For the fishing enthusiast, destination is key. Each destination needs to have the right combination of fish variety and great fishing locations, natural beauty, and availability of quality charters, as well as other fun things to do. The best charter destinations have something for everyone, making them perfect for family vacations as well as getaways with fishing buddies.Seward, AlaskaFor the rough and rugged types, Seward, Alaska is the perfect place for charter fishing vacations. There are numerous companies in Seward, providing a good variety of choice when hiring a boat. The Alaskan waters around Seward’s Resurrection Bay have an abundance of fish, including salmon, lingcod, and halibut. The Silver Salmon Derby, the biggest Alaskan fishing derby, is held in Seward every year. Seward offers numerous other outdoor diversions besides charter fishing. It is famous for the Mount Marathon Race, an extreme mountain running race held every year. Hiking in the area is a popular pursuit, given Alaska’s unparalleled outdoor scenery and great variety in trail difficulty. For those looking for a more relaxing activity, the Kenai Fjord National Park is a breathtaking area to see from one of the available touring boats.SeychellesThe smallest African state, Seychelles is an island nation located off the East coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. The country is a leading promoter of sustainable tourism, which leads to responsible charter fishing operations. Fishing in the Seychelles is diverse, including some of the greatest sporting fish: marlin, tuna, barracuda, and sailfish. It is possible to fish waters around either the Inner or the Outer Islands. Tourism as a whole is an important Seychelles industry, and the country makes the most of its natural beauty and diversity. Scuba diving is a great pastime around the coral islands of the archipelago, as the government’s conservation policy has allowed marine life to thrive. The islands themselves are home to an impressive variety of animals, including the endangered Seychelles Black Parrot and a rare species of giant tortoise.Yorke Peninsula, AustraliaThe Yorke Peninsula is located in the state of South Australia, and boasts some of Australia’s most beautiful beaches and best surfing locations. The charter fishing in the area offers an incredible amount of variety, including squid, shark, salmon, snapper, whiting, and mullet. All levels of sport fishing are on offer, from fun, family oriented beach and jetty fishing to rare nighttime charter fishing that often leads to impressively sized catches. Besides the attractive beach and water sport activities on offer, the Yorke Peninsula has an extensive array of land-based family fun available. Tours of the countryside by train, free animal parks and mining tours are popular, as well as hiking through the peninsula’s scenic wilderness.Better get your rods out!
Top 3 Charter Fishing Destinations
A Guide to Pier Fishing in California: Top 5 Piers in California
Pier Fishing in California can be a challenging and fun recreational activity for anyone. When thinking about pier fishing, the first thing to be considered is location. Here are the top five pier fishing locations in California.
Belmont: At 1,620 feet in length and in the shape of a T, pier fishing in Long Beach at Belmont Pier is one of the top fishing piers. Concrete rubble was placed on the pilings to act as an artificial reef. Artificial reefs are manmade underwater structures that are used to manage beach erosion, improve surfing conditions, and encourage sea life to dwell in the shallow waters. Some of the most commonly caught fish at Belmont Pier are: corbina, yellowfin croaker, barred surfperch, thornback rays, guitarfish, halibut, sand bass, jacksmelt, white croaker, mackerel, bonito, sargo and herring. No license is required on the pier.
Redondo: Redondo Pier is a multifaceted pier great for fishing, and other fun through its various unique shops and restaurants, fresh fish markets and amusement games. Redondo Pier consists of two piers: the first is the Redondo Municipal Pier, renowned for its horseshoe form. Monstad Pier is the second, a smaller pier connected to the municipal pier on the south end and usually reserved for fishing. Both piers allow for fishing in designated areas and no permit is required. Halibut, Pacific mackerel, sardines and the occasional bonito are swimming underfoot.
Goleta: Stretching out 1,450 feet wide, Goleta Pier is a great place for fishermen of any level to enjoy a day out. Goleta Pier has a pipeline that runs parallel to the pier, which acts as an artificial reef. This pier offers opportunities to catch quality fish such as guitarfish, perch halibut, corbina, bass and rockfish not to mention the occasional bonito or barracuda.
Port San Luis Pier: Port San Luis Pier, also known as Harford Pier, extends 1,320 feet into the water. One of the finest features of this pier is its unique roof. In fact, Harford Pier is the only pier in the state to sport this luxury, making it one of the best places for pier fishing in CA especially during windy days and rainy seasons. The most common fish found at Harford Pier are: white croaker, jacksmelt, Pacific mackerel, jack mackerel, flatfish, occasional perch and rockfish.
Imperial Beach Pier: Minutes away from the Mexican border, Imperial Beach Pier is the southernmost pier in California. This pier stretches out 1,491 feet into the Pacific Ocean and has a picturesque view of the Los Coronados Islands. Many species of fish are immersed in this area due to the mussel covered manmade reefs and pilings of the pier. Depending where you fish on the pier you may catch yellowfin, croaker, jacksmelt, perch, herring, corbina, thornbacks, stingrays, guitarfish, queenfish, walleye surfperch, bonito, mackerel, halibut and seabass. The best fishing spots at this pier are right by the surf line and mid-way out on the pier.
Remember: location, location, location when planning your next pier fishing trip. While any old pier will have swimming meals a cast away, these five fishing piers offer the ultimate experience for California pier fishing.