California Offshore Challenge: Reflections
Trophy Bass: Late Fall through the winter months are some of the best months out of the year to head to the islands in the hunt for giant Calico Bass!
WINTER BASSIN’ It’s time to go!
For Calico Bass anglers in small center console boats, the fall and winter months often mean one thing…head to the islands. I’ve taken many trips to the islands during the summer months, and one thing was always on my mind, the ride home. When you’re 50 miles out on a 19 foot boat, the west wind and the chop it creates makes for a brutal, wet ride home that can last for hours; however, without the afternoon west winds, making the run to and from Catalina, Santa Barbara, or San Clemente Island becomes far more enjoyable experience. Instead of looking for white caps and heading home early to lessen the abuse, anglers can fish all day and ride home comfortable and dry.
Jack Sowell and Benny Florentino are two of the most experienced Calico anglers around, and they’ve spent more time at the offshore islands of Southern California than most of us have spent on the water. Every year they head up a flotilla of bass boats for the annual New Year’s Day trip to the islands, and most years, the weather has been excellent. In fact, it has been so good some years that 14 footers have made the trip when given some fuel support form the other boats. The trips are always legendary, and there are always lots of large Calicos caught.
The SWBA tournament series has inspired many Calico anglers to step up and improve their game in local waters. The inshore series has forced many of us to step outside the box, so to speak, and try new approaches, new spots, and to also spend more time on the water. With the continuing success and growth of the series, new ideas for events are always being discussed. A few years back, I went over to Catalina during my winter break from school and rented a cabin at Two Harbors. I decided to get the cabin because I wanted to fish both Catalina and San Clemente Islands for a few days and save time and money getting to the fishing grounds. To my surprise, I was the only non-employee staying at Two Harbors for the entire week. Not only that, but I was the only private boat fishing most of the time, talk about a good time. Sitting on the beach at Two Harbors, with a beer in hand and looking at the Palos Verdes coastline off in the distance, I started thinking about doing the same trip with all of my friends from the SWBA. I immediately called James and started telling him about my trip and brought up the idea of getting a crew together for am SWBA weekend at the island.
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