It had been six years since my father and I had ridden a sport boat or fished with live bait (ever since we got our skiff). The crossing was smooth and easy, and the fish were biting!
Most of the time I am “fly lining” a sardine, anchovy, or mackerel, I get bit in the first 30 seconds. Cast out, and let the bait pull line as it swims away. The faster it swims, the more likely you are going to get bit. When the bait stops swimming, reel it in and get another bait. Some people will reel the bait in slowly, but I’ve found bites on the retrieve to be rare.
Two different rigs, just because I felt like messing around. The first two came back to back on a Trinidad 16A with #30 Izorline on a Calstar 800M rod. The next two were with a Trinidad 12A loaded with #50 braid and a Calstar 800XLH rod. I used #30 Seaguar Gold fluorocarbon on both.
Being retired I just don’t have the cash for a Trinidad. But I do for a Torium. For the price of a Trinidad I bought a Torium 16 and a Seeker rod. Good job on those fish 👍👍
Two set ups. I caught the first two on a Trinidad 16/ Calstar 800 M / #30 Izorline XXX (90 yards). 3’ Seagar #30 fluorocarbon to a 1/0 ringed Owner Gorilla hook. When the bite became mostly bass, I went to a Trinidad 12 / Calstar 800 XLH, with no top shot and the same fluorocarbon and hook.
On west coast sport boats, the captain will make an announcement on the PA to “wind ‘em up” before making a move. Sometimes passengers ignore this and keep fishing, and inevitably some passengers will hookup on a fish or the bottom when the boat is pulling away.
