Slippery Customers, Beware
Brisk winds and cool temperatures chase away sunbathers, but sports fishermen keep their posts on the Huntington Beach Pier in a weatherproof quest for the big catch and good times. As anglers hooked mackerel and perch, some offered us their fish tales.
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Noah Riemenschneider
Shipping and receiving clerk
Huntington Beach
What makes you a fisherman?
It’s something to ease the stress. You get to check out the surfing and have them get mad if you accidentally hook them.
What’s unique about pier fishing?
You can get a little farther out from the shoreline. If you catch something, you’ve got people egging you on.
Why fish in waters known for pollution?
It’s what we’ve got, so it’s what we’re doing. I haven’t gotten sick yet. It’s not a matter of if but when.
Your best catch ever?
Probably out of Davey’s Locker Sportfishing in Newport on the daylong [boat] trip. I caught the biggest 10-pound yellowtail. Little bit of rosemary, garlic and lemon juice, and you’re all set.
If you could fish anywhere, where would it be?
On a boat off the coast, around Catalina. You have a lot more luck.
What do fish dream about?
I think they dream about finding more food and making more fish.
Are fish our ancestors?
If anyone can explain to me how a giraffe was once a fish, they’re a genius. I just don’t see it.
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Jack Costa
Real estate student
Coarsegold, Calif.
What makes you a fisherman?
The thrill of it. If I see a fish or catch a fish, my heart rate goes up. It’s not something that can be taught.
Best catch ever?
One of the local ponds where I live, I caught an 11-pound largemouth bass. It was huge and I released it, too.
If you could fish anywhere, where would it be?
Probably in Alaska. Sometimes the salmon in those rivers are so thick that you can walk across them.
Why fish in waters known for pollution?
Because I can’t rent a boat and go five miles out in the ocean. I catch and release. I don’t keep the catch.
Do fish have souls?
This may sound corny. Every single fish out there has its own personality. Just like a person. They can outsmart people. I haven’t seen anybody catch anything yet today. If people rule the world, and they aren’t catching any fish, you think, “Why aren’t fish ruling the world?”
Are fish our ancestors?
I don’t see any resemblance. They die if they’re out of water. We die if we’re underwater.
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Oscar Solano
Envelope machine operator
Buena Park
What makes you a fisherman?
For my kids, mainly. That way they stay out of trouble.
Why fish in waters known for pollution?
We usually throw them back in. We don’t keep them.
Your best catch ever?
It was in Lake Perris. We caught three largemouth bass. They were 3 pounds each. It was last year around August. It was 105 degrees out there. That’s the best time to fish.
If you could fish anywhere, where would it be?
Down in Baja. Probably swordfishing. That’d be something to see. Those guys struggle for hours to catch that big of a fish.
Why are there mostly guys out here?
The girls think it’s yucky. But I’ve seen a couple of ladies who fish.
What do fish dream about?
Not getting caught.
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Morton Perry
Retired database manager
Apple Valley
What makes you a fisherman?
It’s the best excuse I can think of for doing nothing.
What’s unique about pier fishing?
Well, you don’t need a license. It’s a big plus.
Why fish in waters known for pollution?
Because they’re the closest waters to where I live. It’s 100 miles from my house to here, so I’m not fussy.
Your best catch ever?
A 5-foot shovelnose shark. He put up a struggle.
Most memorable experience?
Watching a couple of dolphins come flying in the water by the end of this pier with fish in their mouths.
If you could fish anywhere, where would it be?
Probably Florida. My wife and I plan to move there this spring. Our kids live there.
Do fish have souls?
They’re lower on the food chain than I am. There must be a reason for that.