Guides
Plain-English guides for anglers and tidepoolers
Practical walkthroughs on species identification, fish and shellfish measurement, tidepooling, and responsible catch & release — written by the team behind CatchRules.
- Tide Pool Etiquette: Complete Guide to Responsible Exploring
- California Tide Pools: Complete Guide to Marine Life & LocationsDiscover California's best tide pools from La Jolla to Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Complete guide to marine life, safety tips, and when to visit for optimal tidepooling.
- San Diego Tide Pools: 8 Best Spots with Maps & TimingDiscover San Diego's best tide pools at Cabrillo, La Jolla & Sunset Cliffs. Complete guide with GPS coordinates, timing tips & marine life info.
- Maine Tide Pools: Complete Guide to 12 Best LocationsDiscover Maine's best tide pools at Acadia, Rachel Carson Preserve & Pemaquid Point. Complete guide with timing, creatures & safety tips for tide pooling.
- Ochre Sea Star: Complete Guide to the Pacific's Keystone PredatorComplete ochre sea star guide covering identification, habitat, sea star wasting disease recovery, and their crucial role as Pacific keystone predators.
- Washington Tide Pools: Complete Guide to 12 Best LocationsDiscover Washington's best tide pools at Rialto Beach, Ruby Beach & Puget Sound. Complete guide to locations, timing, species & safety tips.
- Oregon Coast Tide Pools: Complete Guide to 12 Top SpotsDiscover Oregon's best tide pools at Haystack Rock, Yaquina Head, and 10 more spots. Complete guide with timing, creatures, safety tips, and planning advice.
- Acadia Tide Pools: Complete Guide to 7 Best LocationsDiscover Acadia's best tide pooling spots including Wonderland Trail, Seawall, and Bar Island. Complete timing, species, and safety guide for Maine's rocky shores.
- Largemouth vs Spotted Bass: 4 Key Ways to Tell Them ApartI've watched tournament pros argue over whether they caught a largemouth or spotted bass until someone finally breaks out the jaw test—and even then, they're…
- Largemouth vs Smallmouth Bass: 7 Key Differences Anglers NeedLargemouth bass have mouths extending past their eyes and prefer warm shallow waters with vegetation. Smallmouth bass have smaller mouths, thrive in cooler…
- Tide Pool Anemone: Complete Guide to Species & SafetyTide pool anemones are carnivorous cnidarians — marine animals in the same group as jellyfish and corals — with flower-like tentacles containing venomous…
- American Lobster vs Spiny Lobster: 7 Key Differences Every Buyer Should KnowAmerican lobster has large claws and sweeter, tender meat, while spiny lobster lacks claws but offers firmer tail meat with a slightly briny flavor. American…
- Sea Star Identification Guide: How to ID 15 SpeciesIdentify a sea star by counting its arms (most have 5, though some reach 40), noting surface texture, measuring approximate diameter, and confirming your…
- King vs Coho Salmon: 7 Key Differences ExplainedKing salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) average 20–40 lbs with rich, high-fat flesh and a black gum line. Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) run 6–12 lbs with…
- Walleye vs. Sauger: 7 Key Differences Every Angler Should KnowMost anglers have kept a sauger thinking it was a short walleye. Some have done the opposite — released a legal walleye because the coloration looked wrong.…
- Bluegill vs Pumpkinseed: 7 Key Differences ExplainedBluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) are two closely related sunfish species that frequently share the same water. Pumpkinseeds…
- Barnacle Types: A Complete Field Identification GuideIdentify barnacle types by coast — acorn vs. gooseneck, Pacific vs. Atlantic species, tidal zone, and shell texture. Complete field guide with comparison table.
- Striped Bass vs White Bass: 7 Key Differences Anglers Must KnowStriped bass and white bass are separate species that share a family name and enough visual overlap to fool anglers regularly. Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)…
- How to Measure a Fish Correctly (And Stay Legal)To measure a fish legally: lay it flat, close the mouth, align the snout tip at zero, and read to the pinched tail tip. That's total length — the standard for…