EXPLORING THE REGION’S SALTWATER FISHING OPPORTUNITIES—PART II
In this installment of Destination Southern California, angler Glenn Ueda shares tips for targeting nearshore calico bass as springtime approaches. You can read Glenn’s in-depth article about hunting calico bass titled Midnight Madness in the Winter 2025 issue.
Nearshore Calico Bass
As water temperatures creep toward the sixty-degree mark, our structure-loving friends become even more active, ready to slam an enticing bottom-bumping streamer. The largest specimens are tucked deep into their homes, facing outward, waiting for an easy meal. Once hooked, they turn and rocket back into their lairs, where they can saw you off in a living room adorned with a rocky hard bottom.
Following the adage, “We play with them IN the boat,” we rely on an 8-foot section of straight 30-pound Scientific Anglers Absolute Fluorocarbon. Even then, we routinely bust off on unstoppable monster kelp bass—aka calico bass (Paralabrax clathratus). With this kind of fly fishing, there’s absolutely no time to get them on the reel. Instead, with your fly rod pretzeled down to the cork, use your line hand to apply pressure and strip them in under a seriously heavy load. If everything comes together, a beautifully spotted critter will come thrashing boatside.
During the fight, it’s not uncommon for everything to come to a screeching halt as they wrap you in heavy kelp or wedge themselves into jagged rock. A little trick I picked up from my gear days: if you feel resistance, immediately give slack while maintaining just a bit of tension. Wait a moment—if you feel a tailbeat, apply heavy pressure, and more often than not, your catch will dislodge itself. I can’t tell you how many trophy bass this technique has saved.ng just a bit of tension. Wait a moment and if you feel a tailbeat, promptly apply heavy pressure and oftentimes your catch will dislodge itself and you’ll land your catch. I can’t tell you how many trophy bass have been saved using this technique.
I grew up pitching soft plastic lures in the ’70s from our family’s aluminum skiff. Now, as a fly fisherman, I’m imitating the same forage, using crustacean-matching fly patterns year-round. Whether it’s local red shrimp, pelagic red crab, or even small octopi, the game remains the same: “Match the Hatch.”
When it comes to water temperature, an old-timer once told me that 65 degrees in spring is the magic number—it’s when they really get active, move in to spawn, and create excellent fishing opportunities. While low and slow is the go-to retrieve in winter, spring allows for a slightly quicker retrieve to match their heightened activity level. It’s also the time to add baitfish patterns that imitate anchovies, sardines, señoritas, and perch.
That same 9- or 10-weight outfit mentioned earlier is perfect for this type of fly fishing. With a fast-sinking line, you’ll effectively cover the water column. A small but important tip: keep your fly line clean and conditioned. After a thorough freshwater rinse and dry, pinch and pull your line through a Scientific Anglers Cleaning Pad. This keeps it pliable and slick, maximizing casting distance and extending its lifespan.
Just like fishing plastics and leadheads, if you’re losing flies in the rocks and kelp, you’re fishing where they live. Check your leader often—it’s likely to be nicked, frayed, stretched, or weakened as you pull hard and occasionally break off.
The beauty of this game is that every cast holds the potential for a heart-stopping grab, an unforgettable battle, and a fish worth the fight.
