How to catch Kelp (calico) bass

Kelp (calico) bass feed in 58–74°F water and bite best at 62–70°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 1 water; in October they are at their peak in Southern California Bight.

25 pts · trophy at 20"Feeds 58–74°FBest 62–70°FIn season nowArtificial reefLedge / hard bottomDock / pilingsFishing pierWreck

About

The calico: Southern California's kelp-forest bass, the fish the half-day boats and kayakers live on from Point Loma to Santa Barbara. Slow-growing — most anglers let the big ones go.

How to fish it

Fish the edges and the open lanes of the kelp beds — fly-line a live anchovy into the stringers, or a swimbait burned past the kelp edge at dawn.

What it eats

live anchovy fly-linedswimbaitssurface ironplastics on a dart head

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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