There she blows!--there she blows! A hump like a snow-hill! It is Moby Dick! Okay, so we are not really going after Moby but we are going after something bit smaller.
If you enjoy the ocean, the wind on your face, waking up at ungodly hours to catch some fish and end of the day smell like the fish you just caught then you are the person we are looking for.
The boat will launch at 6am sharp so you have to be at the docks by at least 5:30am. The cost is $50 to get on the boat and if you don’t have a fishing pole and reel you can rent it for around $10 to $15 dollars. If you don’t’ have a fishing license you will need to at least purchase a one day fishing license which is around $12.60. You will need some basic fishing supplies which I can send you more details on. You are not allowed to bring an icebox (boat rules) but you can bring a backpack with some snacks. There is a galley on the boat where you can order food and drinks. Obviously the price is little bit inflated but it isn’t too bad.
Here is a summary:
$50 – boat (the location of the area where the boat will launch from – Redondo Beach, San Pedro or Long Beach – specific location will be announced depending on which boat is going out and what kind of fish they have been going after)
$10-$15 (optional if you don’t own a rod and reel) – rod and reel rental
$12.60 (optional if you don’t have a fishing license) – you will need to wear the license in plain view so you will need a holder.
$5-$8 – fishing supplies (at least the basic supplies - sinkers, hooks and swivels)
$10 to $20 (optional) – food in the galley (drinks, sprite, beer, etc, food, e.g. hamburger, etc. or you can bring your own food)
$1 – gunny sack – to store the fish you catch while on the boat.
$5 or $10 (optional) – boats have something called a jackpot and it is purely optional, basically anyone that wish to participate will contribute money (usually it is either $5 or $10) to a single jackpot and the guy who catches the biggest fish at the end of the day wins that jackpot.
Accessories you will need:
1. Sunblock
2. Sunglasses
3. Hat
4. motion sickeness pills (over the counter or prescription) – take this at least an hour before boarding
5. plier
6. small hand towel
7. Layered clothes, because it will be chilly in the morning and the evening while warm during the mid-day again depending on the overall weather. Do not wear your best clothes or shoes because it will get messy.
We will be targeting the following species of fish:
Whitefish, Bocaccio (aka salmon grouper), Rockfish, Lingcod, Red Snapper, Sheephead, etc.
Just to give you a heads up, this is not going to be one of those lazy afternoon activity throwing a bait out there and taking a snooze, it will be fun but it will definitely be work, be prepared to stand on your feet for approximately 6 to 7 hours on a boat (you can always take a break in between but essentially you will be on your feet) which can sway back and forth depending on the weather and the water. You will be fishing in the depths anywhere between 20 feet to 250 feet or more so you will be using your arms a lot and if you have not done this before your arm will be sore the next morning. Believe me, it is literally like doing a dumbbell exercises for several hours. Ocean fish will fight harder compare to fresh water and it will take several minutes to completely reel in a potential 4 to 5 pound fish fighting you as you retrieve it all the way from depths of 20 feet to 250 feet. I know it may not sound that hard but I have taken people who are in top shape get tired by the end of the day and sore the next morning. And with that effort you might not even catch a single fish, lol, again, I am trying to paint you a realistic picture as much as possible but there is a good chance you will catch something it is all about persistence and not giving up.
So why fish? I mean, you can probably buy the fish at your local supermarket which would be so much easier…hahaha. It is hard to put into words, total experience is greater than the sum of its parts, the challenge of you against nature, the opportunity to get away from the office and/or the daily grind, the camaraderie built among simple strangers in a pursuit of common goal, the opportunity to build a friendship, seeing the joy of some else catching a fish… that feeling is hard to really quantify rather it is something one must experience and not to mention the fish you are catching is a lot fresher then the one you buy at the market…lol. And if you are a beginner and have little to no fishing experience that is not a problem we can instruct you on the very basics.
If you are interested please post your RSVP here on this thread and you will be contacted with additional info.
Hawkeye
