Question about offshore sea bass

[billfish16]

Originally Posted by SaltLife1980

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]

Originally Posted by 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

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]

Originally Posted by Flukemeister1

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]

Originally Posted by Flukemeister1

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!