best way to rig live baits

[marcel haber]

Happy 2012 to all - hope everyone had a great night and 2012 be a better year for all.

Just would like to know what is the best way to pin live yellowtail/ mackeral used for live baits.

Do you use one hook or two?

Do you cast them out or let them swim out from an anchored boat?

What is the best way to get them away from the boat when using a weighted line?

Do you pin thru the mouth, the back, the tail when you are anchored?

would love to get some feedback and get the new year topics up and running.

Twin 1

[Noodles]

I use 1 hook in the back behind the dorsal and a party ballon. Years ago I found a design for a clever little release clip that I make out of an electronics aligator clip, a snap, some small PVC tube (fish tank air tube) and a cable tie. The design came from a WA fishing site but I've been unable to find it again recently. It's a really neat little idea that allows you to have the livie swimming at whatever depth you like.

I'll try to describe it to you. The little aligator clips come from Jaycar Electronics or other electrical supply shop. You need to cut the little cable clamp section off the back end and file off the rough edge. Drill a small hole in the finger end of the aligator clip and put your snap in it so it dangles. You can use a split ring to do this if you want. Cut 2 small pieces of PVC tube and push them onto the clip jaws to protect the line. Push a little cable tie through the PVC tube as well on the opposite side to the snap. Done.

To use it. First inflate the balloon and knot it then attach the clip with the cable tie above the knot. Hook your livie onto your line (weighted or not doesn't matter) and drop him over to whatever depth you want. Open the snap and put your line through it and snap it closed. Then clip the line in the jaws of the clip between the PVC tube. Drop the balloon over and feed out as much line as you want. The breeze will (should) take the whole lot away from the boat. It usually does but some yakkas want to stay in under the boat for some reason.

When a fish takes the bait the line comes out of the clip jaws but the balloon stays attached and the line runs freely through the snap.

There are 2 main advantages. Allows variable depth, and is reusable so you don't leave balloons floating around the ocean as is the case with other methods. They are not stainless so rinse and dry them after use.

Edited December 31, 2011 by Noodles

[marcel haber]

I use 1 hook in the back behind the dorsal and a party ballon. Years ago I found a design for a clever little release clip that I make out of an electronics aligator clip, a snap, some small PVC tube (fish tank air tube) and a cable tie. The design came from a WA fishing site but I've been unable to find it again recently. It's a really neat little idea that allows you to have the livie swimming at whatever depth you like.

I'll try to describe it to you. The little aligator clips come from Jaycar Electronics or other electrical supply shop. You need to cut the little cable clamp section off the back end and file off the rough edge. Drill a small hole in the finger end of the aligator clip and put your snap in it so it dangles. You can use a split ring to do this if you want. Cut 2 small pieces of PVC tube and push them onto the clip jaws to protect the line. Push a little cable tie through the PVC tube as well on the opposite side to the snap. Done.

To use it. First inflate the balloon and knot it then attach the clip with the cable tie above the knot. Hook your livie onto your line (weighted or not doesn't matter) and drop him over to whatever depth you want. Open the snap and put your line through it and snap it closed. Then clip the line in the jaws of the clip between the PVC tube. Drop the balloon over and feed out as much line as you want. The breeze will (should) take the whole lot away from the boat. It usually does but some yakkas want to stay in under the boat for some reason.

When a fish takes the bait the line comes out of the clip jaws but the balloon stays attached and the line runs freely through the snap.

There are 2 main advantages. Allows variable depth, and is reusable so you don't leave balloons floating around the ocean as is the case with other methods. They are not stainless so rinse and dry them after use.

sounds great Noodles - definately some food for thought, wil read a few times to visualise better in my head.

Thanks for the input.

[Hooked-Up]

lotsa variables mate, depends what it is and what its for,

live squid il use 2 hook sliding rig always whether at anchor, drifting, trolling,

live fish at anchor with sinker pin behind head,

live fish at anchor unweighted pin down near the tail end, instead of the head end this way he usually swims away from the boat,

live fish being slow trolled or fast drifted il pin him through the mouth from bottom to top to help him swim longer,

if fishing the bottom in shallower less than 7-8 mtrs il drop the livies down weighted then move off in the boat quietly 20mtrs or so leaving the baits behind,

hope this is helpful to ya and others mate and best of luck this year,