Good Fishing On A Golf Course? Long Beach Is On Par

The following article was written for a published by THE DISTRICT WEEKLY MAGAZINE, a defunct spin-off of THE O.C. WEEKLY MAGAZINE.

GOOD FISHING ON A GOLF COURSE?  LONG BEACH IS ON PAR

     Ever pass by a water hazard on a golf course and wonder if there are fish down there? Well, there are. Big ones, too. In fact, anglers reel in world-record-size largemouth bass out of abandoned golf courses in places like Georgia all the time. Here in Long Beach, however, our courses are rarely devoid of any golfers. Except at night. Fishing at night, or nightfishin’, as I call it, is easy—kind of like fishing during the day, except it’s at night. Simply find out the closing time, pack a flashlight, spend a few bucks on a Roland Martin Magic Collapsible Wonder Rod (it looks like a telescope), and pray for a nibble. Here are your best bets for a bite—or at least an adventure.

....Skylinks: Many water hazards mean a fun night of running around, hopping from one pond to the next. But be careful: There’s a nighttime driving range near the last pond. When the golf balls whiz by your head and into the pond, it sounds like fish splashing—but it’s not. It actually frightens the fish into not biting, or so goes my theory when I get skunked. 4800 E. Wardlow

....Heartwell Golf Course: Head to the last hole: It’s easier to get to and closer to the street, which is important if you need to make a quick exit. Security has stopped us here once. We just chatted him up for 20 minutes, gave him some beer, and he let us keep fishing. We brought Pabst, but he mentioned he liked Coors. 6700 E. Carson

....Virginia Country Club: Yes, it’s private, which means it’s a lot tougher to get into. But boy does this place feel like you’re fishing in heaven. Lawns are mowed neatly to the water’s edge; daisies and cattails sprout out of pristine little bushes; and I’ve even seen the occasional water lily float by. I’m guessing the fish are either very well fed or just plain old and don’t like to bite, because I’ve been here three times and have yet to catch anything. As for security? They’re a guaranteed catch every time. 4602 N. Virginia Road

....El Dorado Park: You could fish the stocked lakes a hundred feet or so away from these dirty green ponds, but come on Mr. Adventure, which would Mark Twain choose? Besides, you need a fishing license for those lakes. Nightfishermen? We don’t need nor can we afford pricey fishing licenses. Just give us a camera with a flash. 3234 El Dorado Blvd.