Ira Waldman, Author at BD Outdoors

Best Baits for Spotted Bay Bass

One of the best things about spotted bay bass fishing is the variety of lures that you can use to target them. However, this can be overwhelming as well. For this reason, we’ve compiled a short list of some of the best baits for spotted …

Fishing Surf Fishing

Two Sure-Fire Spots for Big Winter Surfperch

Along the Pacific coast, we have twenty-three species of surfperch with nineteen of those in California alone! The most commonly targeted include barred, redtail, walleye, calico, buttermouth, pile, and opaleye surfperch. During the winter, by knowing the right spots, you can target some of the biggest …

How To Fish Inshore Fishing

Winter Spotted Bay Bass Fishing: Cracking the Code

Winter in Southern California can be a challenging time for fishermen. With most pelagic species chasing warmer water and bottom fish closing at the end of the year, the pickings are slim as far as fishing opportunities go. However, winter spotted bay bass fishing can …

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Fishing How To Fish Inshore Fishing

Tips and Tricks for Fishing a Skirted Jig for Bay Bass

Like their freshwater counterparts, spotted bay bass are generalists, feeding on everything from baitfish and gobies to crabs, clams, worms, and snails. Whilst the classic paddle tail swimbait and other baitfish imitations are considered staples for spotted bay bass, many overlook baits that imitate crustaceans …

Spotted bay bass caught on duo realis metal jig featured image

How To Fish Inshore Fishing

How To Fish Metal Jigs and Tailspins For Spotted Bay Bass

If you have yet to fish metal jigs or tailspins for spotted bay bass, it is truly something you NEED to do. Some of my most productive days of spottie fishing have come as a result of these two styles of baits. The reason why …

Surf Fishing

Three Winter Surfperch

Along the Pacific coast, we have twenty-three species of surfperch with nineteen of those in California alone. My three favorite perch to catch at the beach are calico, barred, and walleye surfperch. With a bit of preparation, luck, and know-how you can spend the entire …

Inshore holiday gift guide featured image

Fishing Gear Fishing Reels Fishing Rods Inshore Fishing

Inshore Fishing Holiday Gift Guide

With the holidays and big savings right around the corner, there is no time like now to restock gear for the new year! For the inshore fisherman, fishing in the bays and estuaries for halibut and spotted bay bass is really a year-round fishery. While …

How To Fish Inshore Fishing

Spotted Bay Bass Fishing: Everything You Need to Know

For many avid Southern California anglers, Spotted Bay Bass, commonly referred to as spotties, were the gateway drug that led them into a lifelong passion for fishing. Being readily accessible, easy to fish for, and just plain fun; spotties are the perfect way to both …

Surf Fishing

Reading the Winter Beach

When winter comes in California it sure can be hard on the beach. Wind, rain, and swells do an about-face and begin to churn from the north. Southern swells and warm water are replaced by slicing, cutting waves of change. In a matter of days, …

Taking Winter By Storm Featured Image Torrey Pines with Rain

Surf Fishing

Taking Winter Surf Fishing By Storm

Once the holidays roll around most of us have packed up our offshore rods and put away our long-range equipment for the season. But things are different in the surf where conditions are lining up perfectly for yet another great winter of shore fishing. In …

Fisherman fishing the surf with bent rod

Surf Fishing

Top Three Baits for Winter Surf Fishing

As we roll into November, the winter surf fishing season is just around the corner. There’s no better time than now to think about what changes will need to be employed to ensure fishing success at the beach this winter. Our most dramatic change comes …

Surf Fishing

Grub Fishing on The Beach and In The Bay

Anglers aren’t the only ones who slow down in winter, fish do too. As ocean waters cool the metabolism and activity of surf fish diminish significantly. As a result, both feeding frequency and aggressiveness toward catching food change. Lucky for us, the effect of cold …

Surf Fishing

SURF FISHING BAITS FOR FALL

Kids rushing back to school, leaves falling from trees, and footballs crashing on playing fields all signal the beginning of fall. This has always been my favorite time to fish the beach when crowds are thin, the water is warm and fish are numerous. As …

Surf Fishing

Must Try Candy Bait for Corbina

Throughout spring, the Corbina primarily spend their time in the bays, harbors, and estuaries. As the water warms, they know it’s time to leave these safe confines and make their way to the beach. As they spread out along the shore corbina search for the …

Surf Fishing

TIDES, MOONS AND FISHING IN THE SURF

Have you ever wondered what might be the best tide or moon phase to surf fish? There’s no doubt both of these occurrences have a big effect on surf fishing. Tidal movement and moon phase are two of the least understood natural phenomenon yet combined …

Surf Fishing

TIME TO HIT THE ROAD: FALL SURF FISHING ROAD TRIPS

The warm days of summer is a great time to get out for a surf fishing road trip but the truth is, I really enjoy hitting the road in fall with cool mornings, warm days, empty beaches and great fishing. Two of my favorite spots …

Surf Fishing

FINDING, CATCHING, AND KEEPING CALIFORNIA SAND CRABS

Just a few summers ago we were coming off the latest El Nino event where winter ocean waters were the warmest I can remember. Tuna fishing lasted all winter as the warm water drove fin bait north and the tuna with it. But one of …

How To Fish Surf Fishing

FISHING PHOTOGRAPHY: HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR CATCH IN THE SURF

Catch, photograph, and release is a great way to enjoy the beach and bring home memories. But what may be more important is the information an image captures and how it can help to make you a better surf angler. Each year, at least one …

Surf Fishing

LIGHT LINE IN THE SURF AND WHY IT’S SO EFFECTIVE

Over the last decade light-line surf fishing has become immensely popular. There are many reasons why this type of fishing has caught fire. Heavier surf setups have been replaced with light weight trout or steelhead gear. Matching the size of the equipment to size of …

Surf Fishing

SURF FISHING BAIT PRESENTATION

I’ve always said that the most important thing in surf fishing is having a sharp hook. So, the second most important thing must be bait presentation. Presenting your bait in the most natural manner so that fish don’t know the difference between a bait with …

Surf Fishing

BEST SURF FISHING BAITS FOR SUMMER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Long warm days signal that summer is on its way and the biggest fish in the surf are spreading out along the beach. As summer approaches, surf fish will begin foraging on sand crabs and other food they find at the beach. With that in …

Surf Fishing

SURF FISHING & ETIQUETTE

Surf fishing, as with any outdoor sport, has its dangers. Every time I go to the beach, I think about what bait, rig and spot I’m going to fish, but I also think about what dangers might be awaiting me and how to prepare for …

How To Fish Surf Fishing

Summer’s Three Top Surf Fish and How to Catch Them

I try to target specific fish in the surf but when it comes to fishing, I’m honestly happy catching just about anything. That’s why when summer rolls around I concentrate on three top surf fish: Yellowfin croaker, spotfin croaker and corbina. These fish only appear …

Surf Fishing

Time to Hit the Road, two Summer Surf Fishing Road Trips

When it comes to summer, I like to pack the car and skedaddle out of town on a surf fishing road trip. The dilemma I’m always presented with is whether to go north or south. Summer offers great fishing in both directions with a better …

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Ira Waldman

Ira Waldman Articles

Best Baits for Spotted Bay Bass

Two Sure-Fire Spots for Big Winter Surfperch

Winter Spotted Bay Bass Fishing: Cracking the Code

Tips and Tricks for Fishing a Skirted Jig for Bay Bass

How To Fish Metal Jigs and Tailspins For Spotted Bay Bass

Three Winter Surfperch

Inshore Fishing Holiday Gift Guide

Spotted Bay Bass Fishing: Everything You Need to Know

Reading the Winter Beach

Taking Winter Surf Fishing By Storm

Top Three Baits for Winter Surf Fishing

Grub Fishing on The Beach and In The Bay

SURF FISHING BAITS FOR FALL

Must Try Candy Bait for Corbina

TIDES, MOONS AND FISHING IN THE SURF

TIME TO HIT THE ROAD: FALL SURF FISHING ROAD TRIPS

FINDING, CATCHING, AND KEEPING CALIFORNIA SAND CRABS

FISHING PHOTOGRAPHY: HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR CATCH IN THE SURF

LIGHT LINE IN THE SURF AND WHY IT’S SO EFFECTIVE

SURF FISHING BAIT PRESENTATION

BEST SURF FISHING BAITS FOR SUMMER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

SURF FISHING & ETIQUETTE

Summer’s Three Top Surf Fish and How to Catch Them

Time to Hit the Road, two Summer Surf Fishing Road Trips