March 2017 archives

Buffalo Sculpin

Sculpins—Family Cottida Buffalo Sculpin from the Santa Cruz Wharf Species: Enophrys bison (Girard, 1854); from the Greek words en  (on), ephrys  (eyebrow), and bison (referring to the two bison-like horns or spines on the head). Alternate Names: Often called bullhead and mistaken for cabezon. Called büffelgroppe in Germany, glowacz bizonik in Poland. Identification: Their coloring [...]

Huntington Beach Pier

“Surf City, U.S.A,” that’s what the town and locals like to call Huntington Beach (and the city went to court battling Santa Cruz for the use of the name). It’s appropriate given the steady stream of surfers to the local waters and sunbathers to the local beaches. The pier itself serves as the focal point [...]

Great White Sharks at Huntington Beach

What looks to be a great white shark taken at the Huntington Beach Pier  (Photo from Daily Pilot-Los Angeles Times) Roughly a decade ago, during the time of the MLPA meetings, I wrote a letter to the editor of Western Outdoor News. The gist of my letter was that anglers were sometimes their our own [...]

Bat Rays & a Brouhaha in Lodi

Bat Ray logo developed by esteemed “Pier Rat” Lucy Phillips in 2004. I’ve been a fan of bat rays for many years and for over a decade Pier Fishing In California (PFIC) and the United Pier and Shore Anglers of California (UPSAC) held an annual “Mud Marlin Derby” at the Berkeley Pier. Given my affection [...]