Sea Bass lures?
 

Whats up guys. Just wondering what's the best artificial lures that you yakers use for those big C-bass I see in all those pics?



P.s

I just pulled the trigger on a Native Slayer Propel. Hope to see some of you guys out there before this good fishing goes away.

You only need a rod, reel and a hook. Every wsb that I've caught was hooked using a circle hook and bait, I didn't use some magical $25 lure or some secret potion made of fish oils and whale snot. I tend to keep my sh!t simple and it's worked.

Live fin bait, live squid (when they are nesting), or if you are gonna use a jig you can pin a few squid to a white Tad 4/0 or Sal (aka pig and jig). I've never caught one on anything other than live bait, fresh dead, and white iron or scrambled egg iron. The iron caught fish were metered clearly and basically a wide open bite unfolded each time. I suggest doing some reading in Capt. Wisch's books or other local sea bass legends to get an idea of what's going on.

You have embarked on a fish journey not many are going to share things with you about. I've told you more than I want and that is the obvious stuff. Maybe you can bring some epic breakfast burritos to the launch and get the skinny from a hungry unfed sea bass killer. FYI, I'd go out hungry.............. ;)

Small wsb will bite plastics in the bays but the big models are very rarely caught on lures. A heavy iron with a squid on it left near the bottom is a good call. A heavy or light iron with a live mackeral on it allowed to sink through the water column (called a hamberger or Mexican hamberger) can be good.
The best lure I've heard of for seabass is a big shiny crocodile, either trolled slowly, allowed to sink and flutter down, or jigged slowly above the bottom. Many wsb are caught this way on Baja, doesn't seam to be used in Cali too often.
But bait is the way to target wsb. And if you're using fin bait , macs, dont be shy about using a big bait, like as big as mackerel get, and heavy line, like 40-60. A 50 lb seabass has a huge mouth and has no trouble eatingbbig baits. Mike

Anyone care to shed some light on where white seabass hang out? Are they generally closer to the kelp or offshore more?

I've caught 10+ yellowtail in LJ this last month, and countless pelagics off the boat, but have never hooked into a white seabass... I fish with live bait 95% of the time. I normally fish pretty far out in the yak, and way far out in the boat. So that's why I'm wondering if they hang out close to shore.

I suggest you guys do some reading. I have put a lot of time into sea bass, more than any other fish. You'll find tight lines with sea bass, equal tight lips. There are some local Capt's with good books on Amazon. Maybe this link will help a little.

https://www.wonews.com/t-FeatureArti...ch_041615.aspx

Getting on a boat will help and going on the six pack boats will show you some location education. They might be fishing Cat, but you fish them the same coastal. When I was younger, I got so tired of trying to get them on boats my friends owned, I spent like $2k on various six pack open party trips to learn WTF was going on.

I've hooked them trolling rapalas in a boat.

I read that WHOLE thing. Geez. That's a lot to watch for.

My go too
 

My go to artificial is a 1 oz Kastmaster, (right Rossman)

My other Sea Bass was caught on a 4 oz crocodile (See Avatar)

My third on was on live mac on a halibut 3 way rig.

My fourth was on a yellow and brown iron on the bottom

Still haven't found a pattern