Quick question,
How do you guys keep your bait from falling victim to the crabs and other bottom dwellers when soaking one from the surf or pier? Noticed after sitting out for a bit it can/will be picked clean.
I have heard that you can put the bait inside pantyhose, but i havent tried it.
TEAM APEX
If you use a big enough bait, the crabs might eat their share but a shark will still find it.
Team Locked Drag
2008 Shorebound Tournament Bridge Champs
2009 Big Hammer Challenge Bridge Champs
I have been told of the panty hose thing from one of the older members of the club.He said it works and had seen this with his own eyes.
I ALWAYS pantyhose my bonito. Where I am the crabs and pinners will turn it to bones in around an hour. The smaller tippers will shake the crap outta it but usually it'll survive the little guys. The shark dont seem to even notice its there but the crabs do, lol. Lasts 10X longer. I still prefer a ray but if im desperate I'll buy a bonito from "Ricks rods and components" on MAD Beach. Think Imma give the plecostomus a shot this weekend though LOL! 
Suspend them off the bottom with a balloon. Depending on your leader, if you run longer sliding trace, you can just tie a balloon directly to your bite leader shock leader connections.
Suspend them off the bottom with a balloon. Depending on your leader, if you run longer sliding trace, you can just tie a balloon directly to your bite leader shock leader connections.
I think I'm gonna try this this week, I've thought about it before. We use breakaway rocks with double hook rigs.. Tie rock to secondary hook and balloon to first hook.
I suggest using baits with tougher skin and you can improve your chances against the crabs and pinners, Cudas last longer than bonitas, jacks last longer than cudas, stingray and shark will never get picked clean by crabs or pinners, if i have the opportunity i would always have amberjack or stingray on my rod
Just an average fisherman.
Suspend them off the bottom with a balloon. Depending on your leader, if you run longer sliding trace, you can just tie a balloon directly to your bite leader shock leader connections.
I think I'm gonna try this this week, I've thought about it before. We use breakaway rocks with double hook rigs.. Tie rock to secondary hook and balloon to first hook.
I have done it a few ways, the easiest way is just tie a tight knot with the balloon right at the desired depth you want your bait to hold. If your using single strand you might have to put some electric tape stops to keep the balloon from sliding up and down the wire. If you use cable the balloon knot holds pretty good right where you tie it. Heres a bad drawing on how the basic suspending bait has worked for me.
This one was a pain in the donkey, but if your fishing deep water, it will help keep the bait suspended off the bottom but not all the way on the surface
Just throwing out some options, hope they help.
Suspend them off the bottom with a balloon. Depending on your leader, if you run longer sliding trace, you can just tie a balloon directly to your bite leader shock leader connections.
I think I'm gonna try this this week, I've thought about it before. We use breakaway rocks with double hook rigs.. Tie rock to secondary hook and balloon to first hook.
I have done it a few ways, the easiest way is just tie a tight knot with the balloon right at the desired depth you want your bait to hold. If your using single strand you might have to put some electric tape stops to keep the balloon from sliding up and down the wire. If you use cable the balloon knot holds pretty good right where you tie it. Heres a bad drawing on how the basic suspending bait has worked for me.
This one was a pain in the donkey, but if your fishing deep water, it will help keep the bait suspended off the bottom but not all the way on the surface
Just throwing out some options, hope they help.
That looks like a plan! but what if you have wind blowing toward the beach? will the leader get caught on your main line or shock mono?
with the tension you have on your main line to weight it will only go back on itself the length of your bite leader. I get what your saying... I have only used this a minimal amount of times but it has never tangled. The one with flora to the balloon has broke off a few times and is no good when its rough water.
Its just like incoming tide brings your bait in past your weight the wrong way. I have tangled my bite leader on a spider weight once maybe twice.
using a spider weight in south FL is just asking for trouble
using a spider weight in south FL is just asking for trouble
yeah i dont use them anymore, i learned from my friends i tie a breakaway rock to my hook bard with 30lb floro
i use spider weights in the pass and some times off of sharkys but those for the most part are sandy bottoms. im gonna have to try that balloon idea to keep the bait off the bottom.
I still swear up and down Pantyhose LOL, only way I'll put out a Bonito and trust it to still be there for a while.Here is an example. Big tipper ate this one.