Category: Goleta Pier

• Fishing Cayucos

  The last time I was in Cayucos, California, I was there as a tourist so I did not have my fishing tackle with me but I vowed to return with it and try the fishing off of its well known Cayucos Fishing Pier. On Tuesday, June 1, 2021 I made good on that vow when […]

  John Darling – Author

  June 3, 2021

  fishing, fishing pole, fog, Goleta Pier, Pacific Ocean, Shimano Saguaro rod, Skate Ray

  Cayucos Pier, fishing, kelp, kelp beds

• The Off Season

  I have not posted anything in a while for one simple reason: I have had nothing to post about. I have fished in the Pacific Ocean off and on for nearly 40 years and to date, this is the worst fishing season I can remember after last season being one of the best. I guess […]

  John Darling – Author

  October 28, 2020

  Bait, Calico Bass, California White Croakers, Cormorant, Dungeness Crab, fishing, fishing pole, fog, Goleta Pier, Mackerel, Pacific Ocean, Pelicans, Perch, Port Hueneme Beach, Port Hueneme Pier, Professional Fisherman, Sand Crab, Santa Barbara, CA, Sea Gulls, Sharks, Skate Ray, smelt, Stearns Wharf, Ventura Pier

  fishing pole, Pacific Ocean, sportfishing

• Pacific Update

  Even during the current pandemic, fishing in the Pacific goes on. With the ocean water warming up over the past few weeks, the fishing has improved as well. The temperature today is a toasty 64 degrees. As you can see in the pictures above, the fish have been plentiful and varied no matter what pier […]

  John Darling – Author

  August 6, 2020

  Calico Bass, Goleta Pier, Mackerel, Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara, CA, Skate Ray, smelt, sportfishing, Stearns Wharf, Ventura Pier

  Calico Bass, Goleta Pier, Mackerel, Skate, smelt, Stearns Wharf, Ventura Pier

• Stearn’s Wharf I: What a MORNING!

  When I moved from Phoenix, AZ to Santa Barbara, CA in 1979, Stearn’s Wharf was not open to the public.  It was closed due to a huge fire that roared through it in 1973.  It finally reopened in 1981 but by that time, the Goleta Pier was my fishing spot of choice so I never […]

  John Darling – Author

  September 3, 2019

  Bait, Calico Bass, fishing, Goleta Pier, Mackerel, Pacific Ocean, sportfishing, Stearns Wharf, Ventura Pier

  Calico Bass, fishing, Phoenix, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Ventura Pier

• Shark Bait: It’s Good to be Home

  Call me Captain Ahab.  I have been in search of the white whale since last week when one got away due to old equipment that has now been replaced and though I didn’t catch a whale, the 42”, 30 to 40-pound Shovelhead shark pictured above would have defeated my efforts if I had not upgraded […]

  John Darling – Author

  August 27, 2019

  Bait, California White Croakers, fishing, fishing pole, Goleta Pier, Mackerel, Perch, Port Hueneme Pier, Sharks, Ventura Pier

  croaker, Mackerel, Sharks, smelt

• Goleta Pier Redux

  The Goleta Beach Pier has been in existence, in one form or another, since the early 1930s.  When I first moved to Santa Barbara, CA 40 years ago it quickly became my fishing hub.  Though, today it is 1450 feet in length, when I first started fishing off of it, it was only about a […]

  John Darling – Author

  August 26, 2019

  California White Croakers, fishing, Goleta Pier, Ventura Pier

  croaker, Goleta Pier, Starfish