The diversity of California in terms of geography, climate, culture and region is well known but the Golden State provides a broad assortment of fishing experiences for the dedicated angler as well. From clear mountain streams and lakes in the High Sierra to Pacific deep sea fishing off the southern coast, fishermen of all stripes are going to come across it all on their California fishing vacation. Choose from cozy California romantic getaways in one of the state’s mountain hideaways or beach rentals that are only yards away from the shore and during specific times of the year, can be enjoyed for a song.
When you are planning your California fishing vacation, you will most likely want to check out the Fishing Network which delivers information on virtually anything you want to know about California’s freshwater and deep sea fishing for the season of the year and region you are planning to visit. This site is a free resource and involves no enrollment unless you want to post to the forum. You can realize a few tips from your fellow anglers and even have a chance to win a free t-shirt if you have tips to share.
An exceptional online resource is The Outpost Mall, which offers information on all sorts of fishing in California, including coastal and deep sea charters. And yet another fishing site you will want to visit is the California Department of Fish and Game in order to obtain any essential licenses or permits.
One of the more colorful and outgoing forms of fishing, particularly in Southern California, is pier fishing. It is a tactic to catch those tasty saltwater fish without having to charter a boat and go far out to sea. In fact, it is amazing how many distinctive kinds of fish one can catch from some of the piers of a picturesque bed and breakfast in SoCal. Two piers worth mentioning are Goleta near Santa Barbara and San Diego’s famous Balboa and Newport Piers. At Goleta, fishermen have reported catching over thirty different species that include halibut, bass, rockfish and even sharks. Balboa of course is one of the most well-liked points in San Diego for couples seeking a romantic date though there are a number of fish to be caught here. Newport is thought of as more of an “angler’s pier,” where most tourists simply go to snag dinner.
Tahoe is a different world completely. Up in the Sierra Nevada, straddling the California-Nevada state line about an hour northeast of Sacramento, is the highest alpine lake in the continental U.S. at an elevation of 6000 feet. Fly fishing in the Truckee River, which drains Lake Tahoe, is excellent and if you choose to visit in the winter, you may very well want to test your luck at ice fishing as well. There are magnificent cabin rental accommodations all throughout this vicinity with spectacular views and amenities to cook up all that fish you lay claim to.
In addition to California’s mountain lakes and streams and pier fishing, there are many charter boat services that will be happy to take you out to the fishing grounds between the SoCal shore and Catalina Island, some of which start out as low as $35 a person.
James Harden is part of the travel team at FindVacationRentals.com and FindBedandBreakfast.com. These directories provide detailed information on beach rentals and things to do.