By Paul LebowitzDavid Hokstad flipped his bait into the shallows along the shoreline, cranked the reel handle a few times, then shouted, “There he is!” as his fishing rod bent over. With a satisfied smile on his face, Hokstad reeled in a strikingly patterned 14-inch long spotted bay bass. The fish was colored olive and yellow, with vertical black bars, and liberally covered with dark speckles. Hokstad unhooked the fish from his crankbait, released it, shrugged his shoulders and grinned as he took in the placid waters of San Diego’s Mission Bay on a sunny wintertime Saturday morning. His expression seemed to say, “See what I was talking about? Great fishing without the crowds.” Hokstad is a champion of the spotted bay bass that live throughout Mission Bay. If you listen, he’ll share his not so closely guarded secrets. He’ll tell you that as the water chills and freshwater bass fishing slows down, each year he and his tournament fishing partner add a pinch of salt to their bass fishing. |
THE BERKLEY FRENZY scores another spotted bay bass for Hokstad. A wide variety of shallow and medium diving crankbaits are effective. |
“One of the nice things about fishing Mission Bay is you can fish all your spots. You don’t have to contend with a bunch of bass boats on every point. It isn’t crowded,” explains Hokstad. While it is not uncommon to see boats fishing the bay during the summer, Hokstad feels the uncrowded winter months are better. “December through March are the best months. You have fish and free launch ramps. The colder water is better,” he says. During summer and fall the bulk of the fish are suspended out in the bay to spawn. Once the water cools the fish are easier to find, as they concentrate on structures such as eel grass beds, drop-offs, and pier pilings. Hokstad claims fishing for spotted bay bass is good practice for the freshwater tournament season, but you get the feeling that after six years there is more to it. He likes these small but charismatic fish. The California Department of Fish and Game bureaucratically insists on referring to the spotted bay bass as the spotted sand bass, but anglers in the know, like Hokstad, affectionately call these fish spotties. The typical Mission Bay spotty weighs a bit over a pound and is about a foot long. A chunky 15- to 16-inch 2-pounder is a good fish. Don’t be fooled by their small stature. Spotties strike crankbaits and spinnerbaits viciously. They’ll put a good bend in a rod and fight you all the way to the boat. Spotties are such an appealing gamefish it is hard to understand why more anglers aren’t pursuing them. Hokstad explains why fishing for spotties is such good practice. “Every largemouth bass technique will work except topwater. You can stick with your confidence bait.” As with freshwater bass fishing, using artificial baits to work structure is often the key to a good day of catching. Crankbaits for Spots Hokstad doesn’t just wind and grind. His retrieve is syncopated, interrupted by pauses and hiccups. At the beginning of the day Hokstad starts with a fast retrieve, then slows it down until he finds the productive pattern. He doesn’t just throw his baits around randomly either. Hokstad focuses on structures such as eel grass beds, docks, and drop-offs. Hokstad is not alone in his appreciation of the spotted bay bass. |
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Fish San Diego.com guide and author Bill Schaefer has been spreading the word for 15 years. Like Hokstad, Schaefer brings a freshwater bass background to this saltwater bay. Also like Hokstad, Schaefer’s first bait of choice for spotty fishing is a crankbait. They differ in their specific preferences. “I like the Fat Free Shad in the floating model,” explains Schaefer. “I can use this one bait from the shoreline into deeper water. You want the rising wobble. The bass will usually hit on the rise.” Schaefer uses a stop and go retrieve with long pauses. Not only does he believe using crankbaits is the quickest way to find spotties, he thinks they filter out a lot of the smaller fish. If Schaefer is not getting bit on the shad pattern crankbaits, he might change to a stick bait such as the Berkley Frenzy Medium Diving Minnow in chrome and black. This bait in particular has a legendary reputation among spotted bay bass aficionados. Spotties on Spinnerbaits Schaefer agrees, “If I’m catching a lot of little fish I’ll use a spinnerbait to entice bigger fish. A spinnerbait looks like a small school of bait. The flash and vibration make it look like easy prey.” Spinnerbaits are more forgiving in the eel grass than crankbaits with all their grass-snagging trebles. Schaefer works his spinnerbaits much like plastic swimbaits, slow rolling them over the grass. “Keep it right on top of the weeds, you want to feel it tick, tick, tick over the grass,” says Schaefer. Hokstad likes spinnerbaits weighing from ½ to 1-ounce, with double willow blades in gold or gold and silver. As the bait thumps through the water the double blades exert extra noise and vibration. The commotion brings in the fish. Hokstad pairs his blades with a trailer such as a plastic grub, leaving it off on windy days. He works them slowly from shallow to deep water, or parallel to the bank in deeper water. Finessing Spotties with PlasticSome days require a more subtle approach than a reaction bait. When crankbaits and spinnerbaits aren’t producing, it may be time to try a soft plastic such as a grub or swimbait. Plastics come in a bewildering variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Schaefer prefers 3- to 5-inch curl tail grubs. He threads them onto ¼- ounce darter or 3/8-ounce gumdrop leadhead jigs. Schaefer calls grubs his “do nothing” baits. “The tails flutter in the current. I scoot them a bit and then let them sit. “To spotties,” explains Schaefer, “grubs look like razor clams.” Crustaceans are a major part of a spotty’s diet, so one may slurp up the offering. Pay close attention to your line, as the fish may mouth the bait gently. At times, Schaefer also swims 3 ½- to 5-inch swimbaits over grass beds or along the main channel. Remember, a slow approach is called for when using plastics in Mission Bay. When fished slowly on light lines, plastic/leadhead combos can sink into and catch in the grass beds. Hokstad has a counterintuitive approach to solve the problem. He tosses his finesse plastics on thick 14- to 17-pound test monofilament. “The heavier line floats the bait in the strike zone just above the grass,” claims Hokstad. “Spotties don’t seem to be line shy,” so Hokstad draws plenty of strikes. Another advantage of the heavier line is it doesn’t stretch nearly as much as the lighter line, which gives him a better feel and control over his bait. Hokstad narrows his selection of plastics to worms and 4- to 6-inch curl tail grubs and swimbaits rigged Texas style. He uses relatively heavy 3/8-ounce bullet weights over 2/0 to 3/0 wide gap worm hooks. To keep his hooks from snagging in the grass, Hokstad uses a weedless rig, with the hook point buried in the body of the plastic. As he does with his crankbaits, Hokstad mixes up his retrieves, often stitching, ripping, and pausing the bait. If he feels a tap he sets the hook immediately. Spotties won’t hold an artificial bait in their mouths for long, so you have to be quick. Although the setup is more complicated than a simple plastic on a leadhead, Hokstad feels using Texas rigged plastics in thick grass beds is the easiest method for beginners to employ to catch spotties. Sometimes the fish are off the chew. Maybe it is dead low tide on a day with little tidal movement. When all else fails, Hokstad turns to a small plastic swimbait such as the 3-inch Big Hammer in the orange and brown Halloween pattern. This bait has a narrow body and a responsive square tail. The bait is worked very slowly on a ¼-ounce darter head. If gin-clear water and bright sunny skies are part of the problem, Hokstad may drop down to 6- to 8-pound test line. Freshwater bass anglers who like to flip plastics next to dock pilings can do the same in Mission Bay. Specialists in this technique usually throw a crab or crustacean pattern. Although this method normally yields fewer strikes, the fish that haunt the docks are the dominant bruisers. Exercise caution when flipping baits around the expensive boats in the marinas. Mind the Tides Except for the general tendency for spotted bay bass to suspend in deeper water to spawn during the warmer months, there is little in the way of a year long seasonal pattern. The same good structure spots that hold fish in the winter will usually hold some year round. However, this is an accelerated pattern that normally progresses through two cycles per day. Understanding tidal patterns is one key to predicting when spotties may be actively feeding. Most days have two high and two low tides. The difference in water level from low to high tide, and vice-versa, is the tidal swing. For example, from a low tide of negative 1 foot to a high tide of 5 feet is a 6-foot tidal swing. Depending on the size of the swing, more or less water will be moving in the bay. A moderate tidal current usually puts the fish in a feeding mode. If low tide is at 6:00 a.m., and high tide at 1:00 p.m., the fishing should be best when the most water is moving, from around 8:00 a.m. to noon. Generally speaking, it will be more difficult to entice bites during the slack water periods around the high and low tide times. |
KAYAK ANGLER JD Clapp shows off a typical spotted bay bass. Note the eel grass. Crankbaits should be fished just over the tops of the grass beds.
CRANKBAITS are the first choice of many spotty anglers. Pictured are the Rapala ShadRap RS7, the Bomber Fat Free Shad, and the Berkley Frenzy Minnow.
SPOTTIES HAVE A TASTE for plastic swimbaits, worms and grubs. Rigged weedless, they can be worked in the densest eelgrass beds.
SPINNERBAITS are an effective tool for targeting larger spotties.
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During the bigger tidal swings of winter Schaefer likes to fish the slower incoming tide and through the “top” of the high tide. Once the tide turns and water starts rushing out of the bay (“like flushing a toilet,” laughs Schaefer), he goes home. When there is too much water movement, such as during a 7- or 8-foot tidal swing, the fish hunker down. If Schaefer has to fish such conditions, he focuses on the back bays and in the pockets of calm water in the lee of structures. The extreme high tides of winter are great opportunities to fish grass beds that are too shallow to target much of the year. When the water is high on the bank, both Schaefer and Hokstad throw baits right up to the shore. Doing so often produces big bass. Hokstad suspects the larger bass follow the bait that is drawn into the shallows for newly exposed food sources, then trap the bait against the hard edge of the bank. Although a lot of bay anglers feel that days with small tidal swings are the worst times to fish, Schaefer disagrees. “Days with little tidal movement are sometimes spectacular. Look around to find the bait. When you do you will often find fishing in a feeding mode,” he encourages. Other Denizens of the Not so Deep When fishing the bay, always keep your eyes peeled for groups of birds diving into the water. “Working” birds are an indicator of a bait ball, a concentration of bait fish. Gamefish may be tearing wildly through the bait, feeding indiscriminately. Motor over to the scene, taking care not to run over the action. Throw whatever you have at the commotion. Don’t delay; the bait could soon disperse or move away. There is no telling what you might catch in the midst of the frenzy. Bait, Boats, or Tackle: Mission Bay has it All Dana Landing Market and Fuel Dock is a prime spot for bay anglers. Conveniently located next to the Dana Landing launch ramp, the Market offers the bay’s only full service tackle shop. Most importantly, the tackle selection here includes bass lures such as crankbaits and small plastics. Anglers can stock up on last minute snacks, buy bait and licenses, or even charter a 6-pack for a day offshore. The Market is one of two locations on the bay to rent 14-foot bay skiffs rigged for fishing. Some of the Market’s skiffs are outfitted with powered bait wells. Sailboats, ski boats, Jetskis, and kayaks are also available. Seaforth Boat Rental offers a full array of watercraft including fishing boats, sailboats, ski boats, jetskis, and kayaks. Fishing boats include 14-foot bay skiffs and center consoles suitable for fishing the local kelp beds. The bay skiffs accommodate up to five anglers and are outfitted with new Mercury 4-stroke 8-HP outboards, rod holders, and anchors. Bait sleds are available for those who wish to fish live bait from the skiffs. Seaforth Boat Rental also sells bait and fishing licenses and has tackle for rent. Fishing from a kayak is growing in popularity. Mission Bay’s quiet waters are a great place to try it. Kayaks rigged for fishing are available at Allen’s Kayaks. As long as gear is kept to a minimum, the kayaks at Aqua Adventures will work for fishing too. Those looking to rent recreational watercraft such as personal watercraft, ski boats, sailboats, and kayaks have a number of other options. Mission Bay Sportcenter has a wide variety of equipment to choose from, and offers rental tackle and license sales. Several resort hotels rent watercraft, including the Bahia, Catamaran, Hilton, and Paradise Point. Fuel docks are located at Islandia Sportfishing in Quivira Basin, or the aforementioned Dana Landing Market and Fuel Dock in Dana Cove. Boating supplies are available just a few doors down from the Market at West Marine Express. Live bait is offered around the clock at the Everingham Brothers Bait Company barge in the center of Quivira Basin. Mission Bay is home to two sportfishing landings. Islandia Sportfishing features daily half-day trips on the Dolphin and ¾-day trips on the Chubasco II. Seaforth Sportfishing offers daily half-day sportfishing trips on the New Seaforth, ¾-day trips on the San Diego and Mission Belle. Both landings also offer whale watching trips. Licenses and tackle are available. For More Information: Stay and Play at Mission Bay If the kids tire of boating, fishing, and swimming, Mission Bay Park has hundreds of acres of grassy lawn good for tossing a ball or flying a kite. Playgrounds are scattered around the bay. Mission Beach, one of San Diego’s most popular, is just west of the bay. Belmont Park boasts an historic wooden roller coaster, and then there is the world famous aquatic park Sea World. For More Information: |