UTERKelp (calico) bass fishing in Southern California
In Southern California, kelp (calico) bass peak April–October and are around year-round, spawning in June–August, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Calicos wake up in the kelp off Point Loma, La Jolla and Palos Verdes; swimbaits through the stringers.
Good on warm days.
Kelp (calico) bass in Southern California, month by month
- JanuaryAroundSlow in the cold water — deep kelp edges, plastics on the bottom.
- FebruaryAroundSurf perch peak; halibut start moving shallow. Perch on every sandy beach; drift the bays for early halibut on a warm afternoon.
- MarchArriving
- AprilPeakCalicos wake up in the kelp off Point Loma, La Jolla and Palos Verdes; swimbaits through the stringers.
- MayPeakSurface-iron and swimbait bite at Catalina and San Clemente.
- JuneSpawningSpawning aggregations in the kelp — the best bass fishing of the year, mostly catch-and-release culture.
- JulySpawningPeak: live anchovy fly-lined into the kelp at dawn.
- AugustSpawningStill spawning; boils at the kelp edges.
- SeptemberPeakFall feed before the water drops.
- OctoberPeakGood on warm days.
- NovemberAroundFall rockfish and lingcod; surf perch return to the troughs. Island rock piles for reds and lings before the winter closure; perch as the swells reshape the beaches.
- DecemberAroundSurf perch peak; the bays for halibut; winter bluefin some years. Perch in the troughs; slow drifts in the bays; long-range boats if the bluefin stayed.
Where to fish kelp (calico) bass near San Diego, Dana Point, Long Beach
A sheltered bight of kelp forests, sand flats and harbors, with the Channel Islands, Catalina and San Clemente 20–60 miles out and the offshore banks (Tanner, Cortes, the 9-Mile, the 43) beyond. The long-range sportboat fleet out of San Diego is its heart.
Fish Scouter charts 227 wreck, 76 artificial reef, 16 ledge / hard bottom spots in the Southern California Bight map area — the kinds kelp (calico) bass hold on.
What to use for kelp (calico) bass
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Anchovies (Pacific)Nose- or collar-hooked on a #4 to 1/0 hook and fly-lined with no weight, or on a dropper loop; a dozen tossed over the side as chum keeps the bass and bonito up.
- Sardines (Pacific)Collar- or nose-hooked on a 1/0 to 3/0 hook and fly-lined for yellowtail, white seabass and calico bass; a sinker a few feet up to get it under the bait ball.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 58–74°F water, best at 62–70°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch kelp (calico) bass in Southern California?
Peak season is April–October, with fish spawning in June–August (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Kelp (calico) bass are here year-round. April: Calicos wake up in the kelp off Point Loma, La Jolla and Palos Verdes; swimbaits through the stringers.
Where do kelp (calico) bass hold in Southern California?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, dock / pilings, fishing pier, wreck — around San Diego, Dana Point, Long Beach, Marina del Rey, Oxnard, Santa Barbara.
What is the best bait for kelp (calico) bass in Southern California?
Live bait: squid, anchovies (pacific), sardines (pacific). Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for kelp (calico) bass in Southern California?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.
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