Capt. John Grim “The Salty Doc”

This is a fishing story. It could have been a «fish story,» but because not everyone appreciates a well-​crafted lie, I’ll say instead that Captain John Grim consistently provides expert guided fishing excursions on San Diego Bay, at an affordable price.
Captain Grim, whose name belies his genial wit and demeanor, is an interesting man of many talents and qualifications: a charter captain, certified and licensed by the Coast Guard, he is also a dentist who retired in 2003 but who continues to sub for colleagues that need the backup.
Over the past 15 years, Captain Grim, or «Doc,» as I call him, has mastered two difficult skills: fishing with strangers, and teaching others how to fish. Though he personally prefers fly casting, Doc is happy to guide spin-​casters from one end of the Bay to the other.
Some folks ask: why spend hundreds of dollars for a guided trip, when you can fish from a party boat for a fraction of the cost? But the question poses a false dichotomy.
The alternative to paying a guide isn’t saving a few bucks by fishing with dozens of drunken anglers who will shout, vomit, foul your line and otherwise ruin your day. It is to buy a boat, committing time and treasure to its upkeep, just so you can fish in peace. Guides are cheaper, and they clean the boat.
There are all sorts of guides. A common complaint about the bad ones is that, whether through inattention or a desire to save on gas, they’ll anchor at a spot, then loiter till the fish show up.
Doc, being a good guide, either puts his clients on the fish, or, once they’ve worked a spot for a few minutes without success (or fished out an active one), moves the damned boat.
He is also willing to take requests:
Doc knows that I love to fish the edge of the saltponds, at the mouth of the Otay River where it spills into the South San Diego Bay Unit of the National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).
Fish, especially bonefish, gather there, as do blue heron and other water birds, and I’m enthralled by the splendid blue-​hued morning views from the water, and the marsh’s sweet vegetal breath.
Running that far south costs Doc extra gas, yet he indulges me, and I am always grateful.
His boat, the «Salty Doc,» is a 22′ Scout Center Console T-​top, propelled by a Yamaha 150 outboard. It’s equipped with a bait tank, trolling motor, up-​to-​date electronics, conveniently-​placed rod holders (rods, reels and lures are provided) and comfortable seats fore and aft that make it an ideal platform from which to fish.
I’ve fished with Doc several times. He has taught me about the Bay and about my own equipment, and he’s been a good host to me and my friends.
In April 2015, Doc guided me and my brother-​in-​law, Eli, to this pleasant day of fishing:
— Starting South, by the NWR, Doc showed us how to fish the wreck near the salt works. We caught and released several Spotted Bay Bass.
— Moving slowly counterclockwise, we worked the pilings at Chula Vista Marina at CV Harbor, which some call the «J Street Marina;» and then the rocks protecting Bayside Park.
— Still «in» Chula Vista, we fished the entrance to Marine Group Boat Works at G St. The location provided a nice arrangement of fishable structure, and a view of pretty boats, too, but on that day, few fish.
— We continued to the front of Sweetwater Marsh (another unit of the NWR), and into the mouth of the Sweetwater River at Pepper Park, where we picked up more spotties.
— Crossing the Bay, we fished the flats near Loews Coronado Bay Resort, drifting east and south to the Coronado Cays Yacht Club. We admired more pretty boats, but seeing no action, we moved north, to the San Diego-​Coronado Bridge.
— Because it’s illegal to anchor or tie up under the bridge, Doc started us up-​current, then drifted through the pylons, fishing along the way. Changing lures, we landed more species here, including Mackerel and Corvina.
— After a dozen drifts, we crossed to Tuna Harbor, where we entertained tourists with our casting skills as we bounced lures off the hulls of working boats, and Eli caught the biggest bass of the day.
— Finally, we shifted to just west of Island Prime/​C-​Level, then drifted east, a pattern that frequently yields excellent halibut bites. But our tide had slackened and put the fish to sleep, so fishing was futile.
As we made a last pass before returning to shore, I directed Eli’s attention overhead, to C-Level’s elegant lunch crowd. The restaurant’s female diners seemed unaware of our presence, but several men, ignoring their plates and companions, watched our progress with jealous enthusiasm.
Those men were right to feel bad. There is no lunch better than a day of fishing with Captain John Grim, on the «Salty Doc.»
Honest.
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National Wildlife Refuge — San Diego Bay:
Island Prime/​C-​Level: