Ep. 23: Matt Florentino on California Calico, Jerkbaits & Bladed Tackle

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

Matt Florentino has been a consistent presence in the SoCal inshore community for years — big fish chaser, multiple TOTW appearances, and someone who fishes hard across every season. Episode 23, recorded live on August 30, 2023, covers jerkbaits as a calico trigger, reading bait activity as a presentation cue, and the bladed jig producing when standard soft plastics aren’t getting looks.

In This Episode

• Jerkbait as calico trigger — Matt had jerkbaits tied on and saw bait being pushed up against structure. Both Daniel and Charly had jerkbaits in their bags but weren’t fishing them. First cast with the jerkbait, two-pound spotty. The jerkbait as the right tool when fish are actively chasing bait to the surface
• Reading bait push as a presentation cue — when bait is visibly pushed up against a wall or structure, the fish are active and chasing. That’s the signal to switch to something fast with action rather than slow-rolling a swimbait through the zone
• Bladed jig and ChatterBait bite — the bladed jig has been producing consistently across multiple sessions when swim baits weren’t generating bites. Not a finesse situation — the blade creating noise and vibration in dirtier water or low-light conditions
• Frog on the surface for spotted bay bass — Matt opened a recent session on a popping frog and picked up spotties before transitioning to spinner baits and bladed tackle. Top-water as a morning option before the sun comes fully up
• Half-ounce jig in structure — Matt’s heavier jig approach when fish are buried in structure: half-ounce head, let it fall, pop it off the bottom. The presentation closer to what a crankbait does than what a swimbait does
• Striper encounter at the harbor — a striper showed and missed Matt’s jerkbait at the surface. Stripers in the harbor are rare enough that any contact is worth noting — they’re there, and the jerkbait is one of the baits that will draw them

Beyond the Rod & Reel on Spotted Bay Bass

The bait-reading moment in this episode is the most teachable thing in it. Matt saw bait being pushed and immediately knew to switch to a jerkbait. Daniel and Charly had jerkbaits in their bags but weren’t fishing them because the conditions didn’t read as “jerkbait conditions” on paper. The bait activity was the signal they missed. Reading fish behavior through bait behavior is a skill that takes time, but the shortcut is: if bait is moving fast or breaking the surface, something is pushing it. Match the urgency.

Matt’s multiple appearances on the show — here in Ep. 23, again in Ep. 73, and again in Ep. 113 — speak to his standing in the community. Each time the conversations get more specific as the show matures.

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