Tag: smelt

• 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

• “Catching” Up…

  It has been a while since my last blog post but that doesn’t mean that I have not been out to my home pier in Ventura to check on fishing conditions, it just means that there is still little to report due to the continued cold water in the Pacific Ocean. The weather in Ventura […]

  John Darling – Author

  March 10, 2020

  Uncategorized

  Pacific Ocean, smelt, Ventura, Ventura Pier, Wall Eyed Perch

• The Return of the King

  In an unusual occurrence, my part of SoCal experienced King Tides in back-to-back months. Last month I went out to the Ventura Pier to see if the fishing picked up despite the cold Pacific Ocean water and for the most part the catch was better although still below what it is like when the water […]

  John Darling – Author

  February 10, 2020

  Uncategorized

  fishing, King Tides, Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara, smelt, sportfishing, Stearns Wharf, Ventura Pier

• Of Kings and Legends

  As I promised in my last post, I went out to the Ventura Pier to fish during the first day of a King Tide event that is coming to our shores. Legend has it that fishing is always betters during these very high tide times so I thought I would check the veracity of this […]

  John Darling – Author

  January 10, 2020

  Uncategorized

  King Tides, Pacific Ocean, smelt, ultralite, Ventura Pier

• The ultra ultra-lite

  First, I have stated many times in my blog that I like to give the fish I catch a fighting chance and if I lose one then the fish wins. This doesn’t bother me unless it is due to faulty or worn out equipment because that is on me, not the fish. Second, when I […]

  John Darling – Author

  December 3, 2019

  Abu Garcia Silver Max 10, Shakespeare Contender, Shakespeare Durango Rod, Shimano Saguaro rod

  Abu Garcia Silver Max 10, Quantum Lite Graphite rod, Quantum Lite Long Stroke reel, Shakespeare Contender, Shakespeare Durango Rod, Shimano Saguaro rod, smelt, Stearns Wharf

• 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