[lamb]

FishDope.com is ran by the Bloody Decks core group. They're all great guys - good peoples, livin' and breathin' fishing. I've been a FD member since they started it.

FishDope.com is nicely run website. They compile the daily So Cal fishing info they have on hand; they sum it up in daily updates for their members. It saves you time, as you don't have to go all over these different web sites to get the present information. They often put out a lot of good info on best fishing technique to use to target specific species. They post numbers/coordinates of popular local inshore and offshore fishing spots. They keep an eye out on the weather and provide updates. The site has a pretty cool Chart with integrated specific bite locations (coordinates!), sea surface temps, and chlorophyll concentration. Very cool chart, but while the info is relevant for inshore game, it's not as important as it is for off-shore. One of the best features of the site I think is the Trip Planning - based on the dope from previous days, you "dot-out" your trip, print out 2 copies - one for yourself to have at the helm, and leave the other one to a family member, just in case so they know where you headed out. Again - this is more of a summer off-shore tuna boater handy tool.

The site has an internal private forum as well where you can ask direct questions.

FD gets their direct dope through a number of local sport-fishing charter boat skippers, folks affiliated with the site, as well as FD members. They're listening in on the VHF traffic, they occasionally use that info as well.

Don't expect to see FD blowing the whistle on every single hot bite that blows up inshore. They won't necessarily know. They eventually do catch the wind of stuff happening if the bite goes on for an extended time.

In my opinion, yearly subscription for FD is definitely money well spent. But my primary use is for the summer off-shore dope.