If you are just targeting the larger ones then a live mackerel is a good choice. Set the hook immediately to avoid having the fish swallow the bait and get gut hooked. If the calicos are around and hungry you shouldnвЂ™t have to wait long for a bite. Find a lively one and cast it into the kelp. They will also hit hardbody stickbaits like the one pictured below.ДЇor smaller Calicos one of the best baits is a live anchovy. I have not tried this yet but I plan to next time I go to Baja. In the last few years many expert Calico anglers have used large plastic slugs retrieved rapidlyВ to target the trophy fish.

However, I usually prefer to fish plastics because the single hook makes for an easier release. I have had some luck catching Calicos on Krocodile spoonsВ when they are feeding on anchovies. You should vary the time you let them sink until you find the water depth at which the fish are hanging out. A weedless leadhead can help reduce snags in the kelp. Don't fall asleep on the sink as they often get bit while sinking. When something bites, set the hook immediately and crank like crazy to get them out of the kelp before they wrap you up. Let them sink a bit and then retrieve them steadily. You just attach them to a lead jig head of 1/2oz-1oz or so and cast them into the kelp. I like them in Halloween, Mackerel, and Sardine colors. My favorite ones are made by a company called Big Hammer. It's always worth getting as close as is safe and lobbing some casts into that swell zone.Д¬alicos readily bite a number of artificial lures that imitate small fish but I have caught most of my Calicos using 5вЂќ plastic swimbaits. In some instances the big ones will be right up against the boilerВ rocks that are being hit by the swell. Once they are actively feeding near the boat you can cast either lures or bait to them. Chumming with small anchovies is an effective method of getting them in the feeding mood if you have a large bait tank. You can catch them from shore, but like most fishing your chances are better from a boat. If you are not fishing next to the kelp or rocks (which is rare) you can get away with a 12lb or 15lb leader.Д¬alico bass can be readily caught on both bait and lures. A 30lb-50lb fluorocarbon leader can be useful sometimes if they don't bite straight braid. I always use braided line as this can sometimes cut through the kelp if the bass go back in there and wrap you up. I like to use a 7вЂ™-8вЂ™ rod rated 15-30lbs and a good baitcasting reel with a fast retrieve ratio like a Daiwa Lexa or Pluton or Shimano Curado. I usually use a medium weight saltwater baitcasting setup. They can be prepared many ways and have a firm, flaky white meat. However, I have eaten an occasional small one. They don't have a lot of fight stamina, so if you pull them out of the kelp quickly you pretty much have them.Д¬alico bass taste good but they are slow-growing so I generally release them, especially the big ones. They have sharp spines on their back so be careful with those.Д¬alico Bass Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 5 out of 10 on the Saltwater ScaleД¬alico Bass are usually found near kelp and rocks, and will often make an initial dive to try to wrap you up. They have larger teeth than largemouths so if you plan to handle a lot of them you might consider wrapping your thumb with a bandaid or some special tape created for this purpose so your thumb doesnвЂ™t get shredded. You can handle them easily by grasping their lower jaw similar to what you would do with a largemouth bass. Later on I fished for them from party boats in Southern California and pangas in Baja. I have fond memories of scrambling on rocks in Southern California and Baja Mexico trying to find good spots to cast for these guys. They hit hard for their size and if you arenвЂ™t careful they will go back in the kelp and wrap up your line. They are a scrappy fish that averages about 1-3lbs and maxes out in the low double digits.

Calico bass (also known as kelp bass)В live in kelp forests primarily in Southern California and Baja.