Introduction:

Perhaps I have played too much Rainbow Six, the counter-terrorism computer game. Or maybe it was watching too much Cops featuring SWAT teams entering and clearing rooms but I have found that going after calico bass that live in boiler rock shallows possesses much of the same mindset, techniques and adrenaline rush that the aforementioned activities own.

Boiler-rock fishing conjures up images of rough water, big fish and swamped boats. It's hand-to-hand, in-your-face calico fishing! These boiler fish are not the golden, school-oriented checkerboards of the kelp beds. They have muscle and are more solitary by nature. Let's take a look at a battle plan to go after them.

Mission Briefing:

Gather intel. A successful mission is hinged on arming yourself with all you can know about your target. You'll need a target and in this case it is calico bass. Too many anglers who are "fishing for whatever bites" go home far less successful than if they focused on one species. You will certainly catch other species boiler-fishing calicos but these should be considered incidental or 'collateral damage'. Fish such as sand bass, halibut, white seabass, cabezon and sculpin always seem to show up.

Profile your target. Boiler calicos like surge, off-color water and lowlight conditions such as overcast or early morning. They like rag kelp growing on rocks. They are found in unbelievably shallow water, sometimes as little as 3 feet deep. Most of my inshore fishing for them is only out to about 20 feet deep.

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