10-14-2003, 01:26 AM
Hi there tubeN2,
Advice for Calicos only!
I was going to Catalina 3 times a week up to a month ago when the water got dirty, cold and the boats wouldn't go! ha ha
I would go whatever...... but if the sporties don't go, I'm outta luck. I assume you're going on a 65 footer party-boat/charter boat. If you're going the private boat route it's a WHOLE different story.
I get my reel kicks at Catalina from pulling in big numbers of Calicos from the kelp on the frontside around big rock or ship rock and back around the west end corner where the squid boat always hangs out.
I love the plastics preferably the whams, blams, AA's, Kalin's or the Big Hammers in 4 and 5 inch lengths, Channel Island chovie color is really good. Problem with that color is that the bonito and barracuda love them too. Good thing is that I caught my first two yellows this season with the Kalin on a 1/4 oz head casting to and along the kelp beds and kelp stringers.
I do mostly catch and release as it takes five years for a calico to reach 12 inches and closer to spawning age.
I use circle hooks on either a carolina rig or fly lining an anchovie. I suggest you use regular bait hooks as it takes a good while to get the knack with the circles fly lining. Some guys do good with a texas rig too. It's kinda like bass fishing with live bait. If you catch 50 or so you've had a pretty good day. There will be lots of shorts so be kind. A freshwater bass rod (Heavy flippin' stick and a good HD reel holding at least 100 yards of line) setup should be OK. Have an extra backup reel filled with line too. I usually fish with 12lb and go up if they don't seem to care about line or there's yellows breezing by.
If you're going on a private boat, you're fishing buddies going on the trip should be you're best source of info.
JapanRon
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