| As a webmaster of a high traffic web site about | | | | sickness as well. |
| California ocean fishing, I get a lot of e-mails from | | | | When you board the boat, you'll be asked to sign in so |
| people wondering how to go about taking a deep sea | | | | that the know whose aboard, then they have a |
| fishing trip when they come to California on vacation. I | | | | jackpot drawing. This is a game of chance where |
| thought I'd put together this article to describe what the | | | | everyone puts some money in a pot and the person |
| how to go about taking a trip, what to expect and | | | | who catches the biggest fish takes home the prize. |
| what you need to bring. | | | | I've seen buy-ins as little as $2 each and as high as |
| The fleet of sport fishing boats in California is usually | | | | $10. You're not required to play, but it is a fun game if |
| excellent, with generally good crews, nice amenities, | | | | you like that sort of thing. |
| and convenient schedules. That said, some are a bit | | | | Next you'll be assigned a number. This is the number |
| rough around the edges, but in general, most cater to | | | | for your sack. You'll have to buy a gunny sack that |
| the tourists as well as the old salts who are frequent | | | | gets hung where the deck hands can find them to put |
| visitors. | | | | your fish in. Most boats have a sort of rotation |
| Sport fishing is great for the whole family, but is | | | | scheme where those with certain numbers are |
| probably not appropriate for toddlers. Pre-teen kids | | | | assigned to the right side, other numbers assigned to |
| and teenagers though, will have a great time if they're | | | | the stern and others to the left. Follow the deck hands |
| disciplined and are willing to follow directions. Slippery | | | | instructions so that everyone gets to fish the better |
| rolling decks, sharp hooks and flopping fish with sharp | | | | parts of the boat where the drift and the chum make |
| teeth and occasionally mildly poisonous spines make | | | | for more productive fishing. |
| boats a place to exercise caution and not a place for | | | | Follow the deckhand's directions. They know what |
| horseplay. | | | | they're doing and if you listen, you'll catch more fish. If |
| There are a number of different trips offered. First are | | | | you don't understand their terminology, just ask, they'll |
| half-day boats. These are usually 4-5 hour trips, either | | | | happily explain. If you do catch a big fish, call out for |
| leaving early AM and coming back midday, or leaving | | | | help if are having a hard time landing it. If it is big, don't |
| just after noon and coming back in early evening. In the | | | | try to lift it aboard when you bring it close to the boat. |
| summer, there are also twilight trips in the evening. | | | | The deck hand will use a gaff (a long handled sharp |
| Next, there are 3/4 day trips leaving in the early | | | | hook) to pull it aboard. Once he gaffs the fish, declutch |
| morning and coming back late afternoon. Full day trips | | | | your reel so that he can maneuver the fish more |
| are generally overnights, leaving the evening before | | | | easily and keep things safe for you and other |
| and returning late afternoon. Finally there are offshore | | | | passengers. |
| trips, either overnight or for multi days. | | | | After the fishing is over and the captain heads for |
| Generally speaking, the longer your trip, the better the | | | | home, the deckhand will call for the jackpot. Pick out |
| fishing, because the boats can spend more time | | | | your biggest fish and bring it to the deckhand. They'll |
| traveling to the better fishing spots. Often in | | | | compare fish weights using a simple balance beam, |
| midsummer, though, the 1/2 day and 3/4 day boats fish | | | | and the one with the heaviest fish wins. |
| side by side. The boats all have galleys that sell and | | | | If you don't wish to keep your fish you can give them |
| prepare food, usually breakfasts, burgers, or | | | | to other fishermen, or to the boat. If you do wish to |
| sandwiches and candy. They also sell soft drinks and | | | | take some fish home the deckhands will fillet them for |
| usually beer. | | | | you. They charge for this service. You can then take |
| The landings rent fishing rods and reels and can usually | | | | the fillets to a restaurant and have them prepare them |
| sell you the terminal tackle you'll need either in the | | | | for you. I used to often bring my catch whole to a local |
| landings or on the boats. The landings can also sell you | | | | Chinese restaurant in my neighborhood and they'd |
| the required California fishing license. Single day | | | | steam the fish and serve it with terrific side dishes for |
| licenses are available in addition to annual ones. | | | | a nominal fee. |
| California has 300 days of sunshine per year, so hats, | | | | Finally, if you had a good time, or at least thought the |
| sunglasses, and sun block lotion are near musts. You'll | | | | crew did a good job, please tip the crew. They |
| probably also need a light jacket or sweatshirt, | | | | modestly paid and mostly do this job for the fun of it. |
| because most of the time it is cool in the mornings and | | | | Many deck hands are students trying to work their |
| evenings. Wear comfortable clothes, ones that you | | | | way through college or to build up sea time to get their |
| don't mind getting stained, because fish blood squashed | | | | captain's license. |
| bait entrails and other grimy substances are just a part | | | | Remember, no one can guarantee you good fishing, so |
| of fishing. | | | | while it may be great one day, it may be poor the |
| If you're not sure if you get seasick or not, assume | | | | next. I recall one giant squid run a few years back that |
| you will and ask your doctor for a prescription for | | | | was wide open - every night people bringing in |
| Scopamine patches to put behind your ear. It is much | | | | hundreds of pounds of squid. I got on the boat one |
| better to be safe than sorry, and many a carefree | | | | evening after one of the top catches the night before. |
| tourist has spent an absolutely miserable day hour | | | | They were even catching squid on the morning |
| after hour on a pitching boat with no place to go. The | | | | half-day boats. That evening, eight or nine boats were |
| captain will not run in to drop you off and sacrifice the | | | | out there, each with 75 or more people aboard, and |
| fishing time for the other passengers. You just have to | | | | not a single squid was caught. It's called "fishing" not |
| suffer. There are some good over the counter | | | | "catching" so anything can happen. |
| medications, like Dramaine, Bonine, and Marazene, but | | | | Next time you make it to California, give the local salt |
| these tend to make many people very drowsy. There | | | | water fishing a try. It's great fun for the whole family. |
| are electric and acupressure devices to cure motion | | | | |