Live baiting advice

[GazzaB]

So now I seem to getting to grips with catching my self live bait with the cast net, but I don’t seem to be able to convert it into fish! I was after a bit of advice on rigs and bait placement when using liveies. At the moment I’ve been using a ball sinker running above a swivel and about 20 inches or so of leader (Both lead and leader adjusted for size of bait and situational circumstances etc) with either a single hook or two depending on the bait. If I’m using one hook I tend to place it just behind the dorsal fin, if I’m using two hook I either put the front through the top lip or the shoulders (in front of the dorsal), and the second behind the dorsal towards the tail. I have been trying out a few different situations, a small bait fish in-close around pylons and snags and bigger bait out towards deeper channels and almost everything in between, and not had any success should I be doing something else or do I just need to be more patient???

thanks gazza

[CreelReaper]

Hey Gazza,
Keep persisting mate, it usually doesn't take too long for a livie to get snaffled. I would probably lose the sinker though or at least only use the smallest amount. Can't see the sense in anchoring a live bait to the bottom and limiting your possibilities.
I also tend to hook my livies more toward the tail to help him swim a bit better. Flick him out and just let the current take him into the strike zone. Sometimes I will also use a float.
What livies are you using and do you use an aerator to keep them alive a lot longer???
Cheers

Shane

[GazzaB]

thanks watta

i use what ever bait i can pick up in that area, mullet, herring, prawns, pike, gar etc etc but usaly mullet, i'll give no sinker a go, thanks for the tips, what rig would you use on the float and what depth would you use it?
gazza

[nufin_flash]

Hi mate

i pretty much do the same as yourself either hook behind dorsal fin or through the mouth, what i like to do though is cut on side of the tail off. We get plenty more hits this way as its actualy wounded and the big boys love it

[CreelReaper]

Hi mate,
For the floater I usually go anywhere between a half metre and 3 metres depending on depth of water and what I have seen on the sounder. I use a swivel between float and bait and if needed use split shots about 30cm away from bait to get to depth I want. if a bait is longer than 4 inches, I will usually use a stinger hook as well. Hope this helps.

Shane

[DICER]

Most importantly for live baits I rarely use any sinker or weight. Using weight will tire the fish rapidly, leaving you with a dead bait. Try trimming the bottom of the tail fin to make it swim deep and the top to keep it on the surface. My best results have always been without any weight. I have a leader of up to 60 cm with a swivel.

[Crisp Bee]

I was wondering what the best hooks would be for a live poddy mullet about 5 cm long.
I have been trying with livies as well, I had a couple of runs the other night, but no hook up.
Was thinking of hanging a Decoy treble off his middle somehow to encourage a hookup. Do you think this would help?

[CreelReaper]

Crisp Bee
You could try some circle hooks size 5 to 7/0. A bit harder to hook your bait but it should almost guarantee a positive hookup.

Shane

[Haji-Baba]

When I live bait I let the bait swim away from the boat 30-40 meters in 15 meters of water, then release a big torpedo sinker straight down to the bottom as close to the boat as possible. This gives the bait plenty of scope to swim around (and get snagged too) in rough ground but it does catch fish.

Often we have a good cod on and don't know until we pull up to check the bait.

I always put the hook in just ahead of the tail above the back bone.

10 o hook into a 10 inch mullet or big moses perch.

If they are around they can't resist a shiney mullet.

Have Fun Haji-Baba

[Outer Edge]

[quote=GazzaB;778687]So now I seem to getting to grips with catching my self live bait with the cast net, but I don’t seem to be able to convert it into fish! I was after a bit of advice on rigs and bait placement when using liveies. At the moment I’ve been using a ball sinker running above a swivel and about 20 inches or so of leader (Both lead and leader adjusted for size of bait and situational circumstances etc) with either a single hook or two depending on the bait. If I’m using one hook I tend to place it just behind the dorsal fin, if I’m using two hook I either put the front through the top lip or the shoulders (in front of the dorsal), and the second behind the dorsal towards the tail. I have been trying out a few different situations, a small bait fish in-close around pylons and snags and bigger bait out towards deeper channels and almost everything in between, and not had any success should I be doing something else or do I just need to be more patient???

thanks gazza[/quot



Now all you have to do is find the fish!!!!!!!

[CreelReaper]

patience grasshopper!!!!

[boombah]

I use livies on snapper and always place the hook near the tail as snapper will always take the bait head first so the point isnt felt until you strike.... normally i get a good hookup in the mouth.....dont ignore whiting as a live bait as they always swim to the bottom so lead can be kept to a minimum.... snapper love em
Good thread and good luck