WISHLIST FISH
CALICO BASS DA R K N ES S . S U S P E N S I O N . B E AT I N G S . YO U ’ D B E FO R G I V E N FO R T H I N K I N G T H AT W E ’ R E TA L K I N G A B O U T B D S M B U T, LU R K I N G I N T H E K E L P FO R ESTS O F S O U T H E R N CA L I FO R N I A , I S A D I F F E R E N T K I N D O F D O M I N AT R I X , T H E F R EC K L E - FAC E D CA L I C O BAS S . N I C H O L A S B L I X T O F PATAG O N I A F LY F I S H I N G G I V ES U S T H E LO W- D O W N . SA F E WO R D S D O N OT A P P LY. Photos. Nicholas Blixt and Noah Rosenthal
WHAT: Calico bass derive their name from the mottled bronze colouring across their flanks. Also called kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus is a saltwater bass that falls under the Serranidae family, making it loosely related to groupers. They grow to about 14 pounds, though a double-digit fish has never been caught on fly and, given their slow growth (a 10 pound fish might be 30 years old), it’s extremely important that they be released whenever possible. WHERE: Calicos can be found from Central California all the way down to Baja. They are truly a prime Southern California pursuit, where they can be found in kelp forests or tight to inshore structure such as jetties and breakwalls. “Night time is the right time”—you can catch calicos in the daytime but, to maximize your chances at a substantial fish, night or grey light is your best bet.
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HOW: For the most part, I use a 10 weight fly rod with heavy sinking lines, a short 20 lb leader, and heavy, weedless flies. Even a 1-3 pound fish will put a good bend in the 10 weight, and the strike from a larger fish will likely have you hanging on for dear life. You’re typically casting as tight to structure as possible, then stripping extremely slowly to maintain contact with the fly as it sinks. The initial hit from a calico never gets old. WHO: A fly guide in Southern California will get you into prime calico habitat either inshore or at the local islands. Ex-pat South African Capt. Vaughn Podmore (instagram. com/saltyflyhb), based out of Huntington Beach, is known for this in particular. For a more DIY approach, take a paddleboard out to inshore artificial reefs for the chance to get towed around by a good-sized bass. This was how I got started on calicos.
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