Page 7 - Flipbook for Spoon

when in high concentrations in harbours, double hook rig. Drifted down a berley

the sabikis can be fished directly. In trail it is hard to beat.

some shallow areas, and when fishing

is harder, they might need to be baited. Option two is to cut the fish into pieces,

A small piece of squid or a piece of typically three or four. Cut it on the

skipjack skin will usually do the job. diagonal to open up the gut cavity. I

prefer to fish with a single hook as it

As a live bait they are ideal, although the generally gives a better hookup and

size can vary by day or location at times. creates a more natural-looking bait. If

Whether you are chasing marlin, kingfish you prefer to fish a bigger bait then you

or snapper, hopefully you will catch baits probably need to use two hooks. There

that will be effective. When used as a cut are times when fishing mackerel has

bait there are multiple ways to fish them. been the difference. It is interesting that

The method will depend on the place after losing multiple baits to small fish

you are fishing and the size of the target. and then changing to a tougher bait

such as mackerel, often the bites get

Option one is to butterfly the bait. That ABOVE: John dory are suckers for live bigger and result in better quality fish.
baits. Andy Witherspoon with a cracker Another totally underrated bait, believe
involves cutting the bait from forward of from Great Barrier Island.
the tail to behind the head, as if you are

filleting it. Repeat on the second side and then remove the it or not, is trout. If you plan to use it for bait then it will pay

backbone. You are left with a flexible big bait that is just to scale it, otherwise you will really struggle to get the hook

about as good as it gets for big snapper. This bait needs a through the skin (same with kahawai).

12 LEFT: 1) The well of the boat can make an ideal live bait tank for
3 short-term use. Ours holds just enough water at rest and a couple
of bungs keeps it there when travelling. 2) Mackerel make great
cut baits. Usually we get three or four baits out of each fish. Cut it
on an angle to open up the gut cavity. 3) One option is to butterfly
the mackerel, which is described in the text. It needs two hooks
for best results and it gives a beautiful natural movement to the
bait. 4) I prefer to rig with a single hook and the minimum weight
4 possible and I’d rather two small sinkers than one big one.