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Sunset over a Surf PerchPhoto by Kevin Green

How to Get Started in SoCal Surf Fishing

The “How to” aspects of surf fishing may seem daunting at first, but chin up! Here are some resources to help you get started. And don’t forget – nothing beats time on the water! Get out there and fish!

Lee Baermann surf fliesPhoto by Lee Baermann

Websites/Blogs

FLY FISHING:

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Print

FLY FISHING:

  • The Corbina Diaries by Al Quattrocchi
  • Books by Ken Hanley
    • Fly Fishing the Pacific Inshore
    • Fly Fishing Afoot in the Surf Zone
  • Fly Fish the Surf - by Lee Baermann - The matching book!
  • California Fly Fisher magazine and Southwest Fly Fishing magazine run SoCal surf fly fishing articles on a regular basis. Keep an eye out for back issues, if you can find them.
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  • Surf Fishing: The Light Line Revolution - by Bill Varney
  • A Guide to Southern California Beach Fishing - a downloadable brochure put out by the California Department of Wildlife (don't laugh, it is actually a good CONCISE guide to fishing the surf. It even has a paragraph on fly-fishing!)
  • Fly Fishing the Surf - by Angelo Peluso (just Atlantic coast info, but useful for SoCal fly fishers)

Instruction

FLY FISHING:

  • Most fly-fishing shops in the Southern California area (Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura, San Diego, and even Kernville!) offer surf fly fishing classes. Please call them for updated class schedules
  • The Fly Zone - personalized instruction by Jim Solomon, FFI master casting instructor, and Al Quattrocchi, IGFA record holder and licensed guide. Whether taking an exotic salt/freshwater trip or fishing local surf, Jim and Al will give you the tools you need to succeed.
  • Gary Bulla - one of the masterminds behind the original SoCal Surf Rendezvous, is available for group or individual instruction on SoCal surf fly fishing. Contact him thru his website: garybulla.com. 
  • Glenn Ueda - offers personalized coaching on your surf fly fishing  techniques. Glenn holds several world records for corbina on the fly, so he knows whereof he speaks! (951) 203-1405, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Surf Guides

FLY FISHING:

  • Several of the fly shops in the Southern California area offer guided surf trips through the store. Following are some independent guides that offer surf fly-fishing trips.
  • Lee Baerman: (805) 486-8226, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Jeff Priest: (310) 489-6131, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Eric Rangel: (805) 524-2064, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Solis on the Salt: 
    • Jeff Solis: (858) 531-1436
    • Scott Donaghe: (619) 742-5888
  • SoCal Flats Fishing Guide Service, Glenn Ueda (951) 203-1405, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Mission Bay Fly Fishing Co., Tyler Vanosdell: (619) 929-2013

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