SOCAL’S THREE B’S ARE A-LISTERS

CHASE THE 3 ‘B’-MIGOS

HERE’S HOW TO CATCH BASS, BARRACUDA, BONITO PROWLING THE SOCAL COAST

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

As we transition from fall to winter, fishing off the Southern California coast has been excellent. Warm weather has kept the bite going and anglers are taking advantage of it. But here’s the question: How much longer will it last?

I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that the three B’s will take us through the winter months with some fun action. If we’re talking barracuda, bonito and bass, they will do the trick this winter for your fishing fix.

KELP CLASS When starting off in your preferred offshore kelp bed, watch for the different species of game fish pushing bait to the surface, as well as terns feeding on the schools from the skies. Inside bays and harbors you’ll find bonito – with some barracuda and even some spotted or regular sand bass – below the surface. Outside, if right along the kelp, those same bonito and barracuda will be joined by the calico bass.

Bonito have been running from about 1 to 5 pounds, with occasional fish up toward 8 pounds. Usually, the larger 10- to 15-pounders are found farther offshore. It’s been a while since we have seen the giants we used to get off the kelp line, but maybe they will start to return, as the bonito population seems to be improving every year.

’CUDA FOR ALL Barracuda have always been a mainstay of fishermen in the

Even with winter near, Southern California saltwater fishing should stay hot through this month. Larger bonito tend to hang offshore, but fish will drift in following bait. Joel King admires a nice one. (BILL SCHAEFER)

Fishing with light tackle and chrome or brightly colored jigs or spoons makes catching barracuda a lot more fun. (BILL SCHAEFER)

Southland saltwater fisheries. They grow to “log” size of 8 to 10 pounds, but these toothy guys usually average about 4 to 6 pounds among larger keeper fish.

When they show up, barracuda are usually not hard to locate. Large schools can be seen foaming the water as they chase bait. When hooked, they go ballistic and don’t give up even once in the boat. There are a ton of shorts to play with as well.

TROLL MULTIPLE OFFERINGS Here’s one trick to locating the fish quickly: If they are not boiling on the surface, fish with two rods that have some type of Rebel, Rapala or your favorite trolling crank tied on. Every time you make a move, troll for a portion of it and you shouldn’t have to go far before you hook up. Nothing looks more like an anchovy than one of these plugs in silver or chrome with a black, blue or green back.

Inside the bay or outside along the kelp, these are the baits to troll with. Go a little heavier on your trolling line, as these toothy fish sometimes miss the lure and hit the line, breaking it.

If you are lucky enough to find the fish in a feeding frenzy, then throwing artificial baits will work just fine. Various spoons and iron jigs will work just great for the bonito and barracuda. Chrome, white, blue and

white, different greens, or even reds will attract the fish into hitting. It’s best to have some variety in color, shape and size. Even plastic swimbaits are an option, but these aggressive fish will tear them up, especially the barracuda.

THE BAIT GAME If you are trolling to locate fish and then get a hookup, toss bait around the boat to draw the school of fish

Where baitfish drift into the kelp, calico bass become a good option for anglers tossing swimbaits that imitate sardines and anchovies. (BILL SCHAEFER)

closer. Then toss out your lines and you should start getting bites. If you and your buddies just take turns and use your time to toss a few baits out every time someone aboard lands a fish, then this should keep the school around the boat and the action should continue for quite a while.

HERE COME THE BASS When the balls of bait drift up close to the kelp, then the calicos and some sand bass get in on the feeding action. You will be able to score on bait and plastic swimbaits.

When fishing the kelp, you may want to go a bit heavier with your line selection; 12- to 20-pound test should probably do the trick. I like Maxima Ultragreen for abrasion resistance and Maxima braid when right in the kelp.

For my rod and reel I match a Daiwa DXSB swimbait rod with a Lexa reel, which represent classic calico tackle. This rig will work best for both bait fishing and swimbaits. Throw plastics in sardine and anchovy colors.

FISHING ON THE FLY All three of these species will take flies as well. The bass can be a bit finicky, but the barracuda and bonito are easy to catch when they’re in a feeding frenzy and will produce the best battles. A 7- or 8-weight rod will handle the smaller bass, barracuda and bonito, but you may want to go up to a 10-weight for the larger bonito. For flies, white or red and white, as well as other streamers, will do well. Don’t forget a wire leader.

STILL FISH TO BE CAUGHT We may be approaching the official start of winter, but right now there is a ton of bait off the kelp beds and inside the bays. The action is getting better every day.

Don’t give up on fishing yet; the season is never over. You just have to move on to the next species. Yes, it’s getting cold at times out on the water, but remember that action on the salt can be red-hot this time of year. CS

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