Calico Bass Fishing Kelp bass, Calico bass, Bull bass which ever popular name you prefer its scientific name is Paralabrax Clathratus. The calico ranges from Washington to Baja California and is caught by California sport fishing boats more than any other game fish. Many believe the name Kelp bass means it’s found only in kelp beds in truth they are found anywhere there’s structure. Just as the calico lives in a number of different environments the ways to fish for them are as numerous. Fishing kelp lines try to have the boat positioned so the current is running into the kelp. Chum with cut or live bait and hopefully the calicos will follow the chum line to the boat. If they do not it becomes a true challenge you must then get the bait to the bass that are suspended under the kelp. This means casting a live bait or rubber swim bait into the kelp. When bit its important to react quickly before the calico wraps you in the kelp. I like an 8 to 9 foot rod with some backbone for this kind of fishing. When fishing breakwaters and boiler rocks most fishing is done with large swim baits and a lot of the techniques are the same as fresh water largemouth bass fishing, use heavier line when fishing this structure as there are a lot of sharp edges on the rocks to cut you off. Be sure to only keep as many calicos for dinner as you need and release the rest. The calico fishery is very fragile and we all need to do our part to preserve it.