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Hi-Lo Rig – This multiple-hook rig can be used with whole or cut bait at different levels in the water column or one directly following the other, sometime called a “double bait stinger rig.” The hi-lo rig employs a sinker below the two baited hooks that drops the rig to the desired depth and has the advantage of being able to cover two different depths at once. The advantage of the double bait stinger rig is that it imitates the natural schooling appearance of many prey fish. To achieve this appearance, the hooked baits should be approximately 11 inches apart; anything closer than 11 inches will likely cause entanglement.
Mackerel Rig – A more labor-intensive procedure is needed for the rigging of mackerel, but the results are often very effective. First, slice the mackerel down the belly and gut it, removing the anal fin. Punch a hole through the nose and mouth, insert a double hook into the belly and pull the leader through the head, tying it to the line. Sew up both the belly and mouth using either dental floss or heavy wax.
Bait Storage
In order to maximize its effectiveness, natural bait should always be kept as fresh as possible. Many game fish may be reluctant to strike at bait that does not move or smell naturally, especially if other fishermen in the area are using bait that does.
With live bait, this means it should remain healthy and lively until the time it is placed on the hook – and bait that is properly maintained will also stay more active after being hooked. To keep live bait fresh and active, an angler needs to maintain two factors in the environment where the bait is stored: the oxygen level in the water (high) and its temperature (cool).
Dead bait must also be kept fresh prior to rigging it whole or cutting it into chunks or strips. Obviously, oxygen levels are not important here, but proper temperature is. Keeping dead bait from naturally decomposing preserves the natural, fish-attracting odors of baitfish, shrimp, eels, squid and other baits, and this is accomplished by keeping the bait cool.
Bait Containers
The most basic bait storage container is a small bait bucket or cooler made of metal, plastic or Styrofoam. These are adequate for keeping small amounts of live bait for pier and surf fishing, or a short inshore fishing excursion. They also work well for storing small amounts of dead and frozen bait. When live bait like shrimp and baitfish is being stored, water in the bucket should be kept cool and changed routinely to keep it oxygenated. Most plastic buckets feature a vented wall and/or trap door and can be placed or kept in the water for continuous water circulation. When storing dead bait, it is commonly layered in foam or insulated container with ice.
For many saltwater fishing situations involving the use of live bait, especially from a boat, an angler needs additional equipment to keep bait fresh and alive. One approach is simply adding a battery-operated aerator to the bait bucket or cooler. Aerators can be simple or sophisticated, inexpensive or pricey, but even the simplest, most economical model will keep water well oxygenated in most cases.
One thing to remember regarding any type of bait container is that there are some baitfish species, specifically members of the herring family, which must have containers that are circular or have rounded corners. Otherwise, the swimming baitfish will bunch up in the sharp corners and die.
For large baitfish or large quantities of baitfish, a bait well (or “live well” when it also used for storing caught fish) is necessary. Bait wells are large, often plastic tanks that, in most cases, are mounted or built into a larger fishing boat. They use pumps and aerators to keep a constant supply of fresh, cool water re-circulating about the tank. The best models are those that have an aerator spray nozzle that pumps in water from outside the boat in a strong stream. Many also have to ability to flush out debris and body waste from the well.
Types of Baits
There are numerous types of bait used in saltwater fishing, and each type may have several variations in size, methods of use, and whether the bait is fished live, dead, whole or cut into strips or chunks. Each bait popularity and effectiveness depends on the species an angler is fishing for, as well as the fishing situation at hand, i.e. water depth and clarity, time of year, and the presence of natural food sources and predators in the area. Following are some common examples of each type of bait used for saltwater game fish:
Fish – Almost every saltwater game fish has at least a portion of its diet comprised of some other species of fish, if not its entire diet. And of all the baits used in salt water, fish make up the majority. In most cases, fish used for bait do not attain the size or sporting value of small game fish and are commonly referred to as “baitfish.” However, some species valued as either food or sport are occasionally used as bait, especially for big game fish.
Popular baitfish includes (common names): alewives, anchovies, ballyhoos, blue runners, butterfish, croakers, flying fish, herring, menhaden, pilchards, pinfish, sardines and smelt. Other fish used as bait include bonito, mackerel, grunts and whiting. Anglers can purchase live or frozen baitfish at bait shops or catch their own with seines, cast nets and, in some cases, hook and line.
Baitfish can be fished live, dead, and whole or cut into chunks and strips, depending on the size and feeding characteristics of the game fish being pursued; likewise, different sizes of the same bait will appeal to different sizes of game fish. Following is a partial list of baitfish and the species of game fish they are commonly used for:
· Mullet – amberjack, dolphin, grouper, jacks, kingfish, marlin, redfish, sailfish, sea trout, snook, tarpon, tuna and wahoo.
· Pilchard – amberjack, bonito, cobia, grouper, jacks, kingfish, ladyfish, redfish, sea trout, snapper, snook and tarpon.
· Pinfish – amberjack, grouper, jacks, kingfish, snook and tarpon.
· Ballyhoo – barracuda, dolphin, kingfish, marlin, sailfish, tuna and wahoo.
· Flying fish – dolphin, barracuda, marlin and sailfish.
Shrimp – Shrimp are one of the highly popular and effective bait for a vast number of saltwater game fish, especially inshore fish such as snook, speckled trout, sheepshead, redfish and many others. Shrimp, like baitfish, are widely available in bait shops, either live or frozen, and can also be caught with cast nets. They are also versatile bait that can be fished whole on a hook in a number of ways, added to a jig, and used as chum bait.
