Since 1950, Los Angeles Rod Reel Club (LARRC) members have been leaders in promoting sportfishing, conservation, and environmental issues. They partnered with POLAHS last fall to create the school’s first after-school Fishing Club. Moderated by POLAHS’ 2014 Teacher of the Year, Mr. Michael Aspinwall, students learn about local, deep sea, long range, freshwater, and fly fishing.

On Friday, April 4th, POLAHS’ Fishing Club participated in an annual LARRC trip to Hansen Dam, where students Ivie Slaton; Belisaria Sidener-Mercado; D'Artagnan Lorica; Victor Gonzalez; and David Jeans volunteered to help special needs children catch a few fish! Ivie, grade 12,  felt the day was great because she experienced fishing through new eyes. "We mentored other children using all the things we've learned over the past year. It was a really special experience to feel their excitement and happiness about fishing for the first time," she said. 

Read about LARRC Activities

Read more about San Pedro's Fishing Tradition

In 1892 Southern California Fish Corp. was the first cannery in the Los Angeles Harbor. In 1903, a technique of preparing and canning was developed to can sardines, mackerel, bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna and albacore. In 1912, the first fresh fish market was introduced in San Pedro and along with other markets that followed, they eventually supplied fresh and iced fish throughout our nation.

Before long, flotillas of purse seine boats were sailing down from northern waters to fish in San Pedro. By 1920 there was a large fleet of fishing boats and methods of fishing such as purse seine, lampara, jig, live bait, gill net, mackerel scoopers, and long line boats. Los Angeles Harbor became the largest fishing port in the nation. The fishing industry in San Pedro was originated primarily by European and Asian fishermen, each bringing fishing knowledge from their native lands.

In 1935, following the depression, 6,000 people were directly employed in the fishing industry. Its payroll was the largest in San Pedro, approximately three-quarters of a million dollars per month. The industry was at its peak during World War II. During the fifties, sardines and mackerel gradually diminished causing the decline of the industry in San Pedro. Today, visitors can stop by the magnificent Fishermen's Memorial that stands along the downtown waterfront.