Many of these terms are used in our Forum board as well as the articles. This is to aid anglers on common words thrown around the SoCal fishing community. The meanings may vary slightly between anglers and geographic locations, but normally reflects the general definition used.
(Please PM Latimeria on the Forum Board if you have any additions for this list)
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviation
AO – area of operation
BALL BOUNCING – trolling for halibut with a cannon ball weight, a dodger and a hoochie squid skirt
BANANA – a vile musa fruit that causes bad luck to boat fishermen and should never be on board any fishing vessel (includes consumption just prior to a trip)
BENDO – hooking up to a fish which causes your rod to severely bend
BIRDS NEST – what occurs to your line when you backlash a cast on a conventional reel
BREEZING – feeding yellowtail at the surface in a particular paced manner
BUTTONED – tightened
C&R – catch and release
CPR – catch, photo and release
CRACK – Gulp! sandworms generally in Camo colored
C-RIG – carolina rig
DARK SIDE – fly fishing (fly guys self appointed term)
DOGS – sea lions
FARMED – to hook up, fight and lose a fish (generally just feeding him your bait)
FISH PORN – fish pictures
GOOGAN – a fishermen who is typically without a license, regard to regulations and etiquette towards other people, especially other fishermen following the rules.
GOOLIGAN – a boater who is typically clueless in all manner of boat operation let alone fishing.
GREENHORN or PINHEAD – a new or inexperienced deckhand
GROM – a young person in the sport (originally a surfer but is extended to other sports)
IRONS – light or heavy metal jigs for casting to feeding fish
JIG STICK – stout rod for casting iron jigs to feeding fish (usually 8 foot)
KM – kastmaster
KOOK – a crazy or eccentric person
LC – LuckyCraft lures.
MAKING BAIT – catching bait (usually by sabiki rig)
MORF – motor oil grub with red flakes
NINJA SESSION– to not get caught fishing (usually under the cover of darkness)
NUGGETS – attractive women (aka nugs)
OC – Orange County
OG – (original gangsta) reference for the original “hot” fishing grounds
OLD SALT – old salt water fishermen, usually bitter
PADDY – offshore floating kelp stringers that draw fish like a magnet
PB – personal best (or Pacific Beach)
PM - private message
PUI – posting under the influence
SD – San Diego
SPUTNIKS– type of surf sinker with superior holding power and break away legs for easy retrieval
Trout Hugger – fly fishermen (affectionate term between fellow fly guys)
VC - Ventura County
WFO – wide f*cking open
Fish Species
(FAT) ALBERT – albacore tuna
BARN DOOR – big halibut
BEAN or SLIDER – corbina
BSB - Black Sea Bass
BSP – Barred Surf Perch
BUCKET MOUTH – largemouth bass
BUG or ROACH - lobster
BUTT or FLATTY – halibut
BUTTER LIP – black perch (not to be confused with a rubberlip perch)
CHECKER – calico bass
DODO – mahi mahi
FOOTBALL- tuna generally under 20 pounds that is squat and fat in the general shape of a football
GHOSTIES - ghost shrimp
GREENIE – green back mackerel
HOME GUARD or MOSSBACK – Big local yellowtail
LEO – leopard shark
MUD MARLIN – bat ray
PANCAKE or POSTAGE STAMP – very small halibut
SBB – spotted bay bass
SC – sand crabs
SFC – spotfin croaker
SKIPPY – skipjack tuna
SLAB- large fish, generally referencing perch species.
SOUPIE – tope shark (soupfin shark)
SPANIARD – spanish mackerel
SPOTTIES – spotted bay bass
SQUIRTS or CANDY BAIT - squid
TURD ROLLER – sand bass
VINA or SILVER – shortfin corvina
WIGGLES, SURF TRACTOR or SNGF – shovelnose guitar fish
WSB or GHOSTS – white sea bass. WSB also humorously referenced as White Sea Bags (plastic grocery bags)
WSP – walleye surf perch
YFC – yellow fin croaker
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