r/SoCalFishing

Got downvoted and a couple DMs telling me I’m “full of shit” for mentioning free live sandworms, so here’s a friendly PSA for newer surf anglers:

Yes, SoCal beaches absolutely have marine worms you can collect yourself. No, you do not need to buy every bait in a blister pack from the tackle shop.

Same logic as buying sand crabs when they’re literally in the wash at your feet…

Sand crabs, worms, mussels, ghost shrimp (where legal), grunion matching, etc….the surf is basically a bait shop if you know how to read it.

“Match the hatch” isn’t just a fly fishing phrase.

Who’s targeting what right now?

sand crabs = perch/croaker/corbina

worms = perch/croaker/spotfin/yfc/ANYTHING

grunion profile = halibut/WSB/stripers where they show

Not trying to start a fight, just trying to save folks time and money…

I’m thinking of getting back into surf fishing, I used to dabble in it years ago and I remember using the dropper loop set up to catch some nice perch. I was always scared of catching stingrays cause I’ve seen videos of people trying to take the hook off and getting stung in the hand. I’ve been stung 3 times already when I worked as a surf instructor so I’m not looking to go through that pain again lol. Are there any methods for avoiding, and what’s the best method for taking the hook off if I do catch one?

So I was telling a certain Santa Fe Spring fishing store guy I wanted to go surf/Jetty fishing around LA, and I wanted a 2pcs rod since I have a small car. They sold me a 9" Shimano Symetre 4000 at around $170. Turns out its a Heavy Power Moderate Action rod. I am not feeling any action on the tip most of the time.

I start to see most of the tutorial says you want a med power & fast action 9" rod for surf fishing. Since I already made the investment, how should I make the best use of this rod, what is it good for and what setup (currently using 30lb braid and 12lb flouro leader?) I really want to catch a halibut or surf perch to impress my kids. Should I invest $20 for a luckcraft 110? Or stick with C-Rigs? If so, what line and hook?

I did manage to catch some stingrays, but the leader breaks, and I am getting snagged left and right.

Coming out from Arizona this weekend to go scuba dive Catalina from San Pedro, and we will have the better part of the day to kill in the area before we can get on our boat. We've gone to Cabrillo Beach Pier a few times, but every time it just seems dead over there, we haven't even seen *other* people get any action. Could be the time of day, as we typically don't get out there until around noon-ish, but figured I'd see if anyone here has some input/advice?

Anyone know of any spots near LA, specifically the San Fernando valley, where I can catch carp? Never caught one and I’m just interested in the experience of it.

Hey guys I’m out of Newport. Just wanted to see if there were any tackle stores that anyone might know close to the area that sells sand worms or blood worms for surf perch/croaker I like to do some fishing sometimes after work but I only know of one place in seal beach that sells them and that’s like an hour and a half total mission for me because of traffic so I just was curious if anyone knew of anything closer.