How to Fish for Catalina White Sea Bass

California's Catalina Island is a sportsman's paradise. Island businesses offer golfing, biking, parasailing, kayaking and, of course, fishing. The waters off of Catalina Island feature yellowtail, barracuda, bonito and white sea bass as fishing options. The average Catalina white sea bass can weigh up to 10 pounds close to the shore and upward of 50 pounds out in deeper water, sometimes more. It takes a spinning reel connected to a heavy duty rod and hooked with the fish's favorite meal, such as squid, to be able to successfully fish for Catalina white sea bass.

Things You'll Need

  • Spinning rod and reel combination
  • Braided or monofilament fishing line
  • Dual rig leader line
  • Fish hooks (medium size, such as 6/0 or 8/0)
  • Egg-shaped sinker, 3 to 5 ounces
  • Bait (squid, mackerel or sardines)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a heavy-duty rod set up with large spinning reel and loaded with 25- to 30-pound test braided or monofilament fishing line.

    • 2

      Set up a dual rig leader line on the end of the fishing line, such as a Carolina rig, which has two hooks set up about 3 to 5 inches apart, depending on the length of the leader.

    • 3

      Use medium-sized hooks, such as 6/0 or 8/0, with a 3- to 5-ounce egg-shaped sinker tied about 4 or 5 feet above the hooks.

    • 4

      Use live squid hooked through the head, if possible. Choose dead or frozen and thawed squid if live squid is not available; you might have to jig the rod more often to simulate movement with the dead bait. Use live mackerel or sardines as well. Hook them through the back between the head and the dorsal fin to keep them alive on the hook.

    • 5

      Fish along the shoreline, such as at the Isthmus, "The V's" or West Cove, if you are not using a boat. Look for dirty water that indicates the presence of kelp beds, which is a frequent hangout for white sea bass. Drop the line a few feet away from shore and take up the slack in the line. Ignore any small nibbles that you feel, as it is probably only bait fish nibbling at your bait. Set the hook when you feel the strike. Try to keep the line from getting too close to shore and tangling in the kelp beds. Reel your catch in after a few minutes.

    • 6

      Use a boat anchored along the shoreline and fish in the same areas or move out to about 100 feet of water and fish in the squid grounds. Allow the bait to fall to the sea floor. Jerk the rod tip from time to time to simulate movement. Set the hook whenever you feel a strike. There should be no bait fish out here, so anything nibbling on your bait should be desirable. Allow the sea bass to run for a few minutes, then reel it in when it has tired.