has written three books, including “Between Two and Twenty Fathoms,” “In The Gray” and “Lessons from a Lifetime on the Water.” He's currently working on his fourth book, “Way Out West, a Private Boaters Guide to Fishing Offshore Waters.” Mark owns and operates Pacific Edge Tackle (www.pacificedgetackle.com) and manufactures a complete line of live bait tanks. He also specializes in outfitting sport-fishing boats with electronics and fishing equipment. Mark graduated from Cal Poly, Pomona, with a degree in marketing and currently resides in Huntington Beach, California, with his wife Chris and their dog Emma.

Articles: 22

Capt. Mark Wisch Articles

wahoo fishing

Boat Accessories

Bait Tank Troubles? – Setting Up A Bait System

Part 1 – The Tanks Even as I’m finishing up this piece in mid-December the deep-water yellows are still biting in several areas along the coast. And additionally, they’re likely to continue to do so given the abnormally warm water remaining along the coast. A …

Fishing Lures How To Fish

Working the Wood – How To Work A Cedar Plug

The seasons come and go, each one crafted by the weather and water conditions for that particular year. Some are good — some not so good. But regardless of the final tally to make sure you caught your share you must select an offshore arsenal …

PE-at-Sunset seabass foam water fishing

PE-at-Sunset seabass foam water fishing

Fishing Fishing Reports How To Fish

The Foam Is Home – Seabass Fishing Stories

The first seabass I ever hooked at Catalina was in deep water on a flat calm night while anchored on the bait-grounds just below Silver Canyon. I cast out into the full-float that swirled around us and got bit soon after. The headshakes told the …

pacific edge

How To Fish Saltwater Fishing

Choppin & Chummin Tricks From Pacific Edge

Stepping out the door at work tonight I spun around, pulled the gates shut, checked again for my keys, snapped the lock and then locked the outer door. Pleasantly absent was the chill breeze of winter. It was replaced by a welcome soft hint of …

bottom fishing

SoCal Fishing Stories By Mark Wisch

Sunrise on the Sunset by Mark Wisch That was supposed to be the story. .. But in fishing (and in life) things don’t always work out as planned. It was supposed to be about how we got the gear together and headed out on my …

bait tanks

It’s Transition Time

Every year about the first of November there’s an obvious and inevitable progression towards winter. The sun is lower, the shadows longer, the water is cooling and an unmistakable chill sends notice that summer is over. It used to be the bulk of the offshore …

bait tank

Boat Accessories

Solve Your Bait Tank Troubles

Well-known California captain, writer, speaker and tackle shop owner, Capt. Mark Wisch has been helping anglers catch fish along the West Coast for decades. Mark owns and operates Pacific Edge Tackle and manufactures a complete line of live bait tanks. He also specializes in outfitting sport-fishing …

boating gear

Boat Accessories Boating Safety

The Best Bilge Pump For Boat

As a young angler I was fortunate to grow up under the careful tutelage of my good friend and mentor Ed Martin. He was a successful attorney and an extraordinary angler and we caught a lot of fish together. He was an accomplished seaman and …

bottom machine

Boating Tips Marine Electronics

Worms & Boomerangs – Learn To Use A Fish Finder

Over the years of installing, using and conducting seminars about sounders, I’ve heard the same operational questions over and over. So I thought I’d put together a group of the most commonly asked questions to give you a basic overview on how to learn to …

fishing tips

2016, A More Traditional Start

I always try to spend January 1st on the water. I never tire of the thrill from a bent rod and it’s always all the more fun when it starts off a new season on the first day of a new year. Back in 2015, …

white seabass

Fishing Saltwater Fishing

The Seabass Chronicles

Zane Grey was a legendary writer of some of the best fishing stories ever written. His “Tales of Southern Rivers”, “Tales of Fishing Virgin Seas” and my all-time favorite “Tales of Swordfish and Tuna” are classics in the truest sense and I’m fortunate to have …

fishing tips

Amberjack – Like Yellowtail on Steroids

Amberjack Tales Any time I travel to somewhere near water there’s always this desire to get out there to see what’s biting. And when it’s warm saltwater, then urge can be almost overwhelming like it was on a recent trip to Cancun. When we first …

pacific edge

Boating Tips Fishing Lures How To Fish Saltwater Fishing

SoCal Wahoo – Tips and Tactics

Wahoo Tips Almost every Saturday morning for more than 22 years I’ve done the private boaters report on the world famous “Let’s Talk Hookup” radio show on 1090 AM. Pete Gray and co-host Rick Maxa do a fantastic job and I’m honored to have been …

reel drag

Boat Accessories Boating Tips Fishing Reels How To Fish

Physics of a Proper Drag

What a Drag! One of the most important but often underutilized components of “good gear” is the drag on your reel. Now I get that most anglers have a basic concept of what it is and how it works and that’s fine for fishing the …

fishing tips

Boat Accessories Boat Maintenance How To Fish

Bait Tank Troubles? – Part 3

If you’ve ever fished on a Mexican ponga you may have noticed the essence of simplicity as far as bait pumps are concerned. The tank itself is the bilge area between the seats. The pump is the ponga captain who uses a scoop made from …

bait tanks

Boat Accessories Boating Tips Fishing

Bait Tank Troubles? – Part 2

Bait Tank Troubles In the first part of this series I outlined a few ways to add more bait capacity to your rig. There are many ways to accomplish the goal; add a bait bag, plumb in a separate tank on the swim step, mount …

fishing history

fishing history

Fishing Fishing Gear Fishing Reels Fishing Rods Saltwater Fishing

This one’s for you Pop

The corner of the store with my line-winding bench is a working hangout for me. It’s complete with my essential tools-of-the-trade, two winders, the necessary spools of mono and spectra and my custom made “Bimini Twister”. On the walls there is a framed map of …

offshore lures

Fishing Fishing Gear Fishing Lures Fishing Tackle

Psycho-Beads and Other Crazy Stuff

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to tour the new Cousins rod building facility right around the corner from my shop in Huntington Beach. In addition to creating their stunning new line of rods the cousins, Bill Buchanan and Wade Cunningham, are also …

boat systems

Boat Accessories Boat Maintenance Fishing

Below the Waterline Part II

I was on a charter on the Dreamer and visiting with Capt Allyn Watson, the undisputed master at fishing Catalina seabass. The conversation inevitably turned to catching and keeping squid in our tanks and when we got to how much is enough he quipped in …

live well

Boat Accessories Boat Maintenance Fishing How To Fish

Below the Waterline

Over the years I’ve seen some absolutely amazing bait tank installations. On the plus side there have been custom tank projects done by extraordinary craftsmen using the finest materials and shooting for perfection with cost as no object. To the opposite end of the spectrum …

livewell install

livewell install

Boat Accessories Boating Tips

Bow Tank Installation

As Steve Lassley and I walked up the side of the 60-foot Hatteras Bad Company and stepped out on the forward deck, we nearly crashed due to a heavy coat of solid ice. There’s something wrong with this picture! This is Southern California. It’s supposed …

Fishing Fishing Reports

Big Cods and Cudas – Mark Wisch Fishing Report

Over the years I’ve been very lucky to witness many beautiful sunrises at sea, and I never tire of the sight nor the promise of another day on the water. The one you see in this photo was especially sweet as we’ve been able to …

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