Ep. 13: Captain Benny Florentino of Coastal Charters on Big Fish Tactics

Guest: Captain Benny Florentino (Coastal Charters)

Hosts: Daniel Dahlin ([FISH]rx), El Charly, Luke Dean (Bait Slingers / Artemis Charters)

If you’ve looked up calico bass fishing in SoCal, you’ve likely seen Benny Florentino. Episode 13, recorded live on May 23, 2023, covers core inshore fundamentals: casting, spinnerbaits for trophy sand bass, weedless swimbaits in kelp, and how salinity changes fish positioning after rain.

In This Episode

• Casting as a foundational skill — accurate placement matters more than bait selection
• Spinnerbaits for sand bass — slow-rolled on the bottom with consistent structure contact
• Weedless swimbaits in kelp — targeting areas most anglers avoid due to snag risk
• Salinity edges after rain — fish pushing deeper to stay in saltier water
• Bottom vs suspended fish — starting low and adjusting based on bait activity
• Snaps for efficiency — faster bait changes without impacting bite rate
• Charter mindset — adapting to anglers and conditions in real time

Why Casting Matters More Than Bait

Benny’s core point is simple: if you can’t get the bait to the fish, nothing else matters. Most anglers focus on bait choice and retrieve before they’ve solved the problem of placement.

Accurate casting — hitting structure, tight angles, and specific zones — puts the bait where fish actually live. Without that, even the right bait won’t produce.

This connects directly to structure fishing in SoCal. Fish position tightly around specific areas, not randomly across open water. The structure fishing guide expands on how to identify and fish those zones effectively.

How Water Conditions Change Fish Position

After heavy rain, freshwater runoff creates a less dense layer on the surface. Bass tend to avoid this and move deeper into saltier water. Fishing the same depth as normal often leads to missed opportunities during these conditions.

Benny’s approach is to adjust depth first, then refine presentation. Starting on the bottom remains the default, but water conditions can shift where fish hold within the column.

This pattern shows up consistently in SoCal fishing. The calico bass guide reinforces how environmental changes influence fish behavior and positioning.

Fishing Where Others Won’t

The weedless swimbait approach highlights a key advantage: fishing in areas most anglers avoid. Kelp, heavy structure, and tight cover hold fish, but many anglers don’t cast there due to snag risk.

Fishing those zones — with the right setup — consistently produces better fish. It’s not about a different bait, it’s about accessing different water.

Why This Episode Matters

This episode matters because it focuses on fundamentals that apply across all techniques: casting, positioning, and reading water conditions.

For SoCal anglers, the takeaway is clear: getting the bait to the right place matters more than what bait you’re throwing. Everything else builds from there.

Watch the full episode on the Time On The Water YouTube channel. New episodes every Tuesday at 6 PM.

Note: This episode was originally recorded as part of Is This Mandatory, the show that became Time On The Water. Daniel was fishing and building baits under the name Dahlin Baits at the time — the brand is now [FISH]rx.