Fished the rocks in Laguna yesterday afternoon using cut senorita and squid strips for bait. Beautiful day with no surf, but red-tide...water looked the color of tea. Caught/released a Catalina Blue Perch on squid. Casted squid back out when BAM...got a HUGE hit with lots of line pulling out on a buttoned down drag with 20# test. This fish made many line buzzing runs and I was afraid it would hang me up on a rock or kelp. Somehow it didn't and when I brought it to color, I was very nervous as it was the biggest Calico Bass I have ever seen. Immediately moved 10 feet over on the rock to guide it into a tide pool at the bottom of the ledge that luckily, was exposed due to the low tide. Was able to bounce it up 2 feet into it, and then GINGERLY bounced it the remaining 6 feet up the rocks and got it! It was 8 pounds (on my human scale, the only one I have) and measured 23.5 inches long. Too big for my small bucket, so I thumbed it back by the lower jaw for the long trek home. Lifeguards were stoked with it...attracted lots of attention on the beach. My biggest Calico Bass ever and I'm ecstatic! The fishing gods were with me yesterday!!!


http://www.momentoffame.com/snapshot.html?id=51744

Wow Brum!! Beautiful Bass!!! Cudos to you Bro. Lots of fish tacos there friend!!:D

Tight Lines!!

Great job on that fatty plaid! I would do anything for a calico that size!

But I add that I would have given her a kiss on the forehead and let her take the long walk, or swim, back to her own home. These fish are very important to all of us and I would let anything over 3 lb. go.

Thanks for the great report and the cool pick, but please be more careful with our resources.

calicokid

Tod, "human scale"? Like a bathroom scale? LOL. Nice catch.


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Yes David, all I had was the old "human scale" and according to it, it was 8 pounds. And Calicokid, I totally agree with you about releasing the big bulls and only keeping the "just legals" which is normally what I do. However, I fished those rocks about 15 times this summer for very little, so I felt entitled to that fish. Definitely bittersweet though as I know that fish was at least 20 years old...if I ever get one like that again I'll probably release it.

Todd, great fish! Way to go, but I would also encourage the release for those old girls, the big brooders aren't around like the old days- glad you scored, definetly a trophy fish.

I have to jump in on this one like everyone else...

NICE fish, but I would have released it too.

That's one beautiful fish! To be perfectly honest, I think would have done the same thing. I catch more crap from my wife, because I come home from fishing with nothing to show for it because I released everything I caught. We should release the breeders on a regular basis, but once in a while we are entitled to keep one. I smell a little hypocrisy on this thread. ;-) Anyway... Good times & nice fish Mr. Brumfield!!!

Terry G.

If I didn't do too well for a long time, I defintely would keep this fish and take home for a photo and record then make some fish steaks or sashimi etc.

Nice TOAD!!! I too support catch & release but once in a while it's okay to keep. You're definitely entitled to it especially if you put time on the water. What you do with the fish is your business. Good job!:)

Nice fish! I have always dreamed of catching one that big. When you say that you were fishing the rocks at Laguna, were you from shore or on a tube? I go surf fishing there all the time for perch with perch grubs. I have always wanted to try to throw swimbaits from the shore because I saw some really good structure. THat would be cool if you could catch calicos from the shore. Have you ever heard of tablerock? Any answers would be appreciated.

Tight lines,

OCDeryck

Tablerock in Laguna is a good place for Calico Bass ...mine was caught near there from the rocks that you walk to from the beach. What does bother me about the other fisherman I see fishing the rocks is that they keep just about EVERYTHING...small kelpfish, tiny perch, tiny opaleye, small Catalina Blue Perch, small Rock Wrasse, and so forth. I almost always let these go (did give a 12 inch Catalina Blue Perch to a hispanic guy that wanted it a while back) and have only been targeting the Calico Bass recently. Never expected to get one that big so I kept it...I am POSITIVE most of the people I have seen out there would have kept that fish. However, I know that fish was an old breeder, so it is bittersweet. I'll probably release the next BIG Calico Bass (if I ever get one like that again), although I would definitely like to get my first legal WSB off the rocks...heard a few were landed in Laguna a few weeks ago!

OK, guys. Everyone gets the point about releasing big bass--especially Todd who has already posted his take on it. I encourage C and R of bass, especially big ones, too. I respect his decision and didn't even mention "what he should have done" or "what I would have done" in my congrats to him. I used to mention C and R in years past but mellowed out as most guys know about it (some folks ask for guidelines and then I'll respond). Offering a "congrats" with a "I would have released it" is nothing more than a backhanded compliment. I know, I have done it many times in the past but no more.

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Any pictures?

Click the link in his post for a pic

Big Hammer Swimbaits-Hammerhead Jigheads
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www.pro-cure.com

I get your take Fongster, and Todd is a bro, he was definetly entitled to take that bass. But there is nothing wrong with people expressing their opinion on it. If it's over 12", you can keep it, no worries. And Todd scored a trophy of a lifetime. But there is still going to be feedback from lots of guys, a 30 year old fish with good genes like that is a definite plus if she keeps spawning. Todd, not trying to knock you at all, I kept an 8 pounder off Monarch back in the early eighties, so I guess I'm a hypocrite. All I'm trying to say is, Todd didn't do anything wrong, but people shouldn't get upset if other anglers don't condone it. Enough said; again, great fish you got, next will be the big seabass!

That is my next goal! Also, another hispanic guy out there said he got a 23 inch Calico (kept) about a month ago shortly after I left...there are still some bulls around (although nothing like 20 years ago). Also, some surfer's from SC said some legal WSB were landed there as well a while back (they had a net)...you know the spot! Looks like the only place with surf now is the East Coast...hope we get some soon!

Yo right on with that fish thats nuts. The legal limit is 12' and you passed that so its entirely legal and i guarentee you didnt greatly diminish the calico bass population...The charter boats do that for us.

Wow, that's a brute. Nice job!

What kind of rig were you using for that calico?

OCDeryck

Was broken off by something big about a month ago on 12# test (ripped off the Top Dropper Loop from the main line at the knot) so here's what I did. 1.) Scaled up to 20# test line, 2.) Used a size 2 baitholder hook tied at bottom of the line with a Palomar Knot, 3.) Put a few tiny splitshot weights about 18 inches above the hook. That's about it. Also, I don't cast out very far, but mostly in a certain spot with less rocks to minimize hang ups. My drag was buttoned down pretty tight, but loose enough to let that fish take some line after it was hooked.

Nice work, once again...

I'm heading there tomorrow, I think. It's been too long.

<h2><font color="red">DOMPFA</font><font color="blue">Ben</Font></h2>

Big ones don't taste good, esp. coastal.
Keep the mini's.
Buy a disposable camera.
Do this.
Peace
Late
E.B.