Customer Reviews

Pier Fishing in California: The Complete Coast and Bay Guide, 2nd Edition

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Public Piers are great places for families and visitors to fish because they are the only places in California where anglers over 16 don't need a license. I've been fishing for 26 years now and build my own rods. I've traveled a lot and fished internationall and this book is unique in the focus it brings to fishing in my home state of California. Much thicker than the first edition and filled with tips and facts that have made my trips more productive. I have other books, like Tom Steinstra's well thumbed guide to California fishing spots, but, those are just a general guide without much depth. Ken Jones gives a detailed review of all the Public Piers in CA. I'd recommend it as required reading for those who are truly interested in catching fish off any California Pier. I've used the book and and found it invaluable as a deskside reference in looking up and planning fishing trips and answering questions authoratively on Ken's Pierfishing.COM website.

A must for any person who enjoys saltwater fishing in the state of California. Ken has done a wonderful job of clearly and concisely describing fishing tackle & techniques for angling at California's coastal piers, as well as environments and species available at each specific pier. Though useful to any fisherman - as a boatless shorefisherman, this guide has been invaluable to me. The author's obvious years of experience are reflected in this book, which has greatly increased my learning curve (and fish count). And the illustrated reference guide in the back of the book is a great tool in identifying what you've hooked into. Makes me want to go fishing!

Consumerism has invaded fishing much as it has ruined many other pastimes. We are constantly called upon to buy more and better exotic products, in pursuit of the perfect trade magazine nirvana. No longer can one just go to a pleasant locale and just fish--one must be on a five day trip in Mexican waters aboard a luxury yacht with a ton and a half of electronic equipment and shiny tackle materials that make graphite seem archaic. Pier Fishing in California is about a simpler way--fishing from public piers across the state. Here are simple, inexpensive ways to have a day of fascinating fishing, without the need for boat, high tech tackle, trawling motor, or (in the cases of public piers), even a fishing license. The book does the job just right--a pier by pier rundown of where to fish, what you'll catch, how to catch it, and how good the fishing is, usually with a pier picture. All "how to" books should be this simple and useful, and pier fishing is a sport that deserves more attention. I suspect if more young people were taken to piers and taught patient technique rather than taken on expensive charters and taught how big money= easy fishing, then we might generate more young people with a genuine love for the sport.

The new edition is larger, but is chalked full of usefull info for any angler. It has great rigging techniques, and a huge amount of info on all of California's piers. Ken Jones knows his stuff, and the book shows it. I own both editions and they are perminant items on my coffee table at home. I'd highly reccomend this book to anyone interested in fishing...these books have it all!

Ken Jones has written a masterful book that details California piers up and down the coast. This books tells you the secrets and tips for more sucessful fishing adventures on California piers. An in depth look at each pier, what types of fish you'll catch, and most importantly, how to catch them. Ken reveals what baits to use, how to hook them and even some favorite recipes to prepare your catch. Also included are pictures of many species to easily identify fish. You will learn knots, rigs and what type of tackle you'll need to become a better angler. This book is no nonsense and straight to the point but never lacks for detail. This book is great for saltwater anglers no matter where you live. If you love fishing the way I do, this is a must read... Great book!

This is a very useful tool for evaluating pier fishing on the California Coast. Since I grew up in So. Cal. and migrated to NorCal, this book was especially useful in describing the changes in techniques required to catch fish in the North. It was also comprehensive in that it covered every pier in Calif,which also included spots in the Delta. I highly recommend this as a "starting tool." Hoever, there is nothing more valuable then chatting with the local pier gurus, that is if they're in a talkative mode.

I gifted this to a friend who intended to start pier fishing but he was from the East Coast and didn't know where or how to start. He reports that the book was a life saver for him. So that he at could least formulate the right questions when fishing off his local pier in Pacific.

Very helpful document.

I have two copies of this book - one I purchased through Amazon, and a personally autographed copy I won on the PFIC internet site. I gifted one to my friend, who I "hooked" into fishing a couple of years ago. The book is filled with useful fishing information for both the novice and more experienced angler, and the intel on California piers stands alone. If you're looking for a book on shore or pier fishing in the Golden State, you can't do any better than Ken's book!

Lots of info and history,easy to read and use

This book has everything you need to know about california pier fishing. The ratings system for each pier is just brilliant. There are tips for what to use on each pier and what you can expect to catch. I also love the stories about peoples experiences on the piers.

Island boy from Hawai'i but have siblings living in the Bay area so to prepare for fishing the piers there several years ago I bought this book. The tips, and techniques in this book are very detailed with even a pier by pier description of all fishing piers along the California coast. The techniques described are very informative and can be used by pier fishermen not only in California but the whole West Coast, East Coast, and Gulf Coast. They even came in handy fishing the piers here in Hawai'i. I highly recommend this book, and the newer additions too. Mahalo again Ken!