How To Catch Saltwater Bass with a Spinnerbait – Catch Bigger Fish!
Spinnerbaits. Not Just for Freshwater
Spinnerbait fishing is an incredibly effective technique to catch freshwater largemouth and smallmouth bass, but it is also extremely effective for saltwater bass.
Here in Southern California we have a great inshore and island bass fishery. These bass consist of Calico Bass, Sand Bass and Spotted Bay Bass. These hard fighting saltwater bass are a lot of fun and like to pull back. I really enjoy targeting all of them and most freshwater techniques are all you really need to do so.
When saltwater bass fishing, I do like to dig down into my freshwater box and just go for it. Some of my favorites are Crankbaits, Spinnerbaits, Swimbaits, the A-Rig and even the popular Ned Rig.
If you happen to be fishing in our local harbors, there is a really good chance you’ll be fishing in an area with an abundance of eel grass. Eel grass is a grassy area that spotted bay bass like to hide and forage for food. A really effective technique around eel grass is the spinnerbait. A nice slow roll along the bottom can usually be enough to draw out a big strike.
The Spinnerbait Technique
Fishing the spinnerbait for salty bass is just like freshwater bass, only saltier. Personally, I like to find that eel grass area and slowly work the spinnerbait along the bottom. I try to make as long a cast as I can and let the bait make it all the way to the bottom, and slowly work it back . In general, spinnerbaits will swim with the heavy, leaded side down, so snags “usually” aren’t too much of a problem. You will pick up grass, but that only means that you are fishing in the correct zone.
When I find a patch of eel grass that I want to work, I’ll get up on my area and start to fan-cast. That is, I start casting to one angle, and continue casting several times to just about complete a 90 degree angle. I tend to make 4-6 casts within that 90 degrees. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Once I complete that pattern, I will slide over and begin again making casts to complete that 90 degree angle. What this does is cover a lot of ground and I find that you will pick up more fish as sometimes they are really hunkered in the grass.
Spinnerbait Gear
I don’t necessarily have a go-to spinnerbait setup that I rely on when I grab the float tube or kayak and hit the water. A lot of times this will be a crossover rod that I can do multiple things with as I am usually a little cramped for space. One rod that I really do enjoy fishing the spinnerbait with is the Okuma Cerros 7’6″ Medium Heavy and Heavy. CRS-C-761MH or CRS-C-761H. Both of these rods have tremendous backbone with enough bend to really send my spinnerbait flying. And heck, you can find them for just about $75-80 per rod. You really can’t beat that.
For the reel, I like the Komodo SS in the 273 size. The 7.3:1 gear ratio works out well when I am working the spinnerbait as I can pick up slack quickly and get the bait working. And I really enjoy the Komodo SS for the Stainless Steel internal workings as I am generally fishing these things only a foot or so above the saltwater.
The Spinnerbaits
There really are a ton of great options out there for you in spinnerbaits. I don’t really have a particular brand that stands out above the others, thought I have been fishing the Booyah Double Willow Blade baits lately. They have good action and seem to hold up well. Again, this is all about fishing spinnerbaits in saltwater, so don’t expect thes things to last forever. What you are looking for is a good, solid feeling bait with good action.
As far as colors go, I really enjoy white baits for spotties. White with a little red in it is probably my overall favorite, though I have caught fish on all colors. If I am getting into the evening and night time spinnerbait fishing, I’ll go dark colors like black and red. Blade color is a personal preference and I fish both silver and brass colors quite a bit. Again, just make sure your bait is solid, with good spinning action and you are bound to put some spotties in the boat. If you are taking this technique out to the islands for grumpy calicos or deep sand bass, you will want to go with a heavier bait to get it down deeper.
Video Recap
Overall, I love spinnerbait fishing for saltwater bass. Underrated technique that really should be added to your arsenal.
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See you on the water!
Davey
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