Category: sportfishing

• Maintenance is a must…

  My grandfather lived his entire life in cold weather states. He was born in Minnesota, the land of 10,000 often frozen lakes, then moved to Michigan, the Great Often Frozen Lakes State. Yet in all his years, he never went ice fishing. He just never cared for the sport, he’d tell me the fish would […]

  John Darling – Author

  February 25, 2021

  Shakespeare ATS 350, Shakespeare Contender, sportfishing, Ventura Pier

  fishing, Shakespeare ATS30, Shakespeare Contender, sportfishing, Ventura Pier

• 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

• Fishing Old School…

  A month or so past, my 83 year old father in law came to California (from Phoenix, AZ) for a 2-week visit. During that time, he learned all about my fishing ventures and he went with me to the Ventura Pier one day to relax in the cooler Ventura climate while I fished. It was […]

  John Darling – Author

  October 31, 2019

  Bristol rod, fishing, Grand Canyon, Kalamazoo Tackle Company, Lures, sportfishing

  Bristol rod, fishing, Grand Canyon, Jitterbug lure, Kalamazoo Sportsman Reel, Phoenix