Looking Astern

by Ed Ries

Ed Ries has fished the waters of Southern California for 80 years. His desire to share long forgotten fishing history lead to writing a column in South Coast Sportfishing magazine starting in 1981. As a historian, Ed collected stories, information and photographs of boats and people from the "Golden Years," and wrote his first book, the award winning Tales of the Golden Years of California Ocean Fishing; 1900-1950.

In Looking Astern, Ed Ries combines his lifelong experiences and passion for fishing and 30 years of articles from the column of the same name with photos and stories from friend and fellow fisherman, Mike McCorkle, to make up his third and last book on the fascinating history of sport and commercial fishing in Southern California.

Tales of the Golden Years
of California Ocean Fishing 1900-1950

by Ed Ries

Back again after ten years, the second edition of Tales... is now available, completely revised, expanded with additional pages, photos, and an index.

Tales... covers every type of sport and hook-and-line commercial fishing available during the Golden Years. An author with over 200 articles and columns published in South Coast Sportfishing, California Angler, Mains’l Haul and others,

Tales... is the culmination of seven decades of fishing experience and extensive research. This collection is must reading for all who are interested in saltwater fishing and its history.

Fishing Barges of California 1921-1998

by Ed Ries

Few Southern Californians realize that over 110 fishing barges dotted our coastline from San Diego to Santa Barbara and beyond for three quarters of a century. Vessels that outlived their usefulness were now moored near the coast as platforms from which to fish.

The story of each barge, its previous trades under sail and steam, the barge industry, and the fishing of yesteryear are captured in Fishing Barges of California 1921-1998.

Lost Below

The Southwest's Most Intriguing Shipwrecks, Sunken Aircraft, Submerged Ruins and Undersea Treasures

by David Finnern

Lost Below, by David Finnern, features the Southwest’s most intriguing shipwrecks, sunken aircraft, submerged ruins and undersea treasures. It features stories about local shipwrecks and various underwater plane wrecks. Steamers and river ports of the Colorado are included, including an expedition to the forgotten site of Port Isabel at the mouth of the Colorado River in Mexico.