George's Corner with George Van Zant

About George Van Zant

George is the "Piscatorial Prevaricator II" and an Outdoor Writer for Saltwater Sportsman. George will shares his great fishing insight through Fishing Tales, Fishing Tips, and Reviews. Here you will meet his many friends and his son Cal, who has become quite a legend around Santa Catalina Island in Southern California. So keep checking back as the adventures continue and this section continues to grow.

Born and raised in Long Beach, California, where most of my 67 years was spent around, on top, and under the Pacific. I surf fished with my Dad 2 days a week from the age of 5 years and up. Unfortunately, most of the time was spent shoveling up sand worms for Dads bait. When I stopped back lashing every cast I was finally rewarded with my own own Calcutta rod and knuckle buster reel.

Most of my elementary school years was spent on Belmont pier where I raised money catching herring for the halibut fishermen. 5 cents each was the charge unless I swam the bait out, then it was 25 cents. I learned to swim in the Colorado Lagoon and more importantly I learned to catch smelt with a bent pin. I used them to catch 100 pound "rat-tail" sting rays off the lagoon floats.

During my Junior high days most of my weekends were spent on the Belmont Barge. I sold halibut to the restaurant at the foot of the pier to foot my fishing bill. Then the world of deckhanding opened up for me as jobs opened at old Pacific Landing. I worked on many sportboats for the next 5 years at both Pacific and Pierpoint landings where the world of off shore fishing was mine!

During the Korean war I was drafted and spent two years in the army. In January of 1955 I moved to Fresno to attend Fresno State College on an athletic scholarship. There were many college offers at the time but none could compare to those offered by the hunting and fishing of the western Sierras. During my three years there I was introduced to flyfishing and fly tying and since have kept up with it. I have a personal "killer fly" that seems to work anywhere which will be a future story.

From Fresno I began high school teaching and coaching for the next 37 years in the San Gabriel Valley. Diving has always been one of my past times, not only recreational abalone and lobster diving but also diving as a business adventure. I had a part time underwater hull cleaning service for 15 years which has since been taken over full time by my son. I also own the best fishing boat in Alamitos Bay , "The Chummer". It was built by the Seaway Boat Co, 22 feet long, with a 9 foot beam and twin bait tanks.

Ten years past I began to write stories for the magazine Saltwater Sportsman. I have since had published about 20 stories that cover mostly how- to- do- it stuff in Southern California waters.

My wife Phyllis of 48 years and I raised three children. Carrie, Joyce and Cal. Cal has stepped into the realm of the best white sea bass fisherman at Catalina Island.

I am really looking forward to this adventure on the Web. I feel that I have lots to offer to all those in the field of fishing.