Barred Sandbass{paralabrax nebulifer} The Barred sandbass ranges from Magdalena Bay Baja California to Santa Cruz California with the largest sandbass caught on rod and reel 13# 3 ounces by Bob Halal. The diet of sandbass includes crab, octopus, squid, and small fish. They occur in waters as deep as 600 feet but most are caught in 60 to 90 feet of water Most sandbass are caught on the flats off of Southern California with the most popular spots being the Horseshoe kelp to Newport Beach, Dana Point to Oceanside and off of San Diego. Most sandbass are caught on live bait but they will also readily take iron or plastic jigs. When using plastic jigs for sandbass they work best with a strip of squid for scent. When using bait let the sandbass run for a short ways before setting the hook as they like to move away from the other sandbass before eating. For tackle a 6 to 8 foot bass rod works well when matched with a reel that will hold 150 to 200 yds. of 8 to 15# test line. The most common way to fish bait for sandbass is with a sliding sinker right down on the hook. When the sandbass are on the flats spawning its possible to catch large numbers of them so please only keep what you need. Be prepared to catch large numbers of small sandbass so handle them carefully while releasing .