Slow Rolling Mission Bay: Spotted Bay Bass

[Pourboy]

Hey all!
I got the opportunity to head out on Mission Bay with a new plan in my mind. I wanted to fish the channel for some bigger models of the SBB and use some bigger baits. I have really enjoyed using the BFS and smaller baits. It is a great challenge on the bays and I highly recommend it. That being said there has been one bait on my mind lately and it has just been calling out to me. The big spinnerbait. I got a bunch for the trip to Lake Bacarrac that I made back in February and these models were not working there at that time (several videos available for that trip). So the other kick that I have been on lately has been to use baits that have been just sitting there...waiting. Baits that either I have never used or had not used in a long time. This spinnerbait fit the bill.

We began to head out to the main channel and was trolling this bait on the bottom along the way. I got really excited after the first few fish. No dinks! Zero! We ended up having the fog blow in and being in the channel next to the Bahia Resort and could not see either side of the channel. So we camped there for a bit. I didn't want to run into any big boats or rowers (those guys are scary!) We had a delicious beverage while we waited and soon the fog cleared enough to get to the West Mission Bay Bridge. Then it was on! Slam! Slam! Slam! Lots of legals there all slow rolling the blades for me. I would let it drop 30+ feet to the bottom and just slowly wind back. I would vary the speed and sometimes pump and wind. The bite here was consistent for a couple of hours. As the morning moved on the bass moved from the bottom (30+) to mid water around the pilings. This was very important to realize and to target. Dave @Early release was able to get his best spotty bite ever and we ended up leaving around 10am.

All in all a super fun morning on the Bay. I highly recommend giving this method a go. The trailer that I used was the ZMan Diesel Minnow 5in in the Sexy Mullet color on the 3/4oz. double willow blade. Dave got them consistently on the underspin.

Check out the video for more details if you want.
Cheers!
Chris

[pseudoMoGil]

Thanks for the tips! I just got my first float tube, hope to do some MB fishing myself soon on the water. Its funny you mention the spinner bait, I was just at walmart taking a look at them and put them back on the shelf, now i know to grab a few next time i see em!

[JWall]

Thanks for another fun and informative post Chris! Years ago I read a Mission Bay report that all but guaranteed success with big blades. So of course I stocked up all the colors, sizes, etc etc. Heard this story before? Lol. So have never been bit on one since but they do still hold a place in my tackle trays. After reading this I will have to dust them off.

[DarkShadow]

30 feet!? I didn't even know Mission Bay was that deep. Good report!

[Gotfish?]

30 feet!? I didn't even know Mission Bay was that deep. Good report!

My topo map shows the deepest spots being 2 isolated holes of 21' (average low tide reference) deep at in Santa Barbara Cove and off Fiesta Island. The vast majority of the bay is less than 15' deep. Possibly there has been some dredging since the map was published. I have never seen water that deep in Mission Bay on my depthfinder. Might be a good idea for Pourboy to verify his depthfinder reading against another.

https://www.fishnmap.com/item.php?item=807

[Pourboy]

I will look at my finder for sure. Maybe the transom moved or something. Thanks. I will also check that spot again next time I am there.

[DarkShadow]

FWIW, NOAA bathymetrics does say it may get up to 30 feet in that location:

[Pourboy]

Thanks for checking!

[Osidecoffee]

Hey all!
I got the opportunity to head out on Mission Bay with a new plan in my mind. I wanted to fish the channel for some bigger models of the SBB and use some bigger baits. I have really enjoyed using the BFS and smaller baits. It is a great challenge on the bays and I highly recommend it. That being said there has been one bait on my mind lately and it has just been calling out to me. The big spinnerbait. I got a bunch for the trip to Lake Bacarrac that I made back in February and these models were not working there at that time (several videos available for that trip). So the other kick that I have been on lately has been to use baits that have been just sitting there...waiting. Baits that either I have never used or had not used in a long time. This spinnerbait fit the bill.

We began to head out to the main channel and was trolling this bait on the bottom along the way. I got really excited after the first few fish. No dinks! Zero! We ended up having the fog blow in and being in the channel next to the Bahia Resort and could not see either side of the channel. So we camped there for a bit. I didn't want to run into any big boats or rowers (those guys are scary!) We had a delicious beverage while we waited and soon the fog cleared enough to get to the West Mission Bay Bridge. Then it was on! Slam! Slam! Slam! Lots of legals there all slow rolling the blades for me. I would let it drop 30+ feet to the bottom and just slowly wind back. I would vary the speed and sometimes pump and wind. The bite here was consistent for a couple of hours. As the morning moved on the bass moved from the bottom (30+) to mid water around the pilings. This was very important to realize and to target. Dave @Early release was able to get his best spotty bite ever and we ended up leaving around 10am.

All in all a super fun morning on the Bay. I highly recommend giving this method a go. The trailer that I used was the ZMan Diesel Minnow 5in in the Sexy Mullet color on the 3/4oz. double willow blade. Dave got them consistently on the underspin.

Check out the video for more details if you want.
Cheers!
Chris

I picked up a 3/4 oz spinnerbait from Ceasar at Toxic Baits at the PCS show, and it didn’t take me long to love them! Got a 20” halibut on my first outing with it months back, and have gotten some solid spotties with that one.

Finally got around to watching this vid last night, and it inspired me to throw another size I’ve had sitting around unused. Threw the 3/8 oz in a zone that’s been hot for me lately and the bite was endless this morning. They chewed the skirt off by the end of the session. It was so much fun, probably got 20+ on it by the end of the session, and missed a lot of bites from what were probably smaller spotties that were tagging it…

[JWall]

I picked up a 3/4 oz spinnerbait from Ceasar at Toxic Baits at the PCS show, and it didn’t take me long to love them! Got a 20” halibut on my first outing with it months back, and have gotten some solid spotties with that one.

Finally got around to watching this vid last night, and it inspired me to throw another size I’ve had sitting around unused. Threw the 3/8 oz in a zone that’s been hot for me lately and the bite was endless this morning. They chewed the skirt off by the end of the session. It was so much fun, probably got 20+ on it by the end of the session, and missed a lot of bites from what were probably smaller spotties that were tagging it…
[/quote]

Hey O’side were you fishing them deeper like Chris or shallow over grass?

[Pourboy]

Awesome! I can't wait to get out there again soon.
Cheers!

[Osidecoffee]

I picked up a 3/4 oz spinnerbait from Ceasar at Toxic Baits at the PCS show, and it didn’t take me long to love them! Got a 20” halibut on my first outing with it months back, and have gotten some solid spotties with that one.

Finally got around to watching this vid last night, and it inspired me to throw another size I’ve had sitting around unused. Threw the 3/8 oz in a zone that’s been hot for me lately and the bite was endless this morning. They chewed the skirt off by the end of the session. It was so much fun, probably got 20+ on it by the end of the session, and missed a lot of bites from what were probably smaller spotties that were tagging it…

Hey O’side were you fishing them deeper like Chris or shallow over grass?
[/quote]

This was a shallow water spot in North County. 6-8 ft in one spot, and then closer to 10ft in another.