About ME

My Name is Cruz

I have been fishing since a very young age and have continued this hobby through my middle school years and into high school. I first learned how to fish with my dad on my annual family trips to Big Bear Lake in Southern California. This is where I caught my first fish- a catfish. To this day, my dad is the main reason that I am a fisherman. He has taught me everything from casting to tying my first knots. He has taught me how to fish lakes and rivers to surf fishing and bay fishing. Most importantly for me though, fishing is a way to connect with others, especially my grandfather and godfather. Just like my dad, my grandfather is an avid fisherman himself, and through fishing, I have been able to grow closer to him as he gets older. Similarly, my uncle/ godfather is one of my biggest mentors, and I have been able to learn a lot from him about life in general.  

I have been fishing all around the United States. My hometown city of San Diego has been the area where I have fished around the most. I often go surf fishing with my dad along the beach in Encinitas, CA. My dad has a boat, and sometimes we will take it out to Mission Bay near downtown San Diego, where we fish for bass. I have been fortunate to fish in other regions of the United States, such as Montana. It was in the foothills of Montana that I learned how to fly fish for trout. I look forward to doing more sustainable fishing in the future, and through this research, I have learned more about the impact recreational fishing can have on the environment, especially regarding plastic and non-biodegradable waste. Fishing waste continues to be an issue that I would like to address by supporting biodegradable lures and helping spread awareness about how to be a good steward of the environment and planet Earth.