Epic Calico Bass Action & a Mystery Beast on the Unbridled
Friedman Adventures Charter – June 26, 2026
Today the Friedman Adventures crew joined veteran Captain Tom Durr and deckhand Cliff Hughes aboard the Unbridled out of San Pedro, California for what turned out to be an outstanding day of Southern California fishing.
We started with a quick stop at the bait receiver to load up on large sardines, then made our way to Point Fermin Reef. Bass were boiling on the surface in several spots, and with water temperatures around 69°, we managed to catch a few quality calicos before deciding to make a move up into the Santa Monica Bay.
The water in the Santa Monica Bay was running right around 70° — noticeably warm for this time of year in Southern California. We couldn’t help but wonder out loud if this might be an early sign of El Niño beginning to influence our local waters.
Once we settled in, the calico bass fishing turned on strong. Fish were boiling everywhere, and we had brisk action throughout the day. A fly-lined sardine produced some solid bites, but the most consistent producer was a sliding egg sinker rig with a sardine fished on or near the bottom. Even though we could see bass crashing on the surface, the majority of our best bites came from deeper in the water column. We also picked up several nice calicos on plastics.
The highlight of the day came when Cliff Hughes hooked into something he simply could not stop. He cast out a sardine and was immediately met with a powerful run that stripped line off his reel. After a grueling battle lasting more than ten minutes, the fish finally wrapped him up in the kelp and the line parted. Based on the way it pulled, the area we were fishing, and how it used the kelp, we’re confident it was a big white seabass — one of those “tankers” that frequent the Santa Monica Bay. It was the one that got away, but what a fight!
The weather was absolutely perfect — flat calm, sunny, and warm. A beautiful summer day to be on the water. As always, spending the day with Captain Tom Durr and Cliff Hughes is a blast. Their knowledge, humor, and positive energy make every trip special.
Joining us on board were Anthony from Mad Dog Custom Rods and Perry, the talented designer behind the new Friedman Adventures website. Perry has been doing an outstanding job bringing the site to life.
If you’re looking for a comfortable, productive 4-pack charter out of San Pedro with an experienced captain who knows these waters inside and out, give Captain Tom Durr a call. He’s ready to put you on the fish.
📞 Captain Tom Durr: 310-877-1257
For the latest fish counts, landing reports, Captain’s audio updates, trip recaps, and everything else a sport fisherman needs to stay successful, visit us anytime at:
We’re already looking forward to the next one. Tight lines!