How to catch White seabass

White seabass feed in 56–70°F water and bite best at 60–68°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 2 waters.

70 pts · trophy at 48"Feeds 56–70°FBest 60–68°FIn season nowArtificial reefLedge / hard bottomBeach / surfFishing pier

About

The ghost of the kelp: a big croaker that follows the spring squid spawn into the kelp beds of Southern California and the Channel Islands. Hard to find, and the fish every SoCal angler wants once.

How to fish it

Live squid on a dropper loop in the kelp at night, dawn and dusk, on the squid grounds; quiet boats catch them.

What it eats

live squidbig sardines and mackerelsquid-pattern jigs

Live bait for it

SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.

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.

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.

What to fish it with

the sizes that fish it

Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon

Hook4/0–8/0

Braid50–100 lb

The rule

not confirmed here

Rules differ by state — check CDFW (one-fish bag south of Point Conception in spring) before you keep one.

The current rule →

Where it is, month by month

PPeakSSpawningAArriving·AroundLLeaving

Pacific

Southern California Bight

Central Coast & San Francisco Bay

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