Get To Know Cast and Spear
Fishing makes life worth living – we want to help more people catch their dream fish. The only problem is that not everyone is fortunate enough to have that dad, uncle, or mom to help them discover fishing at a young age.
We were fortunate enough to fish at a young age but like many, life got in the way as we got older. Soon we found ourselves worrying about resumes, bills, and all that adult stuff. All the while, the fish were still out there waiting to be caught.
Luckily, we found our way back. The only problem is that we didn’t have someone to hold our hand like we did when we were kids. You know – that knowledgeable guide showing us where to fish, which lure to use, and which knot to tie. We were on our own. Over time we started to figure it out. We found mentors who showed us the ways. We built relationships with the authentic fishermen out there. The ones that aren’t posting on social media. The ones that if you put them in front of a computer, they’d pour coffee on it so that they could go back outside.
We might not be the best fishermen out there, but it’s our goal always to be learning and sharing the journey with you. We hope this site helps demystify the art of catching fish. Whether it’s catching surf perch from the shore to venturing into Baja to spear big yellowtail – there’s adventure out there, and we want to share it with you.
Cast and Spear is here to support those who like to catch fish – wherever you are.
Brands We’ve Worked With
For brand partnerships and collaborations, email us at [email protected].
Meet the Editorial Team
Jon Stenstrom
Founder and Chief Fisherman
Jon started fishing when he was 6 years old, fly fishing for trout in the backcountry of Yosemite. When he got older, his uncle taught him how to surf fish for perch and shovelnose guitarfish in Torrey Pines, California. He frequented the 1/2 and 3/4 day fishing boats and loved targeting rockfish on a double dropper loop. In his late 20s, he started spearfishing after obtaining his Open Water PADI Certification. He soon ditched the scuba tank and switched to freediving where he obtained his FII Level 1 Certification.
He now splits his time, taking his inflatable boat down to Baja in search of yellowtail and grouper. He also frequents the local spots in Southern California chasing white seabass (his personal best is 65 lbs). He likes to take his kayak out fishing and keep it simple fishing from the surf when he can. Once a year, he goes back into the backcountry to catch brook and brown trout with his tenkara rod.
Dr. Milton Love
Professor at UC Santa Barbara
Dr. Milton Love runs the Love Lab at UC Santa Barbara. He’s an expert in rockfish and other fish that populate the West Coast of California. Dr. Love has graciously spent time reviewing parts of our fish guides to ensure accurate details.
Milton is the author of several fish books, including Rockfishes of the Northeast Pacific, Certainly More Than You Want to Know About the Fishes of the Pacific Coast, and A Guide to Rockfishes, Thornyheads, and Scorpionfishes of the Northeast Pacific.
“Coach”
Retired Commercial Fisherman
The Coach needs no introduction. He’s been fishing for decades and has done everything from deep-sea fishing, surf fishing, freshwater fishing…you name it, he’s done it. A legend in San Diego. He has a plethora of disciples that can tell you how they went from catching a few fish to being dangerous on the water.
A true honor to have Coach’s wisdom. One of the nicest guys out there fishing today.
Check him out on the various forums here.
James Brandon
Fishing Writer
James Brandon has been fishing and enjoying the adventure for over 14 years, with San Diego, California as his best spot. He’s a huge fan of sharks.
He is a staunch enthusiast of the aquaculture, fishing, environmental, and food industries, with advanced research and training from the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development (CASD). When he isn’t fishing, he likes to write or play baseball.
Jacob Pelle
Fishing and Outdoor Writer
Jake Pelle is a third-generation outdoorsman, Eagle Scout, and college student. He grew up fishing ponds and rivers in South Louisiana and Mississippi and graduated to fishing brackish/marsh and coastal waters for Redfish, drum, and Speckled Trout.
When not in the classroom or on a flat range, he can be found with rod and reel searching for the next greatest fishing hole in south Louisiana.
Chris Oh
Spearfishing Writer
Having grown up near the ocean in California, Korea, and Australia, and now living on the Mediterranean Coast, Chris has always been a stone’s throw from the ocean and can usually be found in it in his free time. He picked up spearfishing to connect to his natural environment in Hawaii six years ago and has been hooked ever since with added experience on the islands, California coast, and the Mediterranean.
If the waters are too choppy for a solid shore dive, you might find him off-the-shelf trolling or deep-dropping jigs.
Diana Nadim
Fishing Writer
Diana began fishing at seven, as it has been a long-time family tradition. Her dad was an expert angler and taught her fishing with her two siblings. They used to go to the Bighorn River in Montana and Henry’s fork, Idaho. From catching small bullheads to catching strippers on the backwaters of Bighorn, she loves to get out in the wild and have a marvelous day on the water.
As a pragmatic person, she is obsessed with creating well-researched and practical guides and reviews of the best fishing methods and gear.
Daniel O’Neill
Fishing Writer
Daniel specializes in fly, predator, and saltwater angling. He has practiced angling from a young age, quickly developing his knowledge of fishing fundamentals. His angling journey began in Ireland, primarily targeting rainbow trout on a fly rod. His passion for angling grew extensively as he ventured into other forms of fishing.
He primarily targets freshwater and saltwater destinations in Ireland and the UK. His favorite catch to date was a 7lb / 3.6KG thick-lipped mullet from the Northern Irish coast—a prized fish to target on a fly rod.
He is now the owner of DON Angling, a business that intends to inform and educate anglers on the best techniques, methods, and etiquette.
Editorial Guidelines
At Cast and Spear, we strive to make helpful content for our readers. Our writers and editors take pride in creating original, accurate, thoughtful content to help you catch more fish and make smart purchasing decisions. If you ever come across an article that you think could be improved and have suggestions, please email [email protected]
Product Reviews
Our product reviews are extensively researched and, whenever possible, based on real-world testing. When researching products, we feel it’s important to bring in as much data and perspectives as possible to remove any bias and to get a true understanding of how the products work in the real world. We do this by painstakingly reading product reviews on different platforms, looking at best-seller lists, and talking with industry experts to get their opinions. Numbered rankings are arbitrary because we feel there isn’t a one-size-fits-all for consumers since people have different needs and budgets. Our goal is to provide you with many options to make it easier for you to research. If you visit links within our content, we may receive commissions from your purchases, but we don’t use these commissions to determine which products get listed.
About STROM Ventures
STROM Ventures is a digital media company based in Los Angeles, California. We have worked with brands such as Toyota, TikTok, West Marine, AliExpress, Fishbrain, and more. If you’re interested in collaborating with us on a future project, please reach out to us on any social platform (@castandspear).