Cooling ocean temperatures, chilly weather and the closure of bottom fishing for many species in January and February discourage a fair number of Southern California saltwater anglers from fishing in winter. Yet to those in the know, winter time translates to prime time for big calico bass.

Big calico bass tend to adopt different habitats and feeding patterns in December, January, February and early March. These structure-loving fish often move to deeper reefs, and so catching this species—also known as kelp bass—requires a change in thinking, as well as tackle and tactics. The methods prove dramatically different from those employed when fishing amid shallower kelp beds and reefs in warmer months.

Yet, when it all comes together, catching hard-fighting winter calicos in the 4- to 8-pound range heats up an otherwise cold day.

Deep Structure

For winter calico bass, I focus on reefs in 90 to 175 feet of water, some of which sprout deep bull kelp that this species loves to inhabit. I have found particularly productive reefs along the coasts of northern Los Angeles County and Ventura County, as well as the waters surrounding Santa Catalina Island. But deep reefs along other coastal areas and islands can also kick out big fish.

One secret to finding the reefs lies in looking for lobster-pot buoys. Commercial fishermen place their traps around structure to catch the California spiny lobster, so when you see the buoys in deep water, use your fishfinder to locate the reef. The broader the reef, the better the chance of finding bass. Where, you find one calico, you often more: Bigger bass revert to schooling behavior after migrating to deeper water.

Current Affair

Moving water triggers calico bass, especially those inhabiting deep reefs. In Southern California, the water movement usually occurs on the tide change. Some of the best tides for winter calico fishing occur around the new and full moons. When currents sweep over deep reefs, calico bass tend to ascend and suspend well above the bottom. Many times, I find schools of bass suspended on the upcurrent edges of the reefs, staging to intercept forage as it’s ushered in by the moving water. Use your fishfinder to mark the schools. Take note of locations and depths of the fish, and focus your fishing efforts in these areas.   

Jig-Squid Combo

Due to the water depth and rocky bottom of reef systems, I refrain from using a conventional anchor. However, a bow-mounted saltwater trolling motor with GPS guidance and virtual-anchor features can help immensely in maintaining position over structure and schools of fish.

Drift fishing can also generate results, as long as the wind or current is not too strong. Motor to the upwind and/or upcurrent side of the reef, then pull the boat into neutral to put your crew on a productive drift.

Read Next: California’s Kelp Bed Calico Bass

A metal jig with an opalescent (aka market) squid—either live, fresh dead or defrosted from a batch of frozen squid—pinned to the hook serves as one of the most productive lures for winter calicos on deep reefs. The 2-ounce Promar Ahi Assault diamond jig with a single 3/0 hook is one of my favorites, especially in the Baby Red color. Another great metal jig to use—particularly with a quick drift—is the 3.6-ounce Tady 9 heavy in the Scrambled Egg pattern, rigged with a single 3/0 Siwash hook.

I thread the hook once through the tip of the mantle of a squid, and then drop it straight down to entice a big calico to bite. You also can cast the jig-squid combo, but straight drops tend to keep the line vertical, which helps you better sense a bite.

Bit on the Sink

Winter calico bass typically attack the jig-squid combo as it flutters down through the water column. Many times, the lure simply stops descending short of the bottom, an indication that a suspended fish has slurped it down. Other times, a calico might inhale the offering and race away at top speed as line peels off the reel. In either case, put the reel in gear, quickly gather any slack in the line and, once tight, set the hook.

If the lure reaches the bottom without a bite, reel the jig-squid combo back upward at a steady slow to medium pace to entice a calico to bite on the ascent. Calico bass seem to attack with greater aggression as the jig/squid combo rises, so be ready to set the hook as soon as the fish strikes.   

Tackle Choices

SoCal anglers increasingly choose large low-profile saltwater baitcasting reels such as the Daiwa Lexa 400, Okuma Komodo 450, Penn Fathom 300 or Shimano Tranx 400 for calico bass. They work exceedingly well for wintertime bass fishing, thanks to their level-wind capability and push-bar freespool for easy operation, powerful and smooth star-drag systems for stopping big calicos, and high-speed retrieve ratios for gathering line quickly when bit on the sink. I like to spool up with 50-pound-test braid and a 10-foot top-shot of 30-pound-test fluorocarbon.

A lightweight 7- to 8-foot medium-action graphite rod such as the G. Loomis IMX-Pro Blue series 504C-MF 7½-foot stick provides sensitivity for feeling subtle strikes, reduces fatigue during a full winter day of fishing, and provides the backbone to battle big bass in deep water.

If you’re a SoCal angler, think about heading out to deep reefs at this time of year for a day of targeting big calico bass with a jig-squid combo rig. Who knows? It might be just what the doctor ordered for that case of the winter blues.   

The post Cold Water Tips: How to Catch Big Calico Bass in Winter appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Hobie’s new Mirage Lynx is a lightweight alternative to both a traditional kayak and an inflatable ‘yak. | Chris Woodward

Hobie Mirage Lynx

Easier to store and transport than a full-size rigid kayak yet more substantial and better rigged than an inflatable ‘yak, Hobie’s new Mirage Lynx delivers a new option to inshore anglers. The low-profile Lynx measures 11 feet long and weighs 45 pounds. It offers a 350-pound capacity and comes with Hobie’s MirageDrive 180 system for forward and backward propulsion. Fish light or load up the Lynx with gear. It comes H-Crate ready and features bungee tiedowns at the bow. It also comes with molded-in tracks from mounting accessories; scupper holes for a livewell, and is ready for electronics and Power-Pole installations. Lynx costs $2,699 and comes in dune and two-tone golden papaya.

Fusion MS-RA60

Fusion’s latest entry-level marine stereo, the MS-RA60 packs powerful audio into a small form for boats with limited helm space. Features include wireless connectivity for streaming music over Bluetooth, using Fusion-Link app control; volume control for two independent zones; Class D amplification for up to four speakers, and a built-in digital audio broadcasting tuner. Access software updates from compatible smart devices using the app, and control music with the app, handheld ARX70 remote or Garmin quatix 6 watches. The stereo costs $199.99.

Huk Tie-Dye Pursuit

Splashed with color, Huk’s Tie-Dye Pursuit shirts for men, women and youth feature four-way stretch and cooling fibers. Made from 90 percent polyester and 10 percent spandex, the shirts also wick moisture, dry quickly and resist stains. Men’s long-sleeve shirts come in multiple tie-dye (more traditional, retro designs) and tie-dye lava colors and in sizes S through 3XL. Women’s long-sleeve Pursuits come in similar colors and in sizes XS through XL. Youth shirts cost $35; adult shirts cost $40 ($45 for 3XL). The Tie-Dye collection also includes men’s shorts and a unisex gaiter.

Alutecnos Gorilla 30W 2S

Alutecnos has announced a new Limited Edition 30 wide, two-speed Gorilla conventional reel with a smoked black-matte finish. Offering 3.3- and 1.7-to-1 gear ratios, the Gorilla 30W 2S holds 1,038 yards of 30-pound monofilament. It features an integrated drag pre-set; the multi disc system can be set for more than 50 pounds of drag with guaranteed free spool. A longer lever on the aluminum ergonomic handle allows you to generate maximum power. The reel costs $864.

Sea Falcon S Impact Slow Pitch Jig

Sea Falcon’s S Impact jig was designed for a long, fluttering fall and a long lift to entice finicky fish. The S-type spoon shape produces an irregular movement when jerked on the lift. Available in 120-, 160- and 200-gram weights and in eight colors, the S Impact jigs feature a hand-painted finish. To help fine-tune presentation, Sea Falcon developed a chart for each jig, indicating the correct fall speed, weight balance, pause time, and other specifications. Target species include tuna, grouper and snapper. The jigs cost $23.10 to $29.30.

Daiwa Lexa TW 300/400

A long-casting and palmable low-profile baitcaster, Daiwa’s TW 300/400 reels feature a larger T-Wing System and an aluminum frame and handle-side sideplate to keep all gears in precise alignment. Daiwa designed a unique gear train for these Lexas that employs a brass main gear and a stainless-steel pinion gear. The metals mesh well to enhance smooth casting and lure retrieval. An adjustable power handle allows anglers to control the preferred overall handle length. The reels come in right- and left-handed versions in three gear ratios—6.3-to-1, 7.1-to-1 and 8.1-to-1. And on the Lexa 400, anglers can choose a 5.3-to-1 ratio. Braid capacities range from 175 to 310 yards of 30-, 40-, or 50-pound line, depending on reel size. Max drag is 24.2 to 28.7 pounds. Prices range from $349.99 to $379.99.

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C-MAP Reveal

C-MAP’s new Reveal charts replace Max-N and Max-N+ charts. Reveal features shaded relief for inland, coastal and offshore waters, full-featured vector charts, dynamic raster charts, high-res bathymetry, custom depth shading, aerial photography, satellite overlay, subscription-free easy routing, and more. Shaded relief delivers 3D-rendered land and underwater elevation, including areas of ultra-high-resolution bathymetric imagery. The charts cost $149.99 to $249.99.

The post New Gear and Electronics for June 2021 appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Columbia PFG Respool Knit Hoodie

New for spring, Columbia has introduced its men’s PFG Respool Knit Hoodie. The company partnered with EcoNyl, which produces regenerated nylon, to create the Respool product line from salvaged commercial fishing nets. The hoodie features Omni-Shade UPF 50 sun-blocking protection and Omni-Wick performance-wicking technologies. Other key features include a scuba hood, thumb holes, and a sunglass-cleaning patch. Available in tropic water (green) and Carbon (blue) and in sizes XS through XXL, the shirts cost $65.

Shimano Twinpower SW

Shimano reengineered its TwinPower SW spinning reels this year with an eye toward strength and durability to tackle the ultimate offshore gamefish. TwinPower features Infinity Drive technology, with a new main-shaft supporting structure that eliminates friction; a Hagane body and gear, X-Shield, X-Protect and X-Rigid Rotor. Reel sizes range from 4000 to 14000; the two largest TwinPowers come with Heatsink Drag, which rapidly dissipates thermal energy away from the reel. Max drag pressure ranges from 24 to 55 pounds, depending on reel size. TwinPowers will be available this spring and cost $479.99 to $639.99.

Gill Gloves

Gill has introduced an entirely new lineup of gloves for general marine use. Deckhand, Championship, Pro, 3 Seasons and Helmsman gloves come in sizes XS through XXL; the first three styles come in long- or short-finger versions and feature a reduced cuff length. The full-finger 3 Seasons and Helmsman provide greater protection for the coldest conditions. Gill designed all of the new glove models with pre-curved fingers for better fit. Prices start at $26.95 and range to $54.95. Gill also makes a fishing-specific line of gloves that includes UV and tournament styles.

Yo-Zuri Mag Popper

Yo-Zuri’s newly designed Mag Popper features a large bottleneck-popper face that pushes a lot of water when fished with stop-and-pop or fast-action-pop retrieves. The Mag Popper comes with a new patented weight-transfer system that snaps to the tail of the lure during the casting motion, allowing it to fly tail-first, cutting through wind for longer distances. When the lure hits the water, the weight-transfer system moves to the forward, swimming position and is locked in place by a magnet. Mag Poppers come in two sizes—5¼ (1¾ ounces) and 6¼ (2 7/8 ounces) inches—and eight colors, and cost $16.99 and $17.99.

Toadfish Stowaway Travel Rods

The Stowaway Travel Rod from Toadfish is a three-piece multi-action spinner with interchangeable midsections and tips, allowing anglers to mix and match pieces to create four different rods. The high-carbon graphite blanks provide sensitivity, and spigot-ferrule connections create a firm feel. Other features include patented Toadfish reel seats with rubber inlays and Kigan 3D stainless-steel guides. Stowaways are available in two sizes: 6-foot-8-inch medium/medium-light and 7-foot-2-inch medium/medium-heavy, both for 8- to 20-pound braid. For every Stowaway sold, Toadfish also replants oyster beds to clean up coastal waters. Stowaways cost $178 and come with a travel tube.

Plano Z-Series 3700 Tackle Bag

Designed without zippers for serious saltwater use, Plano’s Z-Series 3700 Tackle Bag features a waterproof base, PVC fabric and easy-access attachment points. The bag comes with two 3700 StowAway utility boxes for customized interior storage. Exterior, mesh side pockets hold small leader spools and other necessities. The bag measures 10-by-18.8-by-10.2 inches and costs $79.99.

Bubba Stainless Steel Pliers

Made with premium, high-carbon stainless steel and a titanium-nitride coating, Bubba’s new pliers can withstand extreme duress and resist corrosion. They feature carbide cutters, crimping cutouts, and non-slip grips and are spring-loaded. Available in 6½- and 8½-inch sizes, they come with a molded-polymer sheath and belt clip and cost $59.99 and $69.99.

Garmin GPSMap x3 Series

Garmin’s new GPSMap x3 Series—743, 943 and 1243—chart plotters deliver higher-res IPS touchscreens and more premium features to the company’s mid-size models. The new edge-to-edge glass displays feature 50 and 60 percent more display pixels compared with previous models. The two smaller units also offer almost twice the processing power of previous generations. Sonar combo models (xsv models) provide built-in support for 1kW traditional chirp and for ultra-high-definition SideVu and ClearVu scanning sonar. These models also support the full Panoptix sonar product line, including LiveScope. Transducers are sold separately. Prices for the new series range from $999.99 to $2,899.99.

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Fusion Signature Series 3 12-inch Subwoofers

Fusion’s new, revamped Signature Series 3 12-inch subwoofers complete the lineup of Signature Series 3 speakers and subwoofers introduced last year. Fusion says this series is the first in the industry to incorporate CRGBW LEDs—with five LEDs instead of three—to offer thousands of possibilities for customizing color and effects. These 12-inch subwoofers pack 1,400 watts of peak power to deliver premium low-end frequencies and high-resolution bass reproduction from a polypropylene cone. Offered in sports white and sports chrome grille colors, the subwoofers cost $699.99 to $749.99.

The post New Gear and Electronics for March 2021 appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Penn Battle Fly Combo

Penn has put the award-winning Battle technology into its first-ever saltwater flyfishing combo. The combo comes with a four-piece, medium-fast, 9-foot rod and a compatible die-cast, anodized reel with a disc-drag system. The reel comes pre-spooled with a weight-forward floating line, backing and a tapered loop leader. The rod features a double up-lock aluminum reel seat with a carbon spacer. Combos are available in 8- or 10-weight sizes and packaged in a ballistic-mesh-covered, hard rod tube with reel pouch. The combos cost $249.95.

Shimano Butterfly Wing-Fall

Designed for conventional speed jigging as well as slow-pitch jigging, Shimano’s Butterfly Wing-Fall jigs generate several falling actions — wide roll, cradle swing and back slide. The Kyorin finish gives the lures a lifelike appearance in six different colors, including (pictured left to right) anchovy, blue/pink, and blue sardine. Available in six sizes from 80g to 250g, Wing-Fall jigs feature through-wire construction and a pair of single assist hooks. They cost $11.99 to $17.99.

Okuma DTR Custom Offshore/Inshore Rods

Okuma designed its DTR custom rods with Capt. John Pisa of Home Run Charters specifically for his home waters of Venice, Louisiana. The offshore rods (pictured) feature models for jigging, popping and trolling with either 24-ton carbon or carbon/e-glass blanks and Okuma’s ultimate flex reinforced rod-tip technology. All feature ALPS machined-aluminum gimbals and tapered TPE foregrips. They come in lengths from 5 feet 8 inches to 7 feet 6 inches. DTR Custom Inshore rods are technique-specific and built on 24/30-ton, low-resin carbon blanks. The 7-foot and 7-foot-2-inch rods feature SeaGuide XO and XQ series angled 316 stainless-steel guide frames with zirconium inserts, Fuji skeleton reel seats, and cork full or split grips. Inshore rods cost $119.99 to $129.99 and offshore rods cost $139.99 to $399.99.

ICOM M94D

Icom has just introduced the first handheld AIS radio — the M94D. The AIS receiver delivers vessel-traffic information on the handheld’s display. The AIS target call function lets you easily set up a DSC individual call. Distress calls can be made quickly with the rear panel button. Other upgraded features include 6 Watts of RF power and 1,500 mW of audio output with improved sound clarity. Extended battery power means about 10 hours of operation. Assign up to 50 favorite fishing spots or destinations as waypoints with the enhanced navigation feature. The floating handheld weighs 12.6 ounces and costs $299.99.

Raymarine Axiom+

The successor to Raymarine’s Axiom line of MFDs, Axiom+ multifunction displays come with a quad-core processor, increased onboard storage (up to 16 GB), and an IPS LCD screen that’s 25 percent brighter than previous models. The HydroTough nano-coated display improves touchscreen performance, enhancing impact resistance and repelling water and oils. Axiom+ comes with four built-in sonar channels, including RealVision 3D, and an ultra-sensitive GPS/GNSS receiver. The networkable Axiom+ units start at $749 (7-inch), $1,099 (9-inch), and $2,499 (12-inch).

Lewmar PowerGrip Power Wheel

Lewmar’s new PowerGrip wheels feature a three-spoke design and a pre-installed ball-raced Power Grip knob. Rim materials include stainless steel (cast, welded or black-painted) and carbon fiber. The deep-dish design comes with integrated molded-rubber grips on some models. Rim diameter measures 13.5 inches. Prices range from $106 to $699.

Read Next: New Products and Electronics for January 2021

Humminbird Apex

Humminbird’s new Apex series of multifunction units delivers dual-channel chirp sonar support and full networking capabilities on a full-HD, 1920- by 1080-pixel display. Control functions using touchscreen or softkey inputs. Available in 13.3-, 15.6-, and 18.5-inch models, Apex units support Mega Side Imaging+, Mega Down Imaging+, and Dual Spectrum chirp 2D sonar as well as optional accessory 2D chirp transducers up to 2 kW. Choose either a chartplotter model with a transom-mount transducer or a control-head only model with an option to pick an accessory transducer. Prices range from $3,699.99 to $4,999.99.

The post New Gear and Electronics for February 2021 appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.