How to catch Barred sand bass

Barred sand bass feed in 58–74°F water and bite best at 64–72°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 1 water.

20 pts · trophy at 20"Feeds 58–74°FBest 64–72°FIn season nowGrass flatArtificial reefChannel edgeFishing pierWreckDock / pilings

About

The kelp bass's sand-flat cousin: schooling in the thousands to spawn on Huntington Flats and the Silver Strand every summer — the classic Southern California summer bite.

How to fish it

Bounce a plastic on the bottom over the sand flats and around the breakwaters on the summer spawn.

What it eats

plastic grubs on a dart headlive anchovysquid

Live bait for it

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.

What to fish it with

the sizes that fish it

Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon

Hook2/0–7/0

Braid30–65 lb

The rule

not confirmed here

Rules differ by state — check CDFW before you keep one.

The current rule →

Where it is, month by month

PPeakSSpawningAArriving·AroundLLeaving

Pacific

Southern California Bight

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