Question about offshore sea bass

[bulletbob]

Just wondering if the "boat bait" which is clams of course is enough to get a limit or close.. Are the guys that are kicking ass on humpbacks using whole squid from the bait shops, or Gulp, or some other magic trick?.. I just don't want to feel like an idiot standing alongside guys on either side of me catching doubleheaders of 3 and 4 pound Sea Bass while I catch 10 inchers and assorted pout, bergalls, horn dogs, and skates.. happened twice to me this year, and I was ready to stop fishing salt water, seriously.. When I lived in NJ, I always did great on head boats, won several pools over the years etc.. Now that I have been "out of the loop" for 20 years, all too often I stand and watch while other are bailing fish within 6 inches of me.. I mean Sea bass are just Sea bass.. They either hit or don't, yet this year I was ready to commit suicide, as I couldn't even get hits while others around me were catching at least somewhat regularly.. My rigs came back up with clam snot and strings still streaming from the hooks... Just want to catch my share if I spend $250 to go out for a day of fishing.. I appreciate any advice... bob

[tropics]

Pick up a package of squid and you will have it, then you shouldn't have to worry.

[Harpoon]

Clam works just fine. Stinkier the better.

[Ol Pedro]

Clam works just fine. Stinkier the better.
I have always fished clams with no problems . I like glow hoochiesquids or a green glowbead above my hooks . I have seen it when the Bass want smaller pieces of clam not massive globs .

[TDaly25]

Bob,
The last two trips I've been on I've fished different combinations of Jigs, gulp, squid and clam and had limits plus of big fish each time.

I will tell you that whole squid performed very well for big fish as did the clam. Make sure you put big pieces of clam on and do your best to hook it such that it stays on.

When the biscuit bite is good and aggressive they usually hit anything and your technique is the most important variable. Make sure you bring enough heavy lead to keep you on the bottom (I've been using 18 ounces primarily) and make sure you are patient enough on the rod to set a biscuit bite rather than a bergal nibble. Keeping the bait down after setting the hook on the first fish will lead to a lot more double headers, though will certainly lead to more arm fatigue! Good luck

[SeaLevel]

Clam is fine. Iv been on a couple off shore sea bass trips this year and most guys just stick to the boat bait and had no problem limiting. If you want to get fancy bring a few diamond jigs. Hammered gold seems to work well. your fishing somewhere around 200' and there could be some strong current so make sure your jig is heavy enough.

[AJFISH13]

Heavy duty cod style setup when u feel em hitting swing and slowly start to reel up just keep pressure. 3 hook rigs 4/0 and up i like 4/0s for more pork chops if they are around. Big pieces of clam unless lotta chops then downsize and swing on hard machine gun type hit(you probly know exactly what im talking about). This is stupid fishing as stupid as it gets. I cant help ya much with jigging, I almost always use bait. Only time I can ever jig seabass is inshore in the fall by accident looking for stripers.

[frugalfisherman]

7 bucks for a 3 pound box of squid at Shoprite. If you don't use it you can always eat it.

[TDaly25]

7 bucks for a 3 pound box of squid at Shoprite. If you don't use it you can always eat it.

Yep. Or defrost and split into 2 ziplock bags. Whatever you don't use you can freeze and use later.

[Oasis]

Pick up a package of squid and you will have it, then you shouldn't have to worry.

2nd that

[Jay]

I was out twice this year, first time. I jigged a 8oz hammered jig caught 10 beast on it. Got tired, switched off to clams for the rest which also worked well. Jigging caught the big boys.

NJFishing trip strictly clams, limited out by 9:30 am. We started a community bin for the sick passengers and crew. You shouldn't have a problem with just clams but if you want to use squid knock yourself out. Trust me, you won't need it. It's sick Seabass fishing!!! Good luck. :D

[SaltLife1980]

Yea i would bring some squid as well.. Never know.. they might want the squid more then the clam..

[Ol Pedro]

Yea i would bring some squid as well.. Never know.. they might want the squid more then the clam..
Pollock love squid . Only problem with fishing bait high off the wreck is the Dogfish/Bluefish that they have been incountering .

[SaltLife1980]

Pollock love squid . Only problem with fishing bait high off the wreck is the Dogfish/Bluefish that they have been incountering .


Very True!! Maybe land a big pollock.. But like Pedro said might have to weed threw the million dogfish and blues.. If i was you.. id catch my limit then target some pollock or cod.. Always worth a try...

[bulletbob]

Please understand guys.. I am 58, soon to be 59, and have fished salt water since I was a kid.. Its just that I have totally lost confidence in my ability to catch anything on party boats anymore, after 3 REALLY bad trips this year.. I always went bottom fishing when everyone else was fluke and bluefishing, and always caught lots of nice sea bass, tog, scup etc.. However, after 3 terrible trips where I could barely catch a keeper, I am gun shy and keep thinking what I could have been doing wrong.. Even had a trip this year where I couldn't hook a ling, when big ones were coming up all around the boat... My bait and my sons bait were unmolested, while a guy right alongside us was hooking up regularly... Same rigs I have tied since I was a kid, that always caught fish,, Last few trips, not even many hits except for skates, pout, bergalls and the occasional 7 inch Ling or 10 inch Cbass... Very discouraging.. I need a decent trip.... bob

[fishunt]

keep on trying. we all have one of those trips once in awhile.:) with the seabass the way it is now you should have no problem at all getting fish!

[jerseyhunter]

I always get a box of squid from Shop-rite. Partially defrost, cut my baits and freeze or bring them the next day. Leftovers I eat, no sense in throwing away the tentacles. As far as clams, the fresher the better esp if there may be cod around.

[MrAC1980]

You cut them into strips like fluke? thought it was better to leave them whole?

[SaltLife1980]

You cut them into strips like fluke? thought it was better to leave them whole?


I fish em whole.. have seen people cut em like fluke bait.. Prob still works fine

[MrAC1980]

Yeah I'll probably be bringing some on Monday. I'll bring a knife and maybe cut them up out there.

[billfish16]

I fish em whole.. have seen people cut em like fluke bait.. Prob still works fine

On our recent trip the squid definitely held an advantage for part of the day taking the larger Sea Bass. I fished 'em whole until the supply (Leif's and Howie's) got low then started putting the body on one hook and the head on the other each tipped with a piece of clam. Seemed to work as well as whole Squid and better than just clam. Whether perceived or fact Leif's rigs with larger hooks combined with the Squid seemed to take larger Sea Bass early on. I think the larger hook kept some of the smaller Sea Bass and Porgies from getting hooked giving the humpbacks a chance. When the fishing slowed down to a roar jigging held an advantage for quantitly and size. Every day is different but you should definitely bring a box of Squid.

Bill

[Flukemeister1]

Please understand guys.. I am 58, soon to be 59, and have fished salt water since I was a kid.. Its just that I have totally lost confidence in my ability to catch anything on party boats anymore, after 3 REALLY bad trips this year.. I always went bottom fishing when everyone else was fluke and bluefishing, and always caught lots of nice sea bass, tog, scup etc.. However, after 3 terrible trips where I could barely catch a keeper, I am gun shy and keep thinking what I could have been doing wrong.. Even had a trip this year where I couldn't hook a ling, when big ones were coming up all around the boat... My bait and my sons bait were unmolested, while a guy right alongside us was hooking up regularly... Same rigs I have tied since I was a kid, that always caught fish,, Last few trips, not even many hits except for skates, pout, bergalls and the occasional 7 inch Ling or 10 inch Cbass... Very discouraging.. I need a decent trip.... bob


Any chance you had something on your hands like grease, diesel, sunscreen that could have contaminated the bait? I know tuna fishermen swear that sunscreen can be smelled by the fish and they will not hit a bait that has been touched by someone with sunscreen on their hands.

[aduma1107]

Any chance you had something on your hands like grease, diesel, sunscreen that could have contaminated the bait? I know tuna fishermen swear that sunscreen can be smelled by the fish and they will not hit a bait that has been touched by someone with sunscreen on their hands.
Good point!!

[SaltLife1980]

Any chance you had something on your hands like grease, diesel, sunscreen that could have contaminated the bait? I know tuna fishermen swear that sunscreen can be smelled by the fish and they will not hit a bait that has been touched by someone with sunscreen on their hands.


This is so true as well.. I am i very big believe in that.. I wont even use sun screen, bug spray, or anything else that leaves a film on my hands..

[PeteyHD]

I don't even bother with the squid. The Seabass are so stacked all you need is clam and I always use a couple shimano flat sided butterfly jigs. The big boys love those jigs and the last trip I slayed a second limit of few fat cows for a buddy that got seasick. While swinging one in my leader snapped because the blues frayed it and there went my jig and 5lb Seabass floating. Thank goodness the gaff was next to me and I was able to quickly gaff the fish with double stinger hooks still in its mouth and the pricy jig hanging on his fat face! Mate was too proud to say anything about me taking care of business with the gaff. Clams clams and shimano flat sided jig is all you need!