Author: BD STAFF

Knowing what you’ll need to get started building rods can certainly seem like a never ending list of tools and gadgets. While you can easily go overboard stocking up on materials very quickly, the list is actually quite short, and there are only a few main components that you’ll require to get started. In this episode of “This is RodBuilding,” Gary goes through all the different tools that might be needed to build your next rod. He goes in-depth on different tools and alternatives to make building rods easier and faster. Everything from razors, heat guns, power wrappers, and more!…

Ali Hussainy introduces the new line of Penn rail rods created specifically for west coast style fishing. Designed to be rested on the gunnel to create a fulcrum point, these rods allow anglers to put an incredible amount of pressure on large Bluefin tuna and the like. About The Local Knowledge Fishing Show: The show Local Knowledge explores the culture of fishing itself and follows real life characters that spend their lives dedicated to fishing and the outdoors. Local Knowledge focuses on the differing and often humorous viewpoints of two drastically different fishermen from opposite sides of the country. Ali…

Daiwa has added new fish-taunting colors to its legendary lineup of big game poppers. Since the resurgence of Bluefin Tuna in our Southern California waters, targeting big fish with poppers has consistently been many anglers favorite way to fish. Nothing compares to the wake and splash that a fish leaves behind as it attempts to annihilate your popper. While the “most effective” design, size, and color have changed from year to year, one thing remains the same…Bluefin love the popper. What do you do when your line of big lures performs so well there are no design angles left to…

AFTCO’s new film for 2022 takes a quick trip South of the border to beautiful Baja Mexico in the Sea of Cortez. For those in the know, the allure of Baja is something many anglers hold near and dear to their heart. The heightened level of uncertainty and exploratory opportunities that Baja provides is a welcome contrast to the safety and comforts of home. The winter months are generally the offseason for seasoned guides and avid anglers like Captain Ben Florentino, Captain Gerry Mahieu, and Randy Spizer. It’s the perfect time to switch gears and take an excursion to the…

It doesn’t matter where you sit on the political spectrum, if you’re young or old, man or woman, East coaster, or West coaster, freshwater or saltwater, use a spinning reel or conventional, I think one thing we can all agree on is that there is NOTHING better than an awesome top water bite. It doesn’t matter where you sit on the political spectrum, if you’re young or old, man or woman, East coaster, or West coaster, freshwater or saltwater, use a spinning reel or conventional, I think one thing we can all agree on is that there is NOTHING better…

In this week’s Sportboat Roundup, Tonie lets us know that while fishing may seem to be slowing down a bit, there are still some great Fall time opportunities to be had offshore. While it may no longer be limit style fishing every single day, the grade of fish being caught right now is exceptional and by no means is the season over. ⁠ ⁠ In addition to that, long range trips to the lower banks have been seeing steady fishing on yellowtail, wahoo, grouper, and small tuna. Let us know what you’d like to see Tonie cover in future videos…

It’s been another week of great Fall fishing but we’ve got some wind to deal with over the weekend. Join Erik Landesfeind as he breaks down this week’s fishing options and shares some tips on targeting calico bass with artificial lures. About Erik Landesfeind Since getting his start working as a deckhand on a ¾ day boat in the 1980s, Erik Landesfeind has spent the last 35 years fishing the waters off Southern California and Baja. Taking what he’d learned during his years fishing on sport boats, Erik branched out to get his own boat with the intention of fishing…

No species on the West Coast has earned the admiration of saltwater anglers quite like the Pacific Bluefin Tuna. The recent cycle of fish has placed this species in the Southern California Bight in significant numbers with some robust catches being made. With this influx, many are asking if “this is the new standard? Can we expect even larger breeding specimens than what we’ve seen over the past several years?”. While Pacific Bluefin Tuna are not uncommon in the Southern California Bight, what has been unprecedented is the sheer volume of fish that has set up its home base off…

Season 7 episode 7 of the Local Knowledge Fishing Show is LIVE! In this episode the guys head offshore of San Diego in search of the ultimate prize, foaming Bluefin Tuna! The word is out! The Southern California Bluefin Tuna fishing is on fire and the waters of San Diego are literally foaming with life. Ali and Rush switch their targets from the jumbo size Bluefin Tuna to a smaller, medium grade fish for non-stop run and gun action. But with so many fish fixated on the masses of bait in the area, it may take a million casts to…

Want to know how the best get to be the best? Well, we can’t tell you all the secrets but we can tell you one right from Benny Ortiz, regarded as one of the authorities on Slow Pitch Jigging. Benny is meticulous about documenting his experiences on the water and studying what worked and didn’t over time. While Benny’s not divulging any of his favorite grouper holes, he has developed a tool for all of us to get better at our trade. The Slow Pitch Jigging logbook was created in partnership with Benny Ortiz. The goal was to give anglers…

Best-selling Jose frame joins Costa’s PRO Series, bringing next-level performance and celebrating the legacy of Captain Jose Wejebe Costa Sunglasses, manufacturer of the first color-enhancing, all-polarized glass sunglass lens, brings next-level PRO-formance to its best-selling Jose frame. As part of the brand’s fall 2022 collection, this legacy frame, rebuilt with angler-approved upgrades, is named in honor of the legendary waterman and larger-than-life personality, Jose Wejebe.  Building off the original Jose frame (launched in 2010), Jose PRO joins Costa’s PRO Series family of iconic frames with upgraded styling and six performance additions to help anglers manage sweat, reduce fogging and keep…

If you’re wondering who’s bringing the best tech to our angling community, look no further than the FURUNO team. Furuno was the proud recipient of five “Product Of Excellence” accolades at the 2022 NMEA Awards ceremony, bringing their total up to an astounding 247 NMEA award victories since 1971. Each year, NMEA members vote for the products they feel are most deserving of these prestigious awards. Membership in the NMEA is reserved for dealers, distributors, industry experts, and NMEA-approved technicians. The memberships’ continuing votes of confidence for Furuno products are a testament to their reputation for excellence and reliability among…

It’s not quite over yet! While it’s inevitable that during this time of year the fishing tends to slow down, there is still good fishing to be had offshore. Mahi-Mahi and Yellowfin are biting locally, and there’s still a shot to catch a trophy Bluefin on longer trips. If you want to scratch that last itch to go fishing before the offseason, now is the time to go – Tonie’s got some recommendations on a few last minute trips you can hop on. Good luck! ABOUT TONIE BANGOS Tonie Bangos currently works aboard the Grande and is a seasoned angler…

We’ve got another weekend of good weather in the forecast and there are plenty of great offshore fishing options still available. Join Erik Landesfeind as he breaks down what’s happening across Southern California and share some tips on how to easily stow your lures on your fishing rod when not being used. Don’t forget to leave a comment with anything you’d like to see covered in future reports! Watch: Sportboat Roundup with Tonie Bangos. About Erik Landesfeind Since getting his start working as a deckhand on a ¾ day boat in the 1980s, Erik Landesfeind has spent the last 35…

The word is out! The Southern California Bluefin Tuna fishing is on fire and the waters of San Diego are literally foaming with life. Ali and Rush switch their targets from the jumbo size Bluefin Tuna to a smaller, medium grade fish for non-stop run and gun action. But with so many fish fixated on the masses of bait in the area, it may take a million casts to pull one out of the froth. About The Local Knowledge Fishing Show: The show Local Knowledge explores the culture of fishing itself and follows real life characters that spend their lives…

Organization is a little something we can all use in our life, whether you’re getting ready for the next day’s fishing adventure, building a new rod, or just basic living. Being organized cuts down on time and more importantly frustration. In this episode of “This is RodBuilding,” Gary goes through his shop and discusses many ways to increase your workshop organization. Gary looks at his tool setup, parts organization, and the importance of keeping things where you need them to make your workflow easier. Make sure you subscribe and ring the bell, so you don’t miss any future episodes. Check…

The good folks at COSTA continue to walk the walk and talk the talk in being one of the premier brands dedicated to the angling community. Their efforts are felt in so many ways and we are thankful for brands like COSTA that lead the charge in preserving our culture, lifestyle, and fisheries. As you probably know, two weeks ago Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida, bringing with it massive loss and destruction to Fort Myers, Naples, and surrounding areas. The Costa team has boots on the grounds helping with relief and recovery efforts, but there’s so much more to be…

Thank you to the California Department of Fish & Game for listening to our requests and making this happen. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will begin selling 365-day fishing licenses far sooner than expected, thanks to extensive efforts by staff to expedite sales. Beginning November 15, 2022, California anglers can purchase a 2023 fishing license that will take effect on January 1, 2023, and last the entire year. All licenses purchased on or after January 1, 2023, will be effective from the date of purchase for a continuous 365 days. “I’m proud to announce that we’re able…

The fishery in the Southern California Bight is one that’s constantly challenging and testing our gear. From tackle-busting bluefin, yellowfin, and yellowtail to oversized brutes like marlin and swordfish, there’s no shortage of opponents. To tackle this long list of gamefish there is a small list of brands that we trust to get the job done, Okuma is one of those brands. For years their Makaira reels have led the charge as a top-tier option for our big-game fishery, and if you’ve ever had the pleasure of playing around or owning one, you’d see that every detail has been accounted…

PENN Fishing Raises the Bar with Their Upgraded Fathom II Lever Drag Reels Series Word around the marinas and landings is that there is a new and improved range of reels from PENN for our Southern California fishery. If you were paying attention you were able to get a sneak peek at them through our coverage of the 2022 ICAST Fishing Show, which I’m sure only fed the anticipation. Well wait no more, they’re finally here and it’s been well worth the wait. We’re super excited to get our hands on these. In the meantime check out all the info.…

October 7, 2022 Miami, FL: Hook & Tackle (division of Sportailor, Inc.), designers, manufacturers, and distributors of authentic performance fishing & marine apparel since 1989 donated $35,000.00 in apparel to the Miami Dolphins Foundation to be distributed to the victims in need from Hurricane Ian. Stan Rudman is an owner of the brand as well as a co-chairman of the Miami Dolphins Foundation Fins Weekend. “We decided to partner up with the Miami Dolphins Foundation as they have been a force in our community. For nearly 25 years, I have been proud to work closely with the foundation. Hurricane Ian…

Offshore fishing is still going strong as we roll into Fall, and there are plenty of options around the Fleet depending on what you’d like to target. Dorado, Bluefin, and Yellowfin have been steadily showing up in the counts over the past few weeks on anything from full days to longer range trips. Catch up with the latest news from our Sportboat Fleet in this weeks Sportboat Roundup with Tonie. ⁠ ABOUT TONIE BANGOS Tonie Bangos works aboard the Grande and is a seasoned angler who brings us weekly updates that include reports, tips, and the most current information about…

It’s been another week of great fall fishing across Southern California and we’ve got great weather in the weekend forecast, so don’t miss this opportunity to get out and catch some fish! This week Erik Landesfeind breaks down your best offshore fishing options from San Diego to Santa Barbara Island along with what’s happening on the local and island scenes. About Erik Landesfeind Since getting his start working as a deckhand on a ¾ day boat in the 1980s, Erik Landesfeind has spent the last 35 years fishing the waters off Southern California and Baja. Taking what he’d learned during…

SHORE X LL POLAR In most places where fishing is a lifestyle, there tends to be a crossover into other water activities. For many of us, surfing is that other activity, and we draw inspiration from both the surfing and fishing lifestyle in our everyday. Dragon, an eyewear brand that originated in the boardsports world similarly draws its design, ideology, and product development from a parallel way of thinking. Originally the brand catered significantly to the endeavors in boardsports from surfing to snowboarding, and today they’ve adopted fishing under their umbrella of focus. Recently, Dragon has launched a completely new…