Stretching from Point Conception southward to the Mexican border with approximately 250 miles of coastline, Southern California is often equated with surfing culture. But it was ocean angling that preceded surfing as the top pursuit, attracting traveling anglers to this region of the Pacific. In fact, Southern California is the birthplace of big-game sportfishing, thanks to legendary anglers such as Charles Frederick Holder, founder of the iconic Tuna Club of Avalon on Santa Catalina Island. Established in 1898, it is the oldest fishing club in the United States. ¶ Steeped in history, SoCal’s sportfishery thrives today, particularly in late spring, summer and fall, when ocean temperatures climb and game species converge to gorge on schools of anchovies, shoals of red crabs, flying fish, skittering sauries and schools of squid.
The…