David Pickering
Outdoor Writer, NEOWA
4 Sayles Ave., Lincoln, RI 02865
tel. 401-728-9411
email: imhooked2000@cox.net

David Pickering is a freelance writer, photographer and lecturer who specializes in saltwater surf fishing for striped bass and other species of saltwater fish along with freshwater fishing. He has been an active member of the New England Outdoor Writers' Association (NEOWA) since 1981. His photos and magazine articles have captured dozens of awards from the NEOWA including Best New England Magazine Article in 1995. He has written over 300 feature articles on saltwater fishing and has had thousands of photos published on the subject as well as numerous catalog covers. 

His work has appeared in such publications as the Fisherman magazines (New England, Mid Atlantic, New Jersey/Delaware and Florida Editions), On the Water, Saltwater Sportsman, Fishbelly.com, Northeast Woods and Waters, Massachusetts Wildlife and Doc Muller's Surf Annuals. He is a former "Insider" for On the Water magazine. In addition, Pickering has contributed to three books: Secrets of Surf Fishing at Night, Fishing New England, A Rhode Island Shore Guide, and New England Stripers. Besides writing and photography work, Pickering conducts slide shows and lectures throughout southern New England about fishing in freshwater and saltwater.

David has written hundreds of articles about fishing for striped bass in many magazines including The Fisherman, Saltwater Sportsman, Doc Muller's Surf Annuals, Fishbelly.com, and On the Water. His writing has also appeared in several books including New England Stripers and Fishing New England: A Rhode Island Shore Guide. His award winning fishing photos have appeared in books, on catalog covers and in various magazines. He has been conducting fishing seminars for the last 30 years. Pickering is regarded as RI's most prolific catch-and-release shore fisherman. Over his fishing career, Pickering has landed and released over 40,000 striped bass from shore, and in recent years he has averaged over 2000 striped bass a year. He also fishes extensively for other species of inshore fish including bluefish, fluke, scup, tautog, false albacore and bonito.

David has also written extensively about carp fishing. His articles appear in The Fisherman, The North American Carp Angler and On the Water. Pickering is the RI State Chairman of the Carp Anglers Group, a national carp organization. He has fished extensively for carp over the last 10 years and has caught thousands of them, including many fish over twenty pounds, using a variety of American and European methods. He has been conducting carp fishing seminars for the last six years.

Pickering's specialty is fishing in the surf for striped bass as well as other inshore species such as bluefish, hickory shad, fluke, false albacore, bonito and white perch.  Surf fishing has been a lifetime hobby and passion. Pickering is regarded as Rhode Island's most prolific striper surf fisherman. In recent years, he has averaged over 2 ,000 striped bass a year from shore. Much of his fishing is done with plugs, rigs and lures that he builds and designs himself, major themes in his writing and fishing shows . Pickering also spends a considerable amount of time fishing freshwater for such species as largemouth bass and trout. He is also considered an expert at carp fishing.  He is the RI state chairman of the Carp Anglers Group, a national organization of carp fishermen.

In addition to his freelance writing and photography work, Pickering works as an elementary teacher in the Wrentham, MA, Public Schools. He holds a B.A. degree (cum laude) in liberal arts and an M.A. degree in elementary education from RI College.  Besides fishing and teaching, Pickering coaches Little League baseball and youth basketball. He also works as a ski instructor at Yawgoo Valley Ski Area in RI during the winter months. He currently resides in Lincoln, RI, with his wife, Gail, and his four sons, Matt, Chris, Ben and Jon.