Category: Pacific Ocean

• 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

• Advice from Grandpa: Offer a smorgasbord

  This is not exactly how grandpa said it since he was a “little Irishman from Minnesota” as he’d always told everyone and big words were not part of his plain spoken vocabulary, but I understood what he meant when he told me that not all fish eat the same things.  So, he regularly cautioned me […]

  John Darling – Author

  August 30, 2019

  Bait, Bat Rays, fishing, Grandpa Duffy, Mackerel, Pacific Ocean, sportfishing, Ventura Pier

  Bait, Bat Ray, Mackerel, Salmon, Squid, Ventura Pier

• Port Hueneme Fishing Pier

  Today, I had some business that took me down to the Naval Seabee Base in Port Hueneme, CA so while I was in the town, I visited the fishing pier at Port Hueneme Beach thinking that I may try fishing there again someday.  To say that it is quirky is an understatement.  I have not […]

  John Darling – Author

  August 28, 2019

  fishing, Mackerel, Pacific Ocean, Port Hueneme Beach, Port Hueneme Pier, Port Hueneme, CA

  fishing, Mackerel, Pacific Ocean, Port Hueneme, Port Hueneme Beach, Port Hueneme Pier

• Innovation? Yeah, I can do that!

  When I fish on the Ventura Pier, I have two parking options.  One is to pay $10 for a day permit (it is as low as $2 in some other city parks) or park on the other side of Highway 101 and take the pedestrian overpass to the pier.  I, and most other fisherman, choose […]

  John Darling – Author

  August 23, 2019

  Bait, fishing, Pacific Ocean, Ventura Pier

  arteesol Dry Bag, Ventura Pier

• Do sharks get indigestion?

  If so, the one that ate my hook, line, and 4-ounce sinker must have a whale (pun intended) of an upset stomach right now.  My sister-in-law of 40 years, Barbara, has been visiting us for the past week and today was the day I told her that I would take her fishing with me.  She […]

  John Darling – Author

  August 21, 2019

  fishing, fishing pole, Pacific Ocean

  fishing, Pacific Ocean, Shakespeare ATS30, Sharks, Shimano rod, smelt, sportfishing

• Special days…

  From FB posting of August 14, 2019 Today was a very special day of fishing on the Ventura Pier. It was NOT because I caught 14 Mackerel (7 are pictured, the others went to other fishermen for bait or back to the ocean). It was NOT because a huge fish hit my heavy pole so […]

  John Darling – Author

  August 19, 2019

  fishing, fishing pole, Grandpa Duffy, Mackerel, Pacific Ocean, Perch, sportfishing, Ventura Pier

  bai, drift line, fishing, fishing pole, Mackerel, sportfishing