Recreation / San Diego : Fishing Is Catching On Along the Pier

Old-timers among the pier fishermen have a saying: “It’s not the catching that counts, it’s the fishing.”

Translation: Even if somebody isn’t catching fish, they still can enjoy the atmosphere of pier fishing.

“We like the fringe benefits the most,” said San Diego resident Emil Grunfield, who was fishing off the Shelter Island Pier with his wife Rita and two grandchildren from Oregon. “There’s the good air, and it’s relaxing.”

Grunfield and his wife are typical pier fishermen in the sense that they come out once a week, whether the catching has been good or bad.

Remember, it’s the fishing that counts.

And maybe the relaxation.

The Shelter Island Pier is in a relaxing setting, with a view of San Diego Bay that’s made for postcards. Off in the distance, the view of downtown San Diego is particularly picturesque.

This is what pier fishing is about at each of the seven fishing piers in San Diego County. One can escape the doldrums of work, get out in the fresh air, enjoy the sights and relax.

Fishermen are more than willing to help each other with tips on the best bait (usually live anchovies) and where to fish. Just find somebody catching fish and move close to them.

There are other secrets to share. After Emil Grunfield caught several saucer-sized queenfish that wouldn’t have amounted to a meal, he explained what to do with them.

“I tell you, we save all of our fish,” Grunfield said. “We have roses and trees at home. The fish we don’t eat go into our garden. They are wonderful nourishment.”

Fishermen within earshot were amazed to hear Grunfield’s explanation. Three kids fishing in the vicinity even offered their queenfish to Grunfield, who gladly accepted on behalf of his plants.

Down the pier from the Grunfields, Willie Keane of Pacific Beach was not having as much luck. His group had not caught a fish. The others were his nephews Michael, 8; and Shaun, 6; and niece Kristy, 7.

Despite the lack of luck, Keane was keeping busy. Every two seconds it seemed, one of the kids would yell, “Uncle Willie, I have a bite.”

“Everybody has had a bite, but nobody has pulled it in,” Keane said with a smile. “This is a good learning experience for the kids, and it’s a good way to pass the day fast. The kids keep you busy.”

In a sense, the kids were true fishermen. Though they had not caught any fish this particular day, they still had fish stories to tell.

“I caught a bass like this and a catfish like this,” Michael said, spreading his arms as far apart as possible. “Once in Florida, I caught a mini shark. It was a hammerhead.”

Even in the San Diego County fishing waters, sharks are in abundance. Longtime locals say it’s not unusual to see several sharks a day caught off the piers.

There are numerous species landed off local piers. Among them are bass, bonito, croaker, halibut, perch, queenfish and smelt.

Halibut must be a minimum length of 22 inches and bonito must be at least 24 inches long or weigh at least five pounds. The others listed do not have size limits.

At Shelter Island, 15-year-old Chris Bruner of Paradise Hills caught the second largest halibut this year, measuring 27 inches.

“It was weird because I caught him on the surface with live anchovies,” Bruner said.

Halibut normally stay at the bottom of the ocean, but obviously there are exceptions.

And Bruner’s interest in fishing is exceptional.

“I can’t get away from it,” Bruner said. “In the summer, I’ll go fishing five times a week. I’m addicted. I think it’s the best sport you can get in to. There’s a lot of excitement in catching the fish. You never know when they will bite until they do.”

Veteran fishermen at Shelter Island think they have a clue when the fish will bite. Arthur Willert of Chula Vista said Tuesdays are the best day to fish.

“We have a fella we call Digger O’Neal, whose real name is Les, that comes out on Tuesdays,” Willert said. “He’s an undertaker, and he’s one helluva fisherman. Darned if I know why. He always comes out here and catches 14- to 17-inch bass. We like to watch him--and we’d like to know his secret.”

Experienced pier fishermen say part of the secret is to fish on weekdays.

“I’d fish everyday except Saturday or Sunday if the fish are biting,” said Paul Arellenes of San Diego. “It’s too crowded on the weekends.”

According to veteran fishermen, this has not been a good year.

There are two theories why: (a) fish are feeding on an abundance of live anchovies already in the water and (b) earthquakes have scared the fish out of the area.

The best pier fishing, some say, was three summers ago.

“When El Nino was in here, bonito were smoking,” said Tom LaPoint of North Park. “It was great then. I’d come here every day, get my bait, toss it out and get a hook up.”

Earlier this week, Bonnie Smith of San Diego was fishing Shelter Island for the first time--and probably the last.

“I haven’t even had a bite,” she said. “Am I going to come back? I don’t know. It depends whether I catch anything.”

Smith was among a few women fishing off Shelter Island.

“There are a lot more women now,” said Jane Bloom of San Diego. “We like to get out and get fresh air. Plus, it’s safe here. You come here, meet people and nobody will bother you.”

This seemed to be a day when the fish themselves were not “bothering” the fisherman, only infrequently breaking the peace and quiet by grabbing onto a hook and making a splash. But, after all, it’s the fishing, not the catching, that matters most.

FISHING PIER SITES

Crystal--West end of Garnet in Pacific Beach.

Fourth Street--North of Seaport Village on the Embarcadero.

Imperial Beach--West end of Palm Avenue.

J Street--South end of San Diego Bay in Chula Vista.

Ocean Beach--South of the Mission Beach jetty.

Oceanside Municipal--Pacific Avenue at Third Street.

Shelter Island--Shelter Island Drive, across from Kona Inn.

*There is no charge for pier fishing.