Hi guys! VINCE GOES FISHING here, and as some of you may know, I've been on the hunt for my first legal white Seabass for a couple of years now. I managed about a dozen between 2020-2022, several just under the mark by an inch or two. It's as tho they were teasing me. When I moved to San Luis Obispo, I stopped targeting these fish, but they didn't stop haunting me in my dreams! So I intend to revisit this obsession and take another few swings at my first keeper in 2024.
So, here's why I decided to type up this blog post... I recently got a great tip from one of the best White Seabass Fishermen in Southern California. When a successful mentor offers you a secret, you better put that in your pack and use it the next time conditions line up in the surf. And as you may know, it is the mission of VINCE GOES FISHING to learn everything I can about CA Surf Fishing and share it with you. So here it is...
The highly coveted secret that my friend shared with me about White Sea Bass is this...
We all know that fish see UV light. But White Sea Bass specifically use it to help them identify their prey! It is especially important to use UV Reactive baits when targeting White Sea Bass in the CA Surf.
This came as no surprise to me. I recall the beautiful iridescent neon purple highlights around the head of a White Sea Bass from the times I have caught them.
It reminds me of the neon violet flowers that bees are attracted to. It makes sense to me that if these fish have UV built into them, then their eyes are probably adapted to perceive this light as well. And it must be a survival mechanism. In other words, they use it to find food!
What's more? The same friend said he discovered that the Battlestar 5" Rib Bait in MONO Green is the most UV-reactive bait in his entire arsenal! From the perspective of fish, these babies glow like a party light! Check it out.
Here are some more facts about UV-reactive fishing lures and how fish see UV light:
UV light and Fish Vision: Fish have a wider range of vision than humans and can see ultraviolet (UV) light. This allows them to see certain colors and patterns that humans cannot. Some fish, including bass and other surf fish, use UV vision to identify prey, find mates, and navigate.
UV Lures: UV reactive fishing lures are designed to reflect UV light underwater, making them more visible to fish. The lure itself may not necessarily glow under normal light conditions, but the UV components will reflect UV light making them more visible underwater.
Light Conditions for UV Lures: UV lures can be effective in a variety of light conditions, but they may be especially helpful in low light conditions like dawn, dusk, or cloudy days. UV light penetrates water better than other colors of light, so UV lures can also be effective in deeper water or murky conditions.
Effectiveness: Many anglers believe UV lures can be a valuable tool in their tackle box.
Keep in mind, that there is a difference between UV and Glow. If you want to know the power of UV reactive fishing lures, hold a UV light bulb over your tackle arsenal and observe which baits react the brightest. Then, throw those baits while searching for a hungry fish in the surf and see what happens!
We've put together a special offer for you to cap this blog post. For the next week, (May 21-29, 2024) our highly UV-Reactive MONO Green Battlestar 5" Rib Bait will be on sale, 10% off. That's only $9 for a pack of 8 baits. Take advantage of this offer if you want to stock up on the best swimbaits in the surf.
I can't wait to see what you catch on 'em! -VINCE GOES FISHING
