Category: Santa Barbara, CA

• 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

• “Are you a professional fisherman?”

  Even before I started wearing my shirt, hat, and hoodie which advertise my blog, I have been asked this question. In response I always say, “More or less, I guess.” This non-response usually ends the inquiry, but if someone asks me to explain, I tell them that after 52 years of working, I have managed […]

  John Darling – Author

  November 21, 2019

  fishing pole, Pacific Ocean, Professional Fisherman, Santa Barbara, CA, sportfishing, Stearns Wharf

  fishing, Pacific Ocean, Professional, Santa Barbara, sportfishing, Stearns Wharf

• “Back” to home

  I have not been out to the Ventura Pier, my home base, for three weeks due to a vacation at the Grand Canyon, fishing with my son in Santa Barbara, CA, a big slow down in the fishing action at my home base, and a chronic back issue that flared up the last time I […]

  John Darling – Author

  November 6, 2019

  Bait, fishing, fishing pole, Grand Canyon, Mackerel, Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara, CA, smelt, sportfishing, Stearns Wharf, The Grand Canyon, Ventura Pier, wishing pole

  Anchovies

• Fishing with my kid

  Anyone who has grown children knows that no matter how old you all get to be, they will always be your kid(s). I my case, my kid is James who is 35 years old and a budding singer, actor, and musician who lives in California’s San Fernando Valley. Here is his performance website: http://jamesdarling.net/ Anyway, […]

  John Darling – Author

  November 3, 2019

  fishing pole, Mackerel, Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara, CA, smelt, sportfishing, Stearns Wharf

  Mackerel, San Fernando Valley, Santa Barbara, smelt

• Touching Home

  Prior commitments, some delays in work being done on the homestead, and an appointment to a city advisory group has kept me away from fishing most of the last few weeks but when a day opened up yesterday, I decided to go over to the Ventura Pier, my home base, for a few hours because […]

  John Darling – Author

  October 4, 2019

  fishing, fishing pole, Mackerel, Pacific Ocean, Perch, Santa Barbara, CA, Stearns Wharf, Ventura Pier, wishing pole

  Channel Islands, Highway 101, Mackerel, Pacific Ocean, Perch, Santa Barbara, Ventura Pier