Hello, Our dad was a fishing fanatic since growing up in Terminal Island and the shores of San Pedro in So Cal. He had access to to our friends and neighbors back then that gave him fishing lines, hooks and sinkers. From there, he walked, swam or bicycled all over the shoreline to find the best fishing for the times in that area of the harbor. As he got older, equipment got better and he even made a custom line of fishing poles turned at home and coated with sealers for a finished product for his friends. I even still have an experimental steel custom made rod that I caught plenty of tuna, albacore and white sea bass on a fishing boat during our excursions to Catalina. Since those days, the steel rod still has a working reel and is used for modern kite flying for us, including the last use for our granddaughter. All on a finished custom fishing pole that has stood the test of time. Jnaki During the time of the 1956 photo/post card, he had tried the Huntington Beach pier fishing. He told us about the tram and long pier. Little did he know my brother and I would end up surfing down below 6 years later. He had gone by himself several times, but wanted to take us together, but it never became a regular thing. He took us once and that was that. He liked fishing, but did not like the crowds as one dropped the lines straight down. But , when the fish grabbed the hook, they did not stay still. They took off to try and shake it out. So, over and under other people’s poles/lines/equipment was a constant hassle until one could bring the fish up to the railing. Then he made the decision that he would rather fish from the shoreline and continued his “surf fishing” explorations up and down the So Cal coastline and beaches. YRMV Note: He took his surf-shoreline fishing to the Nth degree. He went to almost every sandy beach from the Long Beach Peninsula to San Diego. his "Local" favorite was the giant concrete pipe that had washed ashore at Huntington Beach's "Tin Can Beach." He took us there and we were amazed at this huge section of concrete pipe just wedged into the shoreline sand. He told us that the wave action in front was swirling enough to move the sand bars. This left little deep water protected areas underwater for fish to swim around and not be bashed by the currents or waves. His knowledge of shoreline activity was amazing and he warned us to stay out of the water. the area was perfect for fishing, but the sandy bottom near the last whitewater edge was dangerous. Why? most beaches that are unprotected by breakwater rocks or jetties create sideways current patterns. So, as the current moves, it digs into the bottom sand creating channels. that is good for the fish, but dangerous for unsuspecting general public. as one steps from dry sand down into the water, the level of sand is flat and about ankle to calf deep. but, as one wanders farther out, the steep bottom drops off and now, it is waist or higher to cause a deep water drop channel. Add that instant drop off, current, and the waves creates a danger zone for most. As one continues out, the drop gets deeper and now it is over head with the current swirling down the beach. This is not the only area of beach that has this problem. So, be aware of the depth of the underwater sand and side currents. Our dad gave us the warning and we understood. We used that warning in our heads as we got older and paddled out to various wave breaking beaches along the So Cal coastline. Many years later, when we took our toddler granddaughter to Balboa Island's beachfront, the same style of side current and deep drop off was evident and we told her about staying close to us at all times. Note 2: The next time our dad went to the Huntington Beach Pier was to film his two sons surfing down below in the crashing waves.
Hey @ramblin dan Coffee..... drink LOTS of coffee!! Then take another look and report back to us. (no.... they don't ALL get better looking at closin' time)
@jeepsterhemi Great series of photos of chronicling what must have been a heck of vacation for the times! Typical way of travelling back then that people today don't understand and enjoy.
The Jalopy Journal
