Fishing year round in Southern California is something that will test the novice and experienced anglers winter fishing sets its own standards. Cooler water temps, even cooler air temps and the winter weather systems that move through all play an effect with your local fishery. At the end of the day it's an ecosystem and it's susceptible to changes.
Winter time means shorter days and longer nights, leaving plenty of opportunity for the dock hoppers to forage in the night. Low and slow is the name of the game. Finesse fishing, bladed baits and crank baits all get you in the strike zone when targeting saltwater bass or most harbor species. Colors of baits may vary but typically match the hatch is the way to go. In murky conditions switch up to something that makes the bait stand out like solid colors or something with a little flair to it or even flash. Without a doubt the best way to bring a hunkered down fish out is something that will drive its lateral line through the roof. Crank baits, chatter baits, a-rigs or anything that will send a vibration through the water will surely draw out that hunkered down lunker.
Winter weather patterns can really throw a curveball when fishing inner harbors. We may notice the cooler damper evenings as the storm approaches land. But the ecosystem is about to experience a drastic change. As the storm approaches land you will experience a change in barometric pressure (high vs low pressure system). As rain falls you will begin having fresh water runoff entering the bays and harbors causing a change in water clarity and color. You may also experience a change in tidal conditions due to storm surge. All these factors can cause a handful of side effects but the one thing that's for sure, once the storm clears the fish will be on the search for food after weathering that winter storm.
When targeting these fish in the winter there may have been one thing you noticed and that is they are stuck to structure. The fish will move around from season to season and around spawns. But during the winter there is a hot ticket to finding fish and that's fishing the abundance of man made “reef like structures” found in the harbor. Docks, pylons, sea walls, jetties, rock outcroppings or natural bottom structure that's scattered all over most southern California harbors.
All these condition changes have an effect on the game fish we target in the inner harbors and bays. By understanding these conditions changes it can help you better target these fish. Use some of these tactics to help identify the needs of your fishery to meet them on their playing field.
Key Takeaways
-Understanding weather patterns and effects
-Bladed baits, crank baits and finesse fishing
-Stick to colors that may stand out in murky conditions
-Slow your tempo down and give the fish time to identify the target
-Develop a pattern (hard structure bites, bedded down fish or free swimmers)