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Catching Colossal Corbina

By Bill HartmanMarch 2, 2004

You've read California Corbina 101 and tried all the suggested techniques. Still, no corbina or not the trophy you want. Perhaps more detailed information is what will make the difference? Alright then, here are the details!

Nothing puts big fish on your stringer like time on the water. Corbina fishing is basically bait fishing. When your bait is in the water, you have little control over which fish takes it. There are only so many big 'uns out there. So when they are found, your bait has to be out there with them. The more times you cast your bait, the better your chances become for having big fish and bait come together. Here are a few things you can do to improve your chances of getting the big one!

Fish the tides when flats fishing is possible. On most beaches this means fish around the low tide. Fish calmer conditions when water clarity is good. These conditions permit you to see the fish you intend to catch. If the fish is small, keep walking. When water is murky, look for fish tails breaking the water's surface. A six-inch wide tail is going to be connected to a bruiser corbina. When you see a "trophy" worthy of your efforts, use every trick you know to get it to bite. What tricks? Read on...

1. Match the hatch when it comes to sand crab size.

2. If the bait is small, hook two of them back-to-back.

3. Use very sharp salmon egg hooks (I use the Gamakatsu snelled salmon egg hooks, painted red, size 8).

4. Cast or drift into the feeding zone on the crab bed.

5. Keep a low profile away from the water's edge so as not to spook the corbina.

6. Fight the corbina with a loose drag (so what if the line twists).

7. Beach the corbina before landing it. Do not touch the line, hook or fish while it is still in the water.

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