It's squid time again. This means that some rare
opportunities for early season, bull calicos are also here. Although
calicos may be taken year 'round by any number of different methods
- the really big fish just love that candy bait. But, remember take
only what you can eat fresh and carefully release the rest. The
calico populations will not be able to take the pounding we are
giving it much longer without dire consequences. Here is a brief
summary of what we know about this staple of our Southern California
recreational fishing fleet.
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Paralabrax clathratus, family Serranidae
(sea basses)
COMMON NAMES - Calico bass, bull bass, cabrilla (Mexico)
DISTRIBUTION - Kelp bass have ranged historically as far
north as the mouth of the Columbia River and south to Bahia
Magdalena, Baja Cailfornia, Mexico. However, they are rare north of
Pt. Conception. They are abundant in southern California waters
including the shores all of the Channel Islands. They are typically
found in shallow water (surface to 150 ft.) being closely associated
with just about any kind of structure, including kelp.
SIZE & AGE - To 28.5 inches and 14.5 pounds. The oldest
known kelp bass was 34 years old and 25 inches long. They are
relatively slow growing sea bass with average size at age being
represented by the following graph:
Baby kelp bass can be 4 inches after one year and are about 12
inches (legal size) at 6 years. As with most fishes, growth is
highly variable though with the largest fish not necessarily being
the oldest. The world record kelp bass (14.5 lb.) caught by Tom
Murphy off Newport Beach in 1995 was 27 years old while a 9.5 lb.
fish caught by Jim Cvitanovich at San Clemente Island in 1993 was 34
years old. Kelp bass are "slow to grow - so let'em go".
DIET - Small fishes (including anchovies, sardines,
surfperch, queenfish), squid, octopus, crabs, shrimps, and
amphipods.
REPRODUCTION - Kelp bass mature between 7 and 10.5 inches
in length and about 3 to 5 years. Kelp bass form breeding
aggregations in deeper water off of kelp heads and rocky headlands.
Spawning occurs in these aggregations from April through November
peaking in the summer months. Kelp bass lay pelagic (floating) eggs
which enter the plankton in coastal waters. During spawning,
high-contrast, black and white individuals with yellow-orange snouts
are males. Fish with golden hues and yellow chins and jaws are
usually females.
FISHERY - Kelp bass which are popularly referred to as
calico bass are one of the most important nearshore recreational
species in the waters off of Southern and Baja California. The
California Department of Fish and Game estimates that as many as
1,000,000 calico bass may be taken each year by private boats and
commercial passenger fishing vessels (CPFV - in other words - party
boats).
Dr. Allen's Nearshore Marine
Fish Research Program (NMFRP) at
California State University, Northridge conducts research on
local sportfishes with the goal of improving the management of
coastal fisheries. Dr. Allen's column focuses on the recreational
species off of Southern California.
