John “JD” Doughty has been a cornerstone of the Southern California sportfishing community for more than four decades. Growing up in Orange County, he developed a passion for fishing early, spending his childhood on piers, docks, and beaches before working in local tackle shops. In 1990, he opened JD’s Big Game Tackle on Balboa Island, which has since become a legendary hub for anglers in Newport Harbor. An expert in big game fishing, JD has traveled the world, following in the footsteps of Zane Grey to pursue sportfishing’s most iconic species while maintaining the historic beauty of the sport. With a distinguished resume that includes years of fishing in Southern California, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, New Zealand, Australia and Scotland, his daily fishing report is world renowned. A past president of the Balboa Angling Club and an Honorary Member of Avalon’s famed Tuna Club, JD was the first tournament director of the renowned Bisbee’s Black & Blue marlin tournament in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. He was also invited by the U.S. government to represent sportfishing at Midway Atoll and was part of the record-winning team in Mag Bay that caught 330 striped marlin in a single day. JD’s passions include building regulation bamboo rods and restoring old reels, preserving the craftsmanship of classic tackle. He remains a dedicated advocate for ethical angling and tag-and-release programs, a strong supporter of IGFA Angling Rules, and an active participant in the IGFA SoCal Swordfish Open, where he assists with tournament communications. His legacy continues through his daughters and grandchildren, who share his love of fishing and often join him in casting lines in Newport Harbor or setting out to break records of their own.