Calico To Cabrilla

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Few fishing destinations give us the feeling that Baja does. When anticipating a trip south of the border, you learn very quickly that it is still the “Wild West” down there. In Baja, everything has the potential to go wrong in the blink of an eye, as there are so many variables that make it a demanding trip. However, the rewards and riches exponentially outweigh the effort, and there’s no place in the world that exists quite like it. For a select few anglers, the draw is so powerful that it exceeds our concern for all the effort and preparation needed to make such a journey. They go boldy south in search of their quarry, one of Baja’s most prized gamefish, the Cabrilla.

THE ANGLERS

On the West Coast exists a special breed of angler. They are not always drawn to all the different tactics and gamefish available, because they are hyper focused on one particular species. And within that one species exists a specific trophy fish that they are after, the double-digit Calico Bass. These 10+ pound models are uncommon, and to catch one remains a lifetime goal for many hard-core bass anglers. Calico Bass anglers are a unique crew, with patience and tunnel vision that is almost unmatched. While this group of anglers rarely strays from their target species, the Calico Bass, there has always been one gamefish that possesses a large enough allure to grab their attention. The Leopard Grouper, or better known around its home, the Cabrilla. The attraction lies in the fact that these fish can be targeted using similar tactics as those used for Calicos, but the result of a bite in Baja is an amplified version of the Calico Bass, meaner, bigger, and stronger, the Cabrilla. This resident of the Sea of Cortez, which can grow well upwards of 20 pounds, is one of Baja’s most dynamic species with their ability to pulverize artificial topwater and subsurface lures with unparalleled pulling power being the appeal to Calico Bass anglers.

Wanting to experience this fishery, we pulled together two of the best in the game, Captain Benny Florentino and Tournament Calico Bass fisherman Randy Spizer, to explore the Baja coast and quench the need to find this rival of the Calico. What we discovered was inspiring, rewarding, and gave us a sense of appreciation for the things that often lie just out of reach. Join us on our journey as we head down the coast in search of new waters and new adventures – from Calico to Cabrilla.